Land Rover announced a multi-year relationship with Maria

Land Rover announced a multi-year relationship with Wimbledon Champion and one of the world's most talented female athletes -- Maria Sharapova.

The internationally regarded 18-year-old will formally assume a new role as an ambassador for the Land Rover brand at an exclusive Land Rover VIP event this evening [April 11, 2006] in New York. The multi- year relationship includes her use of Land Rover vehicles, and her participation in retail promotions and events.

Sharapova joins the Land Rover team with a multitude of accomplishments including winning Wimbledon in 2004 and being named among the "50 Most Beautiful People" by People Magazine in 2005. Her global personality and strong performance in international tennis is the perfect match for Land Rover, a brand that offers a modern line-up of powerful and award-winning Sport Utility Vehicles.

"Her drive to win on the court combined with her need for the latest technology to keep her on the road to success means this new relationship is a winning combination and a natural fit," said Mike O'Driscoll, President, Aston Martin Jaguar Land Rover North America. "In many ways, she reflects the same sense of adventure and extraordinary abilities that our vehicles represent. Maria's determination and inspirational success combine to make her a global icon and we are delighted that she will be associated with Land Rover."

Having introduced three new models -- the Land Rover LR3, Range Rover Sport and the 2006 Range Rover -- in the last 18 months, Land Rover has established an award-winning portfolio of SUVs.

"Having the right transportation is very important to me as it takes me to practice, to the game and to all my personal appearances," said Maria Sharapova. "When I won Wimbledon, I told myself, 'now I can have a Land Rover.' Now that I am driving myself I love the protection and style that this adds to my daily commute."

Maria at Home among Supermodels

Maria Sharapova was in New York City for the Valentine's Day launch of the 2006 Sports Illustrated Swimsuit Edition on Tuesday (February 14th). The 19-year old Russian superstar appears in the magazine along with 25 of the world's best well-known supermodels.

It is the ninth year that the famous annual edition has included a figure from the world of sport. Maria Sharapova fit right in on Tuesday night as she posed with some of the world's most glamorous models at the Sports Illustrated swimsuit edition launch in New York.

The leggy Russian has made quite a splash in this year's edition having been photographed at the Grace Bay Club in Turks and Caicos by legendary Sports Illustrated photographer Walter Iooss Jr. "It was so fun. So different to anything that I've done before, but I love doing new things. Obviously being in a bikini is very different. You don't have allot to work with, just your body and sand and water. But you know after the first day I got used to it, I was very comfortable and it became very artistic for me." said Maria.

While Maria enjoyed the experience, she said that it was an entertaining diversion and that she is as focused as ever on her tennis game. "Well I think my biggest personality comes out when I'm on centre court. I'm a big competitor. You know I love to compete, that's what I do best. And theses things, I just love to do off court things. I'm sure I'll have other things in my career that I'm going to do after tennis. These are just things that I love to do for fun. This was definitely a new experience that I enjoyed very much."