Since 1948 Land Rover has been manufacturing authentic 4x4s that represent true ‘breadth of capability’ across the model range. Defender, Discovery, Discovery Sport, Range Rover, Range Rover Sport, Range Rover Velar and Range Rover Evoque each defines the world’s SUV sectors, with 80 per cent of this model range exported to over 100 countries.
Here is a timeline for the Range Rover
1970 Original two-door Range Rover (the Classic) goes on sale
1972 Range Rover crosses Darien Gap on the 29,000km British Army Trans-America expedition. It took 99 days to cover 400km of dense jungle
1977 Range Rover wins 4×4 class in the 30,000km London-Sydney Marathon – the longest ever speed-based car rally
1979 A Range Rover wins the inaugural Paris-Dakar rally (and again in 1981)
1981 First production four-door Range Rover appears along with the first factory limited edition – the ‘In Vogue’
1982 Automatic transmission introduced on Range Rover
1985 Diesel-powered ‘Bullet’ Range Rover breaks 27 speed records
1987 Range Rover launched in North America
1989 Range Rover is world’s first 4×4 to be fitted with anti-lock brakes
1992 Range Rover is world’s first 4×4 to be fitted with electronic traction control and automatic electronic air suspension
1994 Second-generation Range Rover introduced
2001 Third-generation Range Rover introduced
2002 500,000th Range Rover produced at the Solihull plant
2012 Fourth-generation Range Rover introduced – the first all-aluminium SUV
2015 Exclusive Range Rover SVAutobiography launched in New York
2016 Land Rover announces its most powerful Range Rover, the 405kW SVAutobiography Dynamic
2017 Land Rover introduces InControl Touch Duo in Range Rover models
Tosan Aduayi, a motoring journalist since 1994, is the founder, Trendy Africa Magazine and Flowtran global blog. He has reported on Motoring with trademark columns; Roadrunner and Carliners. Contact; [email protected]
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