The Range Rover was initially conceived in the 1950’s but production didn’t start until 1970 and with it began a new era for 4WD vehicles. Production of the Range Rover Classic ran until the mid 1990’s and in that time it was voted by Land Rover Owner International Magazine as the best Land Rover of all time and held the honour of being the only vehicle to be put on display in the Louvre.
Range Rover built its reputation on top of its robust steel ladder frame, something which was initially pioneered to great acclaim on Rover’s P6 saloon car. The construction afforded the Range Rover’s bodywork a great deal of structural strength while using aluminium outer panels. Further innovations included coil sprung suspension rather than leaf springs and disk brakes all round.
The Range Rover Classic began a period of phasing out in 1994. With a greater emphasis on comfort and sophistication, the clean, square-cut functionality of the original design began to be streamlined and air suspension became a feature. However, an even stronger chassis and increased ground clearance maintained its position as a serious off-roader.
Further improvements were to follow with the introduction of the Range Rover III in 2002. A new and improved monocoque chassis and all-round independent, cross-linked, air-sprung suspension made for a softer ride off-road. The Range Rover Sport came along in 2005, offering a 400 HP supercharged option that was pitched at drivers who favoured on-road performance while wishing to retain the off-road credentials.
With the introduction of the new Range Rover Evoque the Range Rover marquee makes its first and much anticipated foray into the 4×4 coupé market. This development coincided with Range Rover’s 40th anniversary and signifies the start of a new era for the manufacturer. The Evoque will be the smallest, lightest and most fuel efficient Range Rover that has ever been produced, capable of 130g/km of CO 2 emissions.
Author Bio:
This article was written for Land Rover Our Planet explaining the development on the Range Rover.