The Range Rover is undoubtedly one of the most iconic vehicles that the world has seen and this motoring icon has now completed 48 years in the market. Celebrating the near five decades of the SUV's existence, Land Rover recently released a new video that captures the design and engineering innovation that has gone into the making of the Range Rover. Land Rover has introduced some of the best design, refinement and engineering innovation with the Range Rover since 1970 and this video showcases the evolution of that British SUV through every generation.
The video marks the key dates in the history of the Range Rover brand and walks the viewers through the innovations that has gone in the making on this popular SUV right from the 1969 Range Rover Prototype - Velar that served basis for the 1970 Range Rover Classic (two-door), to the most recent 2016 Range Rover SVAutobiography Dynamic. Land Rover chose this month because the production of the original two-door model ended 23 years ago in this very month (January) and SVAutobiography Dynamic will also go on sale around the world.
Range Rover Classic 2-Door
Gerry McGovern, Land Rover Chief Design Officer, said, "Range Rover has, over time, achieved iconic design status through a progressive evolution of its unique DNA, culminating in a vehicle of peerless distinction. From its sense of evolution and sophisticated sensibilities inherent in its interior design to its understated yet powerful exterior proportions, Range Rover stands alone. There's simply nothing else like it."
Over the years, Range Rovers have come with trademark features like - the 'floating' roof design, distinctive clamshell bonnet, continuous belt line and practical split tailgate. Land Rover says that the history of the Range Rover nameplate began with the 26 pre-production prototype models, which was called as 'Velare' - Italian for 'veil' or 'cover'. The SUV began its official journey in 1970 with the Range Rover Classic two-door subsequently incorporating new design elements and changes like the floating roof, later the introduction of the four-door model, and later the addition of the long-wheelbase version.
Range Rover was one of the first vehicles to deliver permanent all-wheel drive while many others were still selectable. In fact, the four-door Range Rover was introduced in 1981 and in 1982 the carmaker had already brought in the automatic transmission in Range Rover. By 1989 the luxury SUV was the first 4x4 to be fitted with anti-lock brakes (ABS) and in 1992 it became the first SUV in the world fitted with electronic traction control and automatic electronic air suspension.
Range Rover SVAutobiography Dynamic
As for the current model, the new Range Rover SVAutobiography Dynamic gets the same V8 that does duty on the monstrous Range Rover Sport SVR specially calibrated to churn out 542bhp and develops 680Nm of torque. All that power enables this new Range Rover to do a 0-100kmph sprint in only 5.4 seconds.
