Range Rover

The Range Rover is a full size luxury four-wheel drive sport utility vehicle (SUV) also with extensive off road capabilities, produced by British car maker Land Rover, and serves as its flagship model. Land Rover is one of several auto manufacturers owned by Tata, the Indian multinational conglomerate Tata Group. The Range Rover was launched in 1970, and created a new space in the automotive world. It is now in its fourth generation. Land Rover has expanded the Range Rover model line to include two different designs: the Range Rover Evoque and the Range Rover Sport that derive core styling, brand identity and breadth of capability from the current Range Rover model.

History

The Rover Company (the creator of the Land Rover marque) had been experimenting with a larger model than the Land Rover Series as far back as 1951, when the Rover P4-based two-wheel-drive "Road Rover" project was developed by Gordon Bashford. This was shelved in 1958, and the idea lay dormant until 1966, when engineers Spen King and Bashford set to work on a new model.

Range Rover (L405)

The Range Rover L405 is the fourth generation of Range Rover to be manufactured by Land Rover.

Range Rover (2012-)

Changes from the previous generation include the use of an all-aluminium monocoque body.

The vehicle was unveiled in 2012 Paris Motor Show.

Sales of Range Rover began in late 2012. Early models include a choice of two petrol (5.0-litre 375 PS LR-V8 and 510PS LR-V8 Supercharged) and two diesel (3.0-litre 258PS TDV6 and 4.4-litre 339PS SDV8) engines, all with an eight-speed automatic transmission.

Japan models went on sale in January 2013. Early models include 5.0 V8 Vogue (375PS), 5.0 V8 Supercharged Vogue (510PS), and Autobiography (510PS).

Specifications

The platform is an all-aluminium monocoque structure which is a first for a SUV, resulting in a reduction of 420 kg (925.9 lb) compared to the outgoing model. The Range Rover has a new version of Terrain Response, dubbed Terrain Response 2.

Powertrain

The Range Rover is powered by two diesel engines and one petrol engine; 3.0 L V6 turbo diesel producing 260 PS (191 kW; 256 hp) of power and 600 N·m (443 lb·ft) of torque, 4.4 L V8 turbo diesel produces 344 PS (253 kW; 339 hp) of power and 700 N·m (516 lb·ft) of torque, a single 5.0 L V8 petrol engine unit has two versions, the naturally aspirated engine produces 380 PS (279 kW; 375 hp) of power and 510 N·m (376 lb·ft) of torque while supercharged version produces 510 PS (375 kW; 503 hp) of power and 625 N·m (461 lb·ft) of torque. A supercharged 3.0 L petrol V6 developing 340 PS (250 kW; 335 hp) was added to the range in some export markets in 2013.

Range Rover (L322)

The Range Rover (L322) (usually known simply as the "Range Rover") is the third-generation Range Rover model from British car maker Land Rover.

The L322 was introduced in 2002 and had a production run of over 10 years. Planned and developed under BMW ownership, the vehicle was intended to share components and systems (electronics, core power units etc.) with the E38 7 Series. However, BMW had already sold Land Rover to Ford some 2 years before the L322 went into commercial production.

In the UK and many other territories, ascending trim levels were initially marketed as "SE", "HSE" and "Vogue". Various other trims such as "Vogue SE", "Westminster", "Autobiography" and special editions were subsequently produced.

In his Sunday Times column Jeremy Clarkson once went on record to state that he owned a Range Rover TDV8 Vogue and it was ‘the best car in the world and best 4x4.’

The L322's successor, the L405, was announced in August 2012 and unveiled the same year at the Paris Motor Show.