Land Rover launched the Braemar limited edition of 200 built-to-order vehicles – 75 Discoverys, 25 Defenders, 75 Freelanders and 25 Range Rovers. They will be available only through the company's 13 Scottish dealerships.

Phil Popham, Land Rover sales director, said: “Scotland has probably always been our strongest region.”

The target for 2001 was 4,500 sales (up 600 year-on-year) but 4,800 units was now expected (2.38% of the Scottish market, compared with 1.99% for the UK).

He predicted UK sales would finish near the 45,000 mark, 6,000 ahead of 2001 projections.

Stephen Jay, Land Rover's regional manager for Scotland, said: “We have seen a significant investment from all our franchised network across Scotland in terms of corporate identity over the past two or three years. Now they are seeing the benefit of that commitment.”

Land Rover's recently opened £3m Shields Adventure Centre in South Glasgow is already its No2 outlet in Scotland and is intent on becoming the top dealership.