A luxury car dealership in the Capital District offers a unique opportunity to test out the off road capabilities of a vehicle that can get you from the top of a mountain to a fancy dinner in style.
The newly renovated Capital Luxury Car Company on New Karner Road has a unique test track to demonstrate the capabilities of the Land Rover to potential buyers.
Tony Sagnani of BBL Construction Services, with the help of a Land Rover track engineer, designed the track. BBL Construction is based in Colonie, but works on projects from car dealerships to hospitals all over the country.
“We researched all the different tracks off the Internet and other tracks in state and one of the sub-contractors’ design, and then we kind of elaborated it and we got a local engineer involved,” said Sagnani.
Then, Sagnani said that BBL had to follow the guidelines set by Land Rover to design the track. After that, they had to get the design approved by the Town of Colonie and follow the town’s guidelines as far as where the track was allowed to be offset from the road and driveway.
“The track is required by Land Rover, and to get to the nearest dealership you would have to go down to Mount Kisco or west to Rochester,” said Eric Kahn, president of Capital Luxury Car.
“One of the unique things about this dealership is the track in the front of the showroom, which gives customers the opportunities to see the capabilities of vehicle, and the construction of track itself is unique,” said Kahn.
“They don’t have a specification of what the track is supposed to be or look like, but they do have to demonstrate angles that are a little extreme like steep hills and banks,” said Dan Culbert, general manager of the dealership.
“Land Rover started as a farmer’s vehicle and then became a military vehicle, and those capabilities are built into the vehicle. The Land Rover is a luxury off-road vehicle, and Range Rover is more of a premium version. You wouldn’t bring another sport utility here and get over this course. The vehicle is capable of driving off-road stock, and it’s a vehicle you drive up to a five star restaurant,” said Culbert.
The Volvo Dealership has been open since 2006, and the Land Rover and Jaguar franchise was added in 2010. Kahn said they wanted to make the showroom and exterior look as luxurious as the vehicles they were selling.
“Before we did the renovations, the facility was tired, and we updated it to provide a real luxury experience. We built this showroom consistent with the Jaguar and Land Rover image program,” said Kahn. “We did a substantial renovation in 2013 including a total renovation of showroom, and we added approximately 1500 square feet to handle car detailing,”
The renovation began in February 2013 and was completed in December. A 1500 square foot canopy was also added so people could bring their vehicles in for servicing or detailing and be protected from the elements.
The dealership will be holding an invite only, British Invasion themed grand reopening, complete with a Union Jack wrapped Jaguar convertible, Beatles cover band and even people dressed in era appropriate attire.
“I’m very excited for the future of the Land Rover/Jaguar partnership, and I think they are going to continue to expand their offerings in the US,” said Kahn.