Even the most extreme winter weather can not stop a Range Rover Sport Hybrid and an Airstream trailer! Land Rover recently launched a journey to the Arctic Circle in order to test the capabilities of the new Range Rover Sport Hybrid. The team started their journey at Land Rover’s Design and Engineering Centre at Gaydon in the English Midlands. They then set off to Merenberg, in Germany, where a winterized Airstream travel travel was waiting for them at Airstream Europe’s headquarters.
The world’s first premium diesel hybrid towed the 2.5 ton travel trailer 2,500 miles to Land Rover’s cold-weather test centre in Arjeplog, Sweden, then on to the Arctic Circle.
This was the team’s pitch near Arjeplog, where they stayed before and after the excursion to the Arctic Circle. The access road and space were ploughed just for the team!
Many European Airstreamers use Land Rover products to tow their 'silver bullets' on their Live Riveted adventures, so the Range Rover Sport Hybrid and Airstream were a perfect match for each other.
Each morning of the journey to the Arctic Circle started with hot porridge and a mug or two of tea or coffee. It was a good opportunity for the team to relax before a day of driving and photography. They kept the Airstream at about 68 degrees throughout the trip, so it was very, very comfortable even amidst the freezing weather conditions!
The 684 is at the top of Airstream Europe’s line of trailers. Imagine a boutique hotel suite on wheels. It comes with with two double beds, satellite television, as well as a fully-equipped kitchen and spacious bathroom- talk about luxurious accommodations for a trip to the arctic! Once the team had all of their supplies for the Hybrid Adventure packed, the Airstream weighed in at more than 2.5 tons.
Throughout the journey, the Range Rover Sport Hybrid demonstrated its unmatched towing ability. While on the Hybrid adventure, the team had to cross the five mile long Oresund Bridge, which was being hit by the end of Hurricane Ole. Gale force sidewinds would have deterred many vehicles, but the Range Rover Sport Hybrid was able to overcome the nasty weather conditions. The Range Rover was even able to pull the Airstream up and down snowy and dangerous hills covered in ice.
This photo was taken at Swecamp Flottsbro – a campsite near Stockholm. It was also located right next to a ski slope, so in the evening they team could see and even hear people swooshing down the slopes.
“We were closely watching the long range weather forecasts before we set off but nothing prepared us for how bad it got. However, time after time, it was only as we got out of the car that we realized quite how treacherous it was outside,” said Ben Samuelson, who led the team on the journey.
The team had to deal with a wide variety of winter weather conditions! This photo was taken near Blattnicksele. As the team would cut inland, the roads became increasingly treacherous – mostly clear, but then large patches of ice. The temperatures were around 14 degrees, and they were driving extremely cautiously.
Despite the treacherous ice, powerful winds and temperatures at times dropping to -8 degrees Fahrenheit, the Range Rover Hybrid Sport and Airstream proved themselves to be a perfect combination for extreme winter traveling!
