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Carsales Staff24 Jun 2015
NEWS

Range Rover turns 45

World's first luxury SUV celebrates 45th birthday and four generations

Just a day after it celebrated two million examples of the iconic Defender a day ago with Bear Grylls, Land Rover is now commemorating the 45th birthday of its Range Rover.

While the Defender off-roader was born in 1948, the first Range Rover appeared 22 years later in 1970 and, despite attracting considerably fewer buyers worldwide, has now spawned an entire sub-brand comprising three models: the 'Rangie' itself, the Range Rover Sport and the Range Rover Evoque.

The Rangie line-up also includes Land Rover's fastest model ever, the 405kW, 260km/h Range Rover Sport SVR and is expected to be bolstered by a fourth model positioned between the Rangie Sport and Evoque, which itself will soon be joined by the segment-busting Evoque Convertible.

Interestingly, Jaguar Land Rover hasn't said exactly how many Range Rovers it has produced in 45 years, but to May this year it has sold 26,519 (up 20 per cent on 2014). This compared to 39,524 Range Rover Sports and 48,286 Range Rover Evoques. Meantime in the same period, 9472 Defenders, 19,093 Discovery Sports and 23,188 Discoverys were sold.

Today's Range Rover is one of the most sophisticated off-road vehicles available, fitted with a fully digitised instrument panel and even dual-view infotainment systems that allow passenger to watch movies while the driver only sees the navigation.

There are plans to adopt a new smartphone remote-controlled driving system for tricky off-road work that combines with a new all-terrain progress control system to make veterans out of novices. The company is even working with augmented reality windscreen projection systems and has been testing transparent bonnet technology!

Land Rover even has plans to produce the Range Rover Evoque and other JLR models in China, as part of a joint-venture with Chery, from 2016.

But Range Rovers weren't always this way...

Part of the 45th anniversary celebrations for the world's first luxury SUV include a look back at where it all started, and the journey on which the UK brand has embarked.

First-generation Range Rover: 1970-1994

The very first Land Rover Range Rover prototype – to give it its official name – was conceived in 1966 and the first production vehicle emerged in Cornwall in 1970 "to critical acclaim", reckons Land Rover.

Fitted with a Rover V8 engine that pumped out just over 100kW, or 135hp, the first-generation Rangie was available to the public with a full-time 4WD system, manual gearbox and disc brakes at all four corners (a rarity in the 70s).

It was also a two-door model and pitched as a sporty lifestyle vehicle. In today's SUV-mad world, it seems Range Rover were well ahead of the curve.

Its toughness was proved in various motorsport events, including the 30,180km (18,750 mile) London to Sydney marathon in 1977. It then went on to win the first ever Paris-Dakar rally in 1979. And it was even built in Australia in that year.

In 1979 Jaguar-Rover Australia imported completely knocked down (CKD) kits and assembled the Range Rover at its Enfield plant in NSW until 1983, until government tariffs made it cost prohibitive.

By 1981 the original Rangie spawning a four-door model and an automatic transmission was offered in 1982.

In 1986 Land Rover introduced a diesel engine and by 1989 it was the world's first 4x4 with anti-lock brakes. Back then new product cycles in the automotive industry were not the "brand-new model every six years" we see today, and as such the first-gen Rangie soldiered on for 24 years until 1994.

Second-generation Range Rover: 1994-2001

The second Rangie, dubbed P38a after the 38A building it was conceived in at the brand's Solihull factory, brought a brand-new look, more luxury and improvements in off-road capability. It also heralded the split tailgate and clamshell bonnet that endure to this day.

Upgraded engines made the cut, including a 2.5-litre diesel along with 3.9- and 4.6-litre V8 petrol engines offering improved punch, and in 1999 the company cemented it place as luxury SUV maker when it launched the ultra-lavish Linley special-edition. Only 10 were made, priced at £100,000. Notably it was one of the first European luxury vehicles offer a television and satellite-navigation.

Third-generation Range Rover: 2001-2012

Known as the L322, the third-gen Rangie was developed and built under the stewardship of BMW, which absorbed the company briefly, and was a larger vehicle than its predecessor.

Making use of BMW 7 Series tech, it offered improved interior space and was inspired by "high-end yacht designs, fine furniture and first-class airline seating".

In 2005 the Range Rover Sport became the second model in the Rangie line-up and by 2010 Range Rover offered a digitised 'virtual' instrument panel, dual-view infotainment screens and beefed up 4.2-litre supercharged petrol V8 and diesel TDV8 engines.

Fourth generation: From 2012

The current Range Rover was the world's first all-aluminium bodied SUV, dubbed the L405. Constructed under the ownership of Indian manufacturing giant Tata, newfound research and development dollars ensured it would be one of the most capable and luxurious SUVs yet.

Revealed at the 2012 Paris motor show, the new model is offered with a range of diesel, petrol and hybrid powertrains. "Range Rover was the first luxury SUV in the world in 1970 and 45 years on it continues to lead the way," says Nick Rogers, Jaguar Land Rover's chief of global engineering operations.

Range Rover timeline:

1966 -- Work began on the first Range Rover prototype, known as the '100-inch station wagon'

1970 -- The original two-door Range Rover – known as the Classic – goes on sale

1971 -- Range Rover receives the RAC Dewar award for outstanding technical achievement

1972 -- The Range Rover is the first vehicle to cross the Darien Gap on a British Army Trans America expedition

1974 -- Range Rover completes west to east Sahara desert expedition – 7500 miles in 100 days

1977
-- A modified Range Rover wins the 4x4 class in the London-Sydney
Marathon, a gruelling 30,000 km (18,750 miles) event and the longest
ever speed-based car rally

1979 -- A specially modified Range Rover wins the first Paris-Dakar rally (a Range Rover wins again in 1981)

1981
-- First production four-door Range Rover appears along with the first
factory produced limited-edition Range Rover – the 'In Vogue'

1982 -- Automatic transmission becomes available on Range Rover

1983 -- Range Rover five-speed manual gearbox is introduced

1985
-- The diesel-powered Range Rover 'Bullet' breaks 27 speed records,
including a diesel record for averaging more than 100mph for 24 hours

1987 -- Range Rover launched in North America

1989 -- Range Rover is the world's first 4x4 to be fitted with ABS anti-lock brakes

1990 -- Limited Edition CSK – named after founder Charles Spencer King – is launched as a sportier Range Rover

1992 -- Range Rover Classic is the world's first 4x4 to be fitted with Electronic Traction Control

1992 -- Long-wheelbase LSE (known as County LWB in the US) launched

1992 -- Automatic electronic air suspension introduced, a world first for a 4x4

1994 -- Second-generation (P38a) Range Rover launched

1996 -- Range Rover Classic bows out after total production of 317,615 units

1999 -- Limited Edition Range Rover Linley appears at London motor show

2001 -- Third-generation (L322) Range Rover launched

2002 -- Half-millionth Range Rover produced at the Solihull plant

2005 -- Second model line – the Range Rover Sport – launched

2006 -- Terrain Response and TDV8 diesel introduced

2009 -- Range Rover features all-new 5.0-litre V8 and 5.0-litre supercharged petrol engines

2010 -- Range Rover celebrates its 40th anniversary

2011 -- Third model line – the Range Rover Evoque – goes on sale

2012 -- Fourth-generation (L405) Range Rover launched as the world’s first all-aluminium SUV

2013 -- Long-wheelbase Autobiography Black Edition unveiled at the Los Angeles motor show

2014 -- Long-wheelbase Range Rover Hybrid makes its world debut in China

2015
-- Range Rover SV Autobiography launched at New York International Auto
Show. Six millionth Land Rover produced is a Range Rover LWB SE Vogue
destined for China. Autobiography designation used to identify flagship
models, celebrates 21st anniversary

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