| We approach a steep downhill slope where the trail | | | | way but the Hill Descent Control uses the angle of |
| just seems to drop away from you. Since we don't | | | | the slope to control our speed beautifully. We make |
| have a good view of the approach to the descent, | | | | it to the bottom of the hill without incident, and, in |
| Justin, the Land Rover driving instructor, suggests | | | | retrospect, quite easily - the technology in the Range |
| that we step out of the car to get a better sense | | | | Rover proving triumphant once again. |
| of what lies ahead. We jump out of the confines of | | | | I'm attending the Land Rover Driving School at Quail |
| the Range Rover's luxurious cabin onto a slippery | | | | Lodge in Carmel, California - one of the most scenic |
| surface of loose sand and rocks - suggesting that | | | | parts of the US west cost. Set amidst some of the |
| this may get somewhat tricky. | | | | best golf courses in the world, there's about 100 |
| The Range's parked just before a sharp left turn | | | | acres of private forestland owned by Quail Lodge. |
| leading to the descent, which means that we have | | | | This is used by Land Rover to educate anyone who |
| to turn the car and have it pointing straight before | | | | cares about the finer points of off-road driving - in |
| we start heading downhill - try going sideways | | | | some of the best machinery in the world suited to |
| through a steep downhill slope and you're likely to | | | | the task. The Land Rover Driving Experience is an |
| find yourself on your roof very quickly. We get back | | | | off-road driving school set up by the company in |
| in the car to activate the Range Rover's Hill Decent | | | | different parts of the US, essentially with the aim of |
| Control (HDC), after which we proceed to navigate | | | | providing owners or prospective owners the chance |
| our way through trees on either side of the trail - | | | | to experience the true capabilities of their vehicles in |
| taking a wide line so that we can straighten the car | | | | a safe and controlled environment, and, most |
| before we start heading downhill in earnest. | | | | importantly, sitting alongside professional driving |
| Justin now suggests that I simply keep the steering | | | | instructors. The DTM version of the A4 is the car |
| pointed straight and take my foot off the pedals. | | | | that's campaigned in the Deutsche Touren |
| 'Take my foot off the pedals?' I look at him like he's | | | | Meisterschaft or German Touring Car Championship. |
| a man with a death wish but he nods reassuringly. | | | | It's a bit like stock car racing, where the cars being |
| The car lunges forward for an instant before the | | | | raced have the general appearance - save for a few |
| tires find grip and the Hill Descent system uses | | | | wings and fins - of a normal road going car but are |
| traction control to manage our downhill speed. I use | | | | completely different under the skin, and light minutes |
| all my will power to avoid following my natural | | | | ahead in terms of technology when compared with |
| instincts of standing on the brakes, which could | | | | the cars they're based on. But first, let's have a look |
| possibly cause the car to pitch sideways and, as | | | | at what the standard car is all about to better |
| previously explained, eventually leave us sitting on our | | | | understand the DTM car. |
| roof. The tires fight the surface for grip the whole | | | | |