RANGE ROVER CELEBRATES 40 YEARS
The Range Rover will celebrate its 40th birthday on 17 June, 2010.
One of the most significant vehicles in the history of motoring, the Range Rover was the world's first vehicle as good on-road as off-road. It was the first fully capable luxury 4x4 and a milestone in the development of the SUV (Sport Utility Vehicle).
There have been three generations of Range Rover. The original, now known as the Classic, went on sale in 1970 and continued in production, with numerous upgrades and variants, for just over 25 years.
The second-generation vehicle, known as the P38a, went on sale in 1994 and was replaced in 2001 by the current model. The continuing success of the Range Rover ensured that other premium automakers jumped into the booming luxury SUV market.
The latest version of the Range Rover has enjoyed higher annual sales than any previous models and continues to be popular around the world. Sold from London to Los Angeles, Sydney to
Shanghai, Turin to Tokyo, the Range Rover remains the ultimate choice for the luxury SUV customer.
From princes to politicians, from rock gods to rock climbers, from footballers to farmers, the Range Rover has always appealed to a diverse group of customers.
A second model line, the Range Rover Sport, was launched in 2005, aimed at more sports-oriented driver-focused customers. It has been a great success, becoming Land Rover's biggest selling vehicle worldwide in 2007.
Later this year, a further member of the Range Rover family will be added, taking the portfolio to three model lines. The new vehicle will be smaller, lighter and more fuel efficient in search of environmental sustainability.
* 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 - 7,500 miles in 100 days
* 1977 A modified Range Rover wins the 4x4 class in the London-Sydney Marathon, a gruelling 18,750-mile 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 5-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 (ETC)
* 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 goes on sale
* 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 All-New Range Rover (L322) 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 LR-V8 5.0 and 5.0 supercharged petrol engines and technology updates
* 2010 Range Rover celebrates its 40th anniversary
* 2010 All-New compact Range Rover to be revealed at Paris Motor Show