FOR MORE THAN 45 YEARS RANGE ROVER HAS SET STANDARDS IN LUXURY AND CAPABILITY
RANGE ROVER IS CELEBRATING 45 YEARS OF LUXURY, DESIGN AND INNOVATION
EXPLORE SOME KEY RANGE ROVER MILESTONES FROM THE LAST 45 YEARS OF BRITISH DESIGN
Over the last 45 years Range Rover has delivered a series of industry firsts as it has evolved into the peerless luxury vehicle we know today
Soon after its launch in 1970, the Range Rover was the first car to be displayed at the Louvre, as an ‘Exemplary work of Industrial Design’.
Range Rovers have featured in 1,433 films and TV shows, including four James Bond 007 films: Octopussy (1983), The Living Daylights (1987), Tomorrow Never Dies (1997) and Skyfall (2012).
Famous people who have owned a Range Rover include Her Majesty the Queen, Musician Bruce Springsteen, ex-Beatle Paul McCartney, Sportsman Michael Jordan and Actor Tom Cruise.
The Fourth Generation Range Rover has won more than 80 awards including Luxury Car of the Year by What Car? and Best Luxury SUV from Edmunds.com and Forbes.
Range Rover was the first luxury SUV in the world in 1970 and 45 years on it continues to lead the way. The latest model is the most desirable and sophisticated Land Rover ever, mixing peerless comfort with cutting edge technology to provide the ultimate luxury vehicle experience.
The current Range Rover model was the first SUV in the world to feature a lightweight all-aluminium body.
Last year, Range Rover became the first vehicle to feature Land Rover’s innovative All-Terrain Progress Control (ATPC) system – a world first technology designed to enhance off-road capability by automatically maintaining an ultra-low crawl speed over obstacles, allowing the driver to concentrate on steering the vehicle.
The arrival of the Third Generation Range Rover delivered significant improvements over its predecessor in every department. Bigger and more spacious, the interior was inspired by high-end yacht designs, fine furniture and first-class airline seating. The result was one of the most luxurious vehicle interiors in the world.
Technological highlights included the addition, in 2010, of ‘virtual’ instruments. It also became the first vehicle to provide a ‘dual-view’ infotainment display, allowing the driver to keep tabs on the sat nav instructions while the passenger watched a DVD. As engine technology advanced, the Third Generation Range Rover line-up expanded. First came the 4.2 litre V8 Supercharged petrol engine in 2005, the TDV8 diesel engine in 2006, followed by all-new 5.0 litre V8 petrol engines three years later.
The Second Generation Range Rover or P38a – so named because it was developed in building 38A in the Solihull factory in the UK – arrived in 1994 delivering an even more luxurious interior, greater on-road ability and off-road capability than its predecessor. Key design features made it instantly recognisable as a Range Rover and the iconic silhouette, floating roof, clamshell bonnet, practical split tailgate and continuous waistline endure to this day.
Technological highlights included the addition of height adjustable suspension and an enhanced engine line-up, with a 2.5 litre diesel as well as the 3.9 and 4.6 litre versions of the V8 petrol providing greater performance than ever before.
The Range Rover story began in the seventies as Land Rover looked to revolutionised the growing 4x4 leisure market with the first ever luxury SUV. The First Generation model, known as the Classic and originally only available as a two-door, went on sale in 1970 featuring a lightweight aluminium V8 engine, full-time four-wheel drive and all-round disc brakes. Numerous variants and upgrades were introduced during its 25-year lifespan, including the addition of a four-door model in 1981 and an automatic gearbox in 1982.
Innovations continued at a pace. The first diesel Range Rover arrived in 1986 and in 1989 it became the world’s first 4x4 to feature anti-lock brakes. Then in 1992 it celebrated another SUV first with the introduction of Electronic Traction Control and Automatic Electronic Air Suspension.
FACTS & FEATURES
The original 1970 Range Rover combined excellent on-road handling and refinement with uncompromised all-terrain capability, and subsequent generations have maintained its status at the forefront of the luxury SUV market in terms of capability and desirability.
In 1972 Range Rover became the first vehicle to complete an 18,000-mile Trans-America expedition, staged by the British Army, which included the perilous crossing of the Darien Gap in South America.
The Range Rover’s reputation for unrivalled all-terrain capability was cemented by a number of high-profile endurance tests. The Darien Gap success was followed in 1974 by the successful completion of an epic 7,500-mile trek across the Sahara Desert in 100 days.
In 1977, the Range Rover cemented its good name for capability with victory in the 4x4 class of the 18,750-mile London-Sydney marathon.
The Range Rover won the first Paris – Dakar Rally in 1979, followed by another win in 1981.
Then, in 1985, the diesel-powered Range Rover ‘Bullet’ broke 27 speed records, proving Range Rover’s all-round capability.
Three Range Rover Hybrids complete a 9,950-mile endurance expedition following the ancient silk route, overland from the UK to India.
The pinnacle of refined capability.
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When the Range Rover was introduced 45 years ago, it changed the way the world went off-road. Over the years, it has come to represent the very height of British design. Keep up with the latest Range Rover developments as they happen.
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