Is this feature required to have this functionality from the app on your phone?

Or is this feature just giving you the ability to control preconditioning without a phone, using the remote fob?

 

You do not need the fob in order to use the Remote app on your phone to precondition the cabin. In many countries, such as here in the US, you can't even order the fob.

 

That's good to know. But do you need this option to use the app to precondition the cabin?

 

No, you do not to spec or buy the fob, the ability is built into the L663 Defenders once the car's VIN is linked to your Land Rover Remote phone App. You can set a target temperature and start the car remotely and the remote climate start will endeavor to get there. It'll run for 30 minutes then the car shuts down on its own. Apparently you can't do a subsequent remote climate start w/o first physically going to the car and opening the door and closing/locking it again first.

The remote app does not have the ability to schedule remote climate start/cabin preconditioning ahead of time, just on demand.