Introduction
The second-generation Range Rover arrived in 1995. Like the previous model, it was a truck-like body-on-frame off-roader with a choice of 6- or 8-cylinder engines (only the V-8 was sold in the United States). Significantly more upscale than the original, the second-gen’s luxurious interior featured amenities and options normally reserved for premium sedans.
The third-generation model debuted in 2002. Moving even further up market, it was the first Range Rover to be built on a unibody platform and feature 4-wheel independent suspension. Developed under BMW’s ownership of the Land Rover brand, it was originally fitted with the German automaker’s V-8 powerplant. After Ford Motor Co. bought Land Rover, the BMW engine was replaced by a Jaguar-sourced V-8.
Heavily updated for 2010, the Land Rover Range Rover debuted at the 2009 New York Auto Show with two new Jaguar-sourced engines, a refreshed exterior, an upgraded interior, and several new state-of-the art technologies.
Critical Knowledge:
Introduced nearly four decades ago in the United Kingdom, the Land Rover Range Rover consistently sets the upper bar for luxurious off-road sport utility vehicles. The first-generation model, released in 1970, was designed for durability and ruggedness with a full-time 4-wheel-drive system. With plastic dashboards and vinyl seats, the interior could be washed down with a hose. Only as the model matured (it was in production until 1995) did the automaker add carpet, air conditioning and leather upholstery.
For more information:
2010 Land Rover Range Rover Preview
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