By teaming up with well-known chef Jamie Oliver, Jaguar Land Rover has been able to create a fully functioning kitchen that’s based within an SUV. Deemed the Land Rover Discovery Kitchen, there’s no doubting that the result is a truly bespoke vehicle. It also showcases the incredible versatility which is available when it comes to the Land Rover Discovery.
Jamie brought his idea of a kitchen on wheels into being a reality by working with Jaguar Land Rover’s Special Vehicle Operations (SVO) team. The chef had a big list of must-haves that he handed over to Land Rover – Lisa Tookey, chief revenue officer and head of commercial partnerships at Jamie Oliver Ltd, said: “Jamie is probably the most creative person I’ve ever met – he has a constant pipeline of brilliant ideas. Some of them are bonkers. If you let him run wild, this is what the outcome is.”
Ms Tookey went on to note: “We always want to deliver the unexpected and believe that this partnership does just that, whilst showcasing the future of food, technology and family life on the go.”
The fully integrated kitchen found within this unique edition of the Land Rover Discovery has made use of all the space and technology available. Whilst Land Rover already has a reputation for integrating only the most state-of-the-art technology, this model features some of the best culinary gadgets. The centre console, usually home to the instrument panel, features a fully functioning two slice toaster, for example, whilst the engine bay is home to a 4.7 litre slow cooker. The boot stores the fully equipped fold and slide out kitchen worktop with two gas hobs, a sink and a veneered finished surface too. The worktop area is also fitted with an integrated slide out 40” flat screen TV with connectivity, which can be turned into a dining table to eat at as well.
There’s even an 11-piece spice rack and herb garden packed into the Discovery’s design, both of which can be accessed via rear windows which have been custom built for the model in question. The herb garden can accommodate up to 8 living plants. The real first for anything in the motor industry though was to develop technology that churned butter whilst you drove the vehicle – as such, the Discovery is fitted with three 5 litre butter churners mounted onto the wheels.
David Fairbairn, the head of bespoke within Land Rover’s SVO team, pointed out: “As a team, we never imagined we would be asked to produce wheels that churn butter, so it has been great fun working alongside Jamie to bring his vision to life. He really wanted to push the boundaries of what was possible with this versatile vehicle and the team fully embraced the challenge.”
The surprises keep on coming with this edition of the Land Rover Discovery though. This is because the vehicle also has a dual folding BBQ that’s mounted onto a metal table with grill rack and rotisserie — the entire unit is powered by the Land Rover’s engine. With the Land Rover Discovery Kitchen, Jamie and the Land Rover SVO team have no doubt completely broken the boundaries of family life on the go. The project demonstrated the extent of JLR’s specialist bespoke modifications, with Land Rover stating: “All of the modifications are fully functional, meaning that Jamie and his family can cook a meal from scratch using the Discovery.”
So, how did Jamie react to the finished design? The chef commented: “I gave Land Rover a massive challenge to create the ultimate kitchen on wheels. I dreamt big and asked for a lot.
“I didn’t think they’d actually be able to put a slow-cooker next to the engine and an olive oil dispenser in the boot, but they did. The result is an amazing Discovery, tailored perfectly for me and the family —we love it. This unique creation means we can take our culinary adventures to the next level.”
If anything, the Land Rover Discovery Kitchen showcases just how much a vehicle can be modified in order to suit a customer’s requirements. Although the Discovery Kitchen is designed as a one-off, it proves that specialist modifications are almost limitless today. The automotive industry is progressively introducing new innovative technologies to enhance the driving experience and make life easier. Jamie’s vision to prove that family life and food on the go is possible has been realised, and simply on the horizon in the future. From Jaguar Land Rover’s perspective, meanwhile, the project was an opportunity to demonstrate the talent and bespoke nature of its SVO team to a mass audience.