Land Rover Range Rover (Range Rover)
Story
One of the legendary models of the eminent British brand has come a long way from sketches to real embodiment in metal. The brand management decided to build this SUV back in the 1950s, but the development of the model, its approval design features, and, finally, the creation of the prototype took about twenty years. For the first time, a test sample of the car was presented in 1967 (a total of 26 were made), and it took another two years for road tests and fine-tuning of all components and assemblies of the model. Range Rover made its official debut in 1970.
The car turned out to be so successful both from a stylistic and technical point of view that in the same year it became an exhibit of the Louvre and was referred to as "the best work of industrial design of our time." The first generation, later called the Range Rover Classic, was produced for 25 years. At first, the car did not differ in its now inherent premium interior features - it was a “workhorse” that could move perfectly off-road, and tolerably - in the city.
However, compared to the existing model range Land Rover, Range Rover was revolutionary in its way. Before this, it concerned its running gear, where springs were used in the rear suspension, not leaf springs. The drive was permanent complete. The model had a frame body structure with a ladder-type chassis.
Until 1980, Range Rover was produced in one body modification - a three-door station wagon, and, starting in 1981, a five-door version of this car was introduced.
The first generation of the model was equipped with four petrol (3.5, 3.9 and 4.2 liters) and four diesel (2.3 and 2.5 liters) engines. They were aggregated with 4 or 5-speed manual transmission, and in the 1980s - and 3 or 4-speed automatic transmission. Since the mid-1980s, the car has gradually moved away from the image of a simple SUV, turning into a premium car.
The interior of the Range Rover began to be dressed in leather and expensive woods, a premium audio system, air conditioning and other equipment providing passenger comfort appeared. For a quarter of a century during which the Range Rover Classic was produced, its design was practically unchanged - slight cosmetic changes were made in 1986 (the radiator grille, front bumper, side mirrors and door handles were modified).
Second Range generation Rover (factory code P38A) was introduced in 1994.
The car has significantly increased in size, received an elongated wheelbase, but retained the body structure and exterior features inherent in the first generation. New for the model were the grille, headlights (rectangular), front and rear bumpers, rear lights. But the main changes have occurred in the technical "stuffing" of the car. Range Rover has an innovative air suspension that allows you to change the height ground clearance depending on road conditions.
In addition, starting from this generation, Range Rover is available in only one body modification - a five-door station wagon. This generation of the SUV was equipped with two petrol (4.0 and 4.6 liters) and one diesel (2.5 liters from BMW) engines. They were paired with a 4-speed automatic or 5-speed manual transmission.
The third generation Range Rover (L322), presented in 2002, was produced with the direct participation of engineers and designers concern BMW, which by then had gained control of Land Rover.
The car again grew in size, and received a full set of premium equipment from the fourth generation BMW 5 Series. The exterior and interior of the car have been solidly transformed, but again, as in the case of the second generation of the model, the main changes have occurred in the technical “stuffing” of the Range Rover.
Starting from this generation frame structure the body gives way to the carrier, the mechanical transmission is discontinued, and the air suspension is modernized. The design is also changing rear suspension- in the third generation, it is independent, which makes it possible to make the car more comfortable for movement in urban and highway modes.
The Range Rover (L322) has experienced several facelifts in 2005, 2006, 2007, 2010 and 2011.
The car was equipped with gasoline and diesel engines from different manufacturers. So, 4.2 and 5.0 liter gasoline units were developed by Jaguar, 4.4 liter engines for the model were produced by brands such as BMW and Jaguar. Diesel engines of 3.6 and 4.4 liters were produced by Ford, and the 2.9 liter engine went to an SUV from BMW. Engines were aggregated with 5, 6 and 8-speed automatic transmission with function manual switching gears.
In the fall of 2012, at the motor show in Paris, Land Rover introduced a new, fourth generation SUV Range Rover (L405).
Exterior
The British from Land Rover remained true to their conservative traditions and did not make significant stylistic changes in the appearance of the fourth generation Range Rover. The front of the car received minor cosmetic changes. Appeared new grille U-shaped radiator, and the Land Rover logo has moved from the bottom to the middle perforated "rib" of the grille. The headlights have also become narrow, which have acquired a wing-shaped shape, bi-xenon optics and LED daytime running lights.
The design has changed front bumper: a narrow central air intake extends the entire length of the bumper, and above it are the side sections, barred by three horizontally arranged "blades". The panel covering the central air intake has built-in rectangular fog lights. The hood of the car remained the same shape, as well as the front pillars, the roof.
On the profile of the car, new three-leaved “gills” are visible, located behind the front fenders. These "gills" are stylistically combined with moldings running along the bottom of the doors (all of these elements are made of aluminum). Side mirrors have acquired a different, oval shape. Slightly changed the design of the stern of the car.
The rear pillars of the model are now installed under more acute angle, giving the impression of a bulge at the rear of the vehicle. The tailgate of the fourth generation Range Rover has a smaller glass, trapezoidal niche where the license plate is placed. The rear lights have become more elongated, acquired the shape of the letter "L".
Interior
The interior of the car has radically changed, especially the driver's workplace. Range Rover received an updated dashboard U-shaped, covered with an arcuate visor. Significantly enlarged tachometer and speedometer, as well as a full-color screen on-board computer located between them.
The four-spoke steering wheel of the fourth generation of the model has also changed: it has a new hub in the shape of the Latin letter “U”, thicker than the previous generation, a rim with precious wood inserts, and comfortable keys remote control multimedia system and cruise control on the side spokes.
The central, T-shaped console got rid of a lot of buttons (which was inherent in the third generation of the model). In its upper part there are central air ducts, under them there is a rectangular touch screen standard multimedia system. The lower part of the console is occupied by the vehicle's climate control unit. On the wide central tunnel is a round joystick gear selector, behind it is another joystick, with which the driver can select the operating mode air suspension car. On the front passenger side of the central tunnel there is a deep niche for small things. A central armrest with a container is installed between the front seats. The central tunnel divides the car's cabin into two parts, both at the front and at the rear. Moreover, in the rear part of the cabin on the tunnel there are cup holders that duplicate the controls of the multimedia system, and an armrest.
The front seats of the car - with wide backs and seats, are equipped with pronounced lateral and lumbar support. Full-color screens of the multimedia system are mounted in the headrests of the front seats.
There are also two rear seats, and they, like the front ones, have lateral and lumbar support. In the roof of the car there is a panoramic sunroof with a curtain,
Technical range characteristics Rover 2013
The fourth generation of Range Rover is built on the new L405 platform with a wheelbase of 2922 mm. The length of the body is 4999 mm, width - 2220, and height - 1835 mm. The body of the car of the supporting structure is completely made of aluminum, which lightened the curb weight of the car by 39% compared to the previous generation.
The car is equipped with two diesel and one gasoline engines. The base diesel engine with a volume of 3.0 liters develops a power of 258 Horse power. 4.4 liter diesel unit has a capacity of 339 horsepower. And the power of gasoline 5.0 liter engine is 510 horsepower. All engines are aggregated with an 8-band automatic transmission. The drive of the car is full.
In Russia, Range Rover IV is estimated at 3,996,000. This version is equipped with a three-liter diesel engine that produces 248 horsepower. Also available is a 4.4-liter 339-horsepower diesel modification worth 4,765,000 rubles. The option with a five-liter 510-horsepower gasoline engine costs at least 5,305,000 rubles. All versions are equipped with an eight-speed automatic transmission gears.
The full history of Land Rover vehicles spans over 60 years of reliability, off-road capability and maximum comfort for the driver and passengers. Initially, Land Rover was an exclusively English corporation, but in 1994 it was acquired by BMW.
To date, an impressive range of cars from the legendary Land Rover company, for which concepts bad roads simply does not exist, is considered one of the most sought after and prestigious cars, perfectly emphasizing the status of its owner.
From World War II to the present day
During the Second World War, industry in Britain received a steady income, with the end of hostilities, financial flows dried up. The country's leadership was forced to look for ways to resolve this situation. This can be considered an important impetus in the history of the development of the entire English automotive industry, and the Land Rover brand in particular.
Taking advantage of the difficult economic situation in the country, Rover company quite easily received approval from the country's leadership for a new launch of mass production of cars. The company was provided with a completely new factory located in Solihull, which was built before the outbreak of the war, and throughout its entire length produced military equipment, being classified.
Thus began the history of the land rover company, which, on a very large territory of the plant provided to it, could afford to launch the production of a small number of car models that first rolled off the assembly line before the war. new idea to enter the market, the brothers, who were managing the company at that time, proposed to create a simple and inexpensive "transport" with a minimum need for scarce sheet steel.
The whole history of the land rover brand would have been completely different without the creation of the first post-war car of the same name, the prototype of which was Willis Jeep. It was extremely easy to daily operation And reliable car with excellent cross-country ability, for the production of which a minimum of steel was required. This car was a definite stopgap that allowed Land Rover to get through a difficult period of strict steel quotas.
By life a winner
In the history of land rover huge played a role a sharp decline"interest" in aluminum, which was noted after the war. Since it was much cheaper than steel, the engineers came up with the idea to use it more widely for the body of the new model. Aluminum was not only easier to process and required fewer resources, but it was also highly resistant to corrosion.
The lack of metal also affected the chassis of the car. The inability to manufacture steel parts of the chassis, the high economic costs that were necessary for this, prompted engineers to an original solution. Pieces of steel (in the form of scrap), which were in abundance, were welded together, gathering, subsequently, into supporting frame. This not only saved resources, but also made it possible to manufacture a frame, the analogues of which in the history of land rover yet did not have.
In the spring of 1947, they started assembling the prototype, and by the summer it was completely ready. As it turned out, just such a car fully met the needs of society at that time. By the spring of 1948, 25 samples of the new car had already been assembled. It was announced at an exhibition held in Amsterdam, where it was a huge success, becoming not a temporary one, as planned, but a popular SUV for many years.
Perfection carried through the years
In the same year, the number of new SUVs released several times exceeded the number of sedans produced by the company, providing a steady income. This allowed the modernization of the model to begin, and in 1950 a completely different all-wheel drive system was implemented in the history of the Land Rover brand. By means of a special lever, it was now possible to switch between all-wheel drive or only rear-wheel drive.
In the 60s, Land Rover significantly updates the list of cars produced. In addition to the forward control car option, the list of cars produced by personal orders has been expanded. For example, a landing vehicle appeared weighing only 500 kg, designed to be delivered to the combat zone by air. Throughout its history, the Land Rover has been on construction sites, helped firefighters and doctors - all due to its unsurpassed performance in terms of cross-country ability.
After a serious marketing research, held in the same year, it turned out that Land Rover managed to "recapture" more than a third of the global SUV market. After that, it became clear that the company was completely open new market cars for connoisseurs of outdoor activities.
It all started with the intention of the engineers to make only a small part of the improvements to the already released version. But as a result of painstaking work on a new development by Rover design studio specialists, a fundamentally different car has turned out, with an already proven rigid frame and a lightweight body, which is highly corrosion resistant. The car, called the Range Rover, would then be exhibited in the Louvre, and the public got to know him in 1970, and the car instantly made a real sensation.
The Range Rover was produced with two doors, complemented by a rear folding side. The exterior of the car could not be called chic, but its sales literally beat all records. Its exceptional reliability will be confirmed a little later by a group of military men who made a rally from Alaska to Argentina, where the Range Rover has never failed its creators for six months, overcoming all the tests with honor.
Changing the look, stay true to tradition
In the 80s, the company began to implement the Project Jay project, as a result of which the history of the Land Rover Discovery car model belonging to the class of family cars was laid. The already proven wheelbase from Range Rover with a lightweight and inexpensive body. As a result of the work, a multi-year history land rover discovery, which was first seen by the public in 1989.
If Discovery and Range Rover confidently occupied the luxury car segment, the victorious story of the updated Land Rover Defender began a little later. This model has proven itself, for example, among fans of outdoor activities. This was facilitated not only by the comfort of the car and its excellent handling, but also by unsurpassed off-road performance which have not been surpassed by other manufacturers so far.
After the acquisition of the Rover Group by the corporation bmw updates model range continued. The design of a new car began. As conceived by the designers, the new Range Rover was to be completely different from previously produced cars. For him, a fundamentally new chassis was developed and the V8 engine was “redrawn”. In addition, the engineers provided for the possibility of equipping the car with a 2.5 liter diesel engine.
The new car was equipped with the latest electronics system that controlled absolutely everything - from the perfect system responsible for driving safety to the suspension, which was made self-levelling. New model was called the Range Rover Classic, and this luxury car existed for 26 years, during which more than 300 thousand copies rolled off the assembly line.
The history of the Land Rover Freelander model, unlike the history of the Defender or Discovery, began relatively recently. Although the market small SUVs present enough models, the appearance of the Freelander could not go unnoticed, since it inherited all best performance legendary brand. Since the start of work on this model, a lot of latest developments, without which it is already unrealistic to imagine a car.
For example, HDC (Controlled Descent), which is based on ABS, was developed and patented, and this is just one of hundreds of Land Rover innovations. The appearance of the Freelander car did not become a point in the history of the company's development. In 2005, motorists showed genuine interest in a new model launched on the market - Range Rover Sport, which, according to a number of characteristics, has become the best car mobile in the history of Land Rover. This is a versatile, maneuverable car with excellent cross-country ability and a comfortable driving style on any road. The capabilities of the "legendary" car can be seen in the video
British automobile company Land Rover, which specializes in the production of premium cars off-road, was born in 1948. The Wilkes brothers became the founders of the enterprise. Maurice Wilkes was then chief designer, and Spencer Wilkes was chief executive of the British automaker Rover. As conceived by the leading managers, the Land Rover project was supposed to help Rover survive difficult times owned by the company. But over time, the company occupied its own confident niche in the global automotive market.
Land Rover 1st generation 1948
Since 2008, Land Rover has been owned by the Tata Group, which owns the Indian manufacturer Tata cars motors.
The American military jeep Willys was taken as the basis of the first Land Rover car. Post-war Britain had a difficult metal situation, but aluminum was plentiful, as were aircraft parts. The Wilks brothers were able to obtain from the government the capacity of the Meteor Works plant and the approval of the project for the production of simple four-wheel drive vehicles with aluminum body.
Land Rover 1968
Before official date registration of Land Rover in 1947, a pre-production sample of a new car with the name Center Steer was ready. The car had a ladder-type frame, a motor and transmission from a Rover passenger car, a body painted in green color paint from military aircraft. Having made 25 prototypes new car and renaming the novelty Land Rover, the creators presented their SUV on car exhibition in Amsterdam. Where the car, as the history of the Land Rover company notes, was of great interest among specialists and ordinary motorists.
Range Rover 1st generation 1970
In the first year of production (1948), the number of Land Rover SUVs produced was equal to all Rover passenger sedans that came off the assembly line. And in 1949, twice as many jeeps were sold than the year before.
In 1950, the first-born Land Rover underwent modernization. They improved the all-wheel drive system (the driver could choose between all-wheel drive and rear-wheel drive with a lever), the working volume of the engine increased, and versions with different wheelbases appeared.
land Rover Discovery 1 generation
In 1957, a 2-liter diesel engine was installed on the Land Rover, and a 2.3-liter gasoline unit appeared a year later.
In 1959, the production of SUVs exceeded 250 thousand copies, the car was appreciated by firefighters and rescuers, military and civil services.
In 1965, the half-millionth Land Rover car was produced, the range of engines installed on cars expanded to include six-cylinder engines.
Range Rover 2 generation
In 1968, the British SUV got a V8, a new all-wheel drive system and disc brakes. Land Rover became part of the British Leyland Motor Corporation.
In 1970, a significant event takes place in the history of the company - the debut of a new Range Rover model. A car with a stunning design (was exhibited in the Louvre next to the painting by Leonardo da Vinci "La Gioconda", as an example of modern art) and comfortable interior. Off-road qualities new items were not inferior to the traditional Land Rover.
land Rover Freelander, 1997
During the 70-80s of the 20th century, Land Rover and Range Rover are constantly being refined and improved, the company's cars take part in the Paris-Dakar rally raid and a specially created extreme competition for Land Rover and Range Rover SUVs - Camel Trophy (1980-2000) .
Land Rover Discovery 3
In 1989, a third model appeared - Land Rover Discovery.
1990 - The classic Land Rover gets a new name Defender.
In 1993, the British company came under the control of the German BMW.
Year 1994, the second generation of Range Rover appears, premium SUV becomes more luxurious and more expensive.
land Rover Defender 90 and Defender 110, 2011
In 1997, another new Land Rover was created, the first model of the company with load-bearing body- Land Rover Freelander. This car opens the era of crossovers. Land Rover Defender 90 with eight passengers was able to climb the highest mountain in Europe - Elbrus (5642 meters), thereby proving its extraordinary off-road capabilities.
In 1998, the Land Rover Defender undergoes a significant modernization and upgrade, starting Sales Land Rover Discovery 2 generations.
Land Rover took over in 2000 Ford motor company. By the way, the same fate befell Lincoln, Volvo, Aston Martin and Jaguar.
Range Rover Evoque
In 2001, the 3 millionth Land Rover SUV rolled off the assembly line, the Land Rover Discovery 2 was recognized as the best 4x4 by Auto Express magazine and the new 3rd generation Range Rover premiered.
2003 - underwent restyling Rover freelander.
In 2004, the Land Rover Discovery3 premiered at the New York Auto Show.
In 2005, after modernization and restyling, the second version of the SUV with a shortened body appeared - Range Rover Sport.
Year 2007 - the start of sales of Freelander 3.
In 2009, the fourth generation Rover Discovery appeared.
In 2011, the line-up replenishment - in the face of a compact luxury crossover Range Rover Evoque.
Range history Rover in four generations
Currently, Land Rover and Range Rover SUVs are represented in Russia and the CIS countries by all manufactured models: Defender 90, Defender 110, Freelander 2, Discovery4, Evoque, Range Rover and Sport Range Rover.
The production of Land Rover and Range Rover SUVs is carried out at the UK enterprises in the cities of Solihull and Halwood. The third Freelander in addition to the UK is produced in Aqaba (Jordan) and Pune (India).
It all started after the end of the Second World War, when the British industry was in a very deplorable state. Quotas for strategic materials were distributed only among those enterprises that were able to create competitive products for export. But the fast and elegant cars of the Rover brand in this hard times were completely unclaimed. The managing director of the company, Spencer Wilks, was ready to release anything, just to survive the crisis. A random idea came from the director's brother, Rover's chief designer. At this point, Maurice Wilks' Willys broke down on his farm. Thanks to this occasion, the legendary English stamp SUVs.
The American Jeep was taken as the basis, but the units were supplied from Rover: the SUV was equipped with a serial 48-horsepower engine and a modified gearbox, as well as transfer case for plug-in all-wheel drive with freewheel. When driving in a straight line, both axles were leading, and when braking or turning, the clutch opened, and the front wheels rotated freely. With the body turned out more interesting. Have you noticed the riveted aluminum panels of the modern Defender? Such an unusual design for a car was born just with the advent of the first Land Rover. The fact is that in foggy Albion in the post-war period there was a strong shortage of ferrous metal. And a solution was quickly found: after the reduction in the production of bombers and fighters, a huge amount of aluminum remained in warehouses. Aluminum sheets intended for aircraft plating turned out to be much cheaper than conventional steel. Since then, Land Rover bodies have been covered with "winged metal", which has a positive effect on the weight of the car.
Center Steer prototype (1946)
The first prototype was called "Centre Steer": hoping for sales in European countries, and not wanting to bother with the release of versions with different steering positions, the Wilks brothers decided to kill two birds with one stone by making the steering wheel in the center. And the hopes were fully justified: the pre-production model, shown in the spring of 1948 in Amsterdam, made a splash. The Spartan SUV, devoid of any comfort, was sold in 68 countries just three months after the start of production, and by the end of the first year, more new all-terrain vehicles were produced than Rover passenger cars. True, the steering wheel on production versions still had to be returned to a more familiar place.
Land Rover Series 1 (1948–54). The first production Land Rover weighed 1.2 tons and accelerated to only 75 km/h. The SUV was extremely spartan, noisy and tough, but the farmers liked it
Remarkably, this Land Rover cost just £450 – almost half the price of a standard Rover sedan. So low price was caused by the fact that the all-terrain vehicle fell under the preferential commercial category: the car was equipped with a power take-off shaft, to which it was possible to connect agricultural attachments.
Land Rover Series II (1958–1971)88 Pickup
Having gained popularity, the SUV has been constantly modernized. The all-wheel drive with freewheel was replaced by the classic Part-time with a plug-in limber and hubs, and after that - a more modern Full-time. All models were designated by numbers showing the length of the wheelbase in inches (80, 86, 88, 90109, 110127…). Since 1957, they began to install diesel units. Comfort gradually improved: hints of ergonomics appeared in the interior, the bodies acquired a hard roof, and spring suspension began to be used instead of leaf springs. Without losing its values, the car has survived to this day: since 1990, this Land Rover has been produced under the name Defender. And so it happened that the car, which was conceived as a temporary "anti-crisis" measure, eventually formed a legendary off-road brand that still adheres to its traditions.
Land Rover Series III 88 (1971–1985)
Land Rover Defender 110 Station Wagon (1990-2013)
But automotive market constantly developed, and buyers became more and more exacting. And in the early seventies, the company decided to create a fundamentally new SUV that combines high permeability and comfort passenger car middle class. This is how the Range Rover was born, which soon won the honor of standing next to Leonardo's Mona Lisa in the Louvre as an example of modern art.
Debuting in 1970, the Range Rover helped the company stay afloat during a difficult period. Constantly modernized, he lasted on the assembly line until 1996.
Oriented to American market, Range Rover was equipped with powerful Buick V8 gasoline engines (134-200 hp), as well as 4-cylinder diesel engines (106-121 hp)
Due to permanent all-wheel drive and long-stroke spring suspension Range Rover had extraordinary off-road abilities
To close the gap between the comfortable Range Rover and the utilitarian Defender, the Discovery was created on the basis of the Range Rover. From the older brother, the entire aggregate base (engines, axles, gearboxes, razdatka), some elements of the body and frame passed to him.
The first Discovery (1989-1998) was shown at the Frankfurt Motor Show in 1989. So Land Rover got new class: comfortable family car with outstanding off-road performance
From 1990 to 1996, Discovery were permanent members of the Camel Trophy
Land Rover Discovery II (1998-2004)
Second generation Range Rover (1994-2002)
In 1997, the youngest and least off-road of the Land Rover line appeared - new Freelander. The car was distinguished by a monocoque body, independent suspensions and the absence of a downshift. And although fans of the brand looked in the direction of the new product with obvious distrust, the car was in excellent demand: from the very beginning of production and for five years in a row, the small Land Rover remained the most popular crossover in Europe.
The first Land Rover Freelander (1997-2006) featured a variety of body styles
The third generation Range Rover (2002-2013) was very different from its predecessors: remaining a full-fledged SUV, it became even more comfortable
The third generation Discovery (2004-2009) with a monumental design in the style of the Range received a fully independent suspension and a frame integrated into the body. But it didn't hurt the off-road ability in any way.
Assists the driver on off-road electronic assistant Terrain Responce, long travel suspension and good geometry
Second Freelander (2006-2013) built on common platform EUCD with Volvo XC60 shown in London in 2006
Range Rover Sport (2005-2013), although built on a common platform with Discovery, is easily confused with the usual Range
The fourth generation Land Rover Discovery (2009-2013) has not changed much
Range Rover Evoque (2011-2013) - compact crossover, created on the Freelander aggregate base
Fourth generation Range Rover (2012-2013)
Second Range Rover Sport (2013)
From the 60s Land's Rover changed owners frequently: British Leyland (1968-1998), British Aerospace (1988-1994), BMW (1994-2000), Ford (2000-2008) and most recently Indian TATA. Ratan Tata, Chairman of the Board of Directors of Tata Sons and Tata Motors, promised that the company will maintain its unique distinctive features. In my opinion, they have succeeded so far.
