The Range Rover was Land-Rovers' answer to the public demand for a more
up market off-roader. It was a very technologically advanced vehicle, it's features included: The Range Rover was launched in 1970 and was an instant success, it improved Land-Rover sales considerably. It was based on the same design of chassis as the Original Series 1. This meant that it was very strong. The Range Rover was no less proficient off the road than the Land Rover and as it had a 100" chassis was the perfect compromise between a family sized vehicle and a capable off roader.
The Range Rover was originally launched with just 3 doors, however as money was available a 5-door version was developed and released, eventually taking over from the 3-door version. The V8 engine was increased in capacity, adding more power and speed to the Range Rover.
As time progressed, the Range Rover was forced to move up-market, especially when the Discovery was launched, to avoid any model overlap. At the end of the Old-shape Range Rovers production run the vehicle was marketed as a luxury vehicle.
In 1992 the Range Rover gained a new model, the LSE which had the wheelbase lengthened by 8 inches and a new 4.2 litre engine developed in conjunction with the UK specialist car manufacturer TVR. This model at the time was the most expensive Land-Rover ever at over £39,000. However this was nothing compare to what came next...
(Clockwise from top left) A new top-of-the-range Range Rover; The Optional TVs in the driver and passenger headrests; The Range Rovers legendary off road ability amazes all; A photo from the Range Rover promotional booklet; A Range Rover plunging into water; An old Range Rover
customized for a personal touch.
The new Range Rover brought off-road luxury to all new heights and is the most expensive off-roader ever. The Autobiography option gives the new owner the option of
personalizing their Range Rover, luxuries include: This is carried out by Land Rover Special Vehicles (LRSV). LRSV can do anything for you as long as it is physically possible. Conversions they have carried out on Range Rovers include: The New Range Rover was the result of the take over of Rover by BMW, and new money being invested. The Range Rover benefited from three new engines, one Diesel and two V8 petrol. The Specification of the Range Rover and the physical size increased as well. At present it is possible to purchase a Range Rover costing over £100,000. This places it in the same league as Aston-Martin and approaching the likes of Rolls-Royce and Bentley. This will be certainly achieved when a new model is produced in the next few years. The Range Rover is the longest running model that Land Rover has produced.
The Range Rover old and new shape (1970-)
Wheelbase sizes:
100" : 1970-
108" (LSE only): 1992-94
Engines (Petrol) :
3528cc V8 (Ex-buick engine) : 1970-89
3947cc V8 (Bored out 3.5 litre) : 1989-95
4278cc V8 (Bored out 3.9 litre, for LSE only) : 1992-94
3950cc V8 (New shape Range Rover only) :1994-
4554cc V8 (New shape Range Rover only) :1994-
Engines (Diesel) :
2393cc Turbo Diesel (VM engine - an Italian Engine manufacturer) : 1986-89
2.5 litre Turbo Diesel (Bored out VM engine) : 1989-92
2495cc Tdi (Also used in Defender and Discovery) : 1992-96
2495cc 6 cyl Turbo (Developed in conjunction with BMW - New shape Range Rover only) : 1994-
Full-time 4x4
100Mph performance
A Sony Play station attached to two headsets in the back of the driver and passanger headrests
A Fridge, and cocktail bar
A Fax machine as part of the mobile office setup
A 6 door conversion
A stretch Limousine conversion
The famous "Pope mobile" in which the pope stands up in a glass box behind bullet proof glass.