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Photo above right: Author's Range Rover 4.0SE   Above right: Author's Range Rover 4.0SE in Echo Canyon, Death Valley, 1999. (photo courtesy of Gordon Kallio). Left: Range Rover Mk III venturing off road,  2002. Lower Right: Author's Classic Range Rover in  Greenwater Canyon, Death  Valley, 1994.

The Range Rover Concept

When the first Range Rover was produced in 1970, it started a whole new trend in 4WD vehicles. It blended supremacy over all competitors off road with comfort and convenience on road. With a production run lasting until early 1996, the Classic Range Rover was a unique if idiosyncratic vehicle, and the only one ever to be exhibited in the Louvre as a work of art. Land Rover Owner International Magazine voted it as the best Land Rover ever in 1996 (One judge called it the best vehicle built by anyone, anywhere, ever.) Successive newer models (beginning in 1994) have remained the benchmark against which other SUVs compete; although not exhibited in the Louvre they retain the title of King Off Road, while steadily improving on-road performance and refinement. 

The success of the original Range Rover was due mainly to its inspired mechanical design which gave it the best performance of any 4X4 both on and off the pavement. While many think of it as just a luxury version of the generic 4X4, its real secret was the extraordinary engineering innovation hidden behind the wood and leather trimmings. It possessed a massive box section ladder frame, prodigious ground clearance, a smooth V8 with good low end torque, and last but definitely not least, a brilliant suspension design that rival manufacturers have still not equalled. The result was outstanding all-terrain traction as well as the smoothest ride of any 4x4. Later Range Rover models remain true to the original concept using fundamental design innovations that keep them far ahead of competitors in their enormous breadth of on and off road capability.

Refinements and New Models  (For complete information se the Model Year Details pages).

In the 1980's and 90's while the original Classic Range Rover was still in production, other manufacturers scrambled to catch up. But refinements to the original model still kept it way ahead of the field. Improvements included suspension re-tuning, an automatic viscous locking center differential, the first ABS system designed for off-road use, and electronic traction control (on the rear wheels from 1993 and on all four from 1999). Just when others started copying the coil suspension, it was replaced with a sophisticated electronically controlled air-adjustable suspension which could be raised and lowered over a 5 inch range.

Then, in 1994 a completely new model replaced the Classic. A streamlined body shape incorporated even more luxury with sophisticated computer controlled functions. An improved air suspension, stronger chassis,  manual control of low range ratios, more ground clearance, improved dust sealing, and a host of other new features assured retention of its place as "King Off-Road".

In 2002, an even more drastic redesign was completed, using a much stronger monocoque body and chassis with all-round independent suspension (both concepts were hitherto a heresy in the 4X4 world). The Range Rover III (also know as the 4.4, L322, and LM) had improved ground clearance, even more wheel travel, and cross-linked air springs for more tractiron and a softer ride off road. A BMW V8, shift-on-the-move transfer case, and many other refinements improved both on and off-road manners.  In 2005, a "Sport" model was added to the line alongside the "Real" Range Rover, with a 400 HP supercharged option that dispelled any remaining myths about Range Rovers not keeping up with other SUVs on the pavement. True to tradition, it incorporates such an array of off-road features and abilities that it leaves its competitors in the dust or in the ditch.

Each successive update has assured that the Range Rover remains the world's most capable vehicle. Although its luxury features are famous and its on-road performance is continuously improving, the thing that distinguishes Range Rovers from other luxury SUV's in today's crowded market is their supreme off-road ability. The unparalleled breadth of capability means it is never out of place whether at the most exclusive City club or in the roughest back country terrain. 

For details of  the changes that were made during the production of each model, see the Detailed Model Year Specs pages.

Introduced in the UK and most other markets at its debut in 1970, the original Range Rover sold so well that it was hard to get one for a long time, and the factory had little incentive to make improvements. Then as today, the vehicle was a special favorite in the deserts of the Middle East, where its solid build and amazing off-road prowess were greatly appreciated by those who could afford one.

The Range Rover did not make its official debut in the US in 1987, seventeen years after production began. Prior to that, examples were imported periodically by various private companies which were set up to process and "smog" them, so Range Rovers of earlier vintage are occasionally seen. This situation was more or less remedied when the redesigned Range Rover 4.0/4.6, introduced in the UK in 1994, came to the US in 1995, selling alongside the Classic for one year before completely replacing it. In June 2002, the New Range Rover (Mk III) went on sale in the US as a 2003 model, with thousands of orders from customers before it even arrived. In mid-2005, the Range Rover Sport was introduced as a 2006 model, with the supercharged model in particular being in such high demand that there was an order backlog of thousands.
Photo: Official picture of Range Rover Sport equipped for 2006 G4 Challenge

Performance on and off Pavement

The Range Rover design concept was one of excellent performance on the pavement and superlative performance off road. In 1970, its acceleration and speed were superior to many conventional cars. As late as 1985, a diesel-powered Range Rover "Bullet" Record Breaker broke 27 diesel vehicle speed records, averaging over 100 mph for 24 hours. By the 1990's, although speed and acceleration had improved, they were not exactly a selling point, as competitors introduced more spritely SUVs that could leave a Range Rover standing at the traffic lights.  

Off the pavement, however, Range Rover performance has always been nothing short of staggering, and is an eye opener to anyone not familiar with the vehicle. It runs circles around virtually any other 4X4, including many modified ones. Over the years it has maintained or even increased this edge, being one of the few actually designed from the ground up for serious off-road ability. Other manufacturers, knowing that most owners never take their vehicles off the pavement, developed low slung SUVs and stiff suspensions tuned for car-like handling. The Range Rover retained its  soft long travel suspension, and even increased available ground clearance with adjustable air suspension.

Since 1987, many articles in Four Wheeler Magazine described the Range Rover as the best stock off-road performer available, with such quotes as "a well-driven Rover is nearly impossible to beat" (1988), "the best riding 4X4, period." (1990), and "stupendous off-road ability" (1994). The Range Rover won the Four Wheeler of the Year award by a whopping mitargin in 1989, and reigns supreme among stock vehicles in the magazine's "Ramp Travel Index" test of suspension flexibility, with a record score of 703 (compared with a 1996 score of 422 for its "J***" competitor). The same model's reported ramp or breakover angle was almost double that of its competitor. Car magazines dsometimes disliked the vehicle's soft ride and associated body roll, but used it to pull other SUVs out of the mud in their comparison tests.

The design of the Range Rover 4.0/4.6 was intended to improve pavement performance and handling to attract buyers from luxury car marques, while retaining supreme off road preformance. A new streamlined shape allowed faster, quieter highway cruising, and lighter axles with suspension refinements improved handling. Several new off-road features were also added and magazine comparison tests uniformly acclaimed its continued effortless superiority in that arena.

The even more radical redesign of the Mk III Range Rover further improved off-road capability while endowing the vehicle with truly car-like on-road manners. Independent suspension and a monocoque body gave the needed on-road refinement, while increased ground clearance, wheel travel, and innovative cross-linked air springs vaulted the new vehicle ahead of its off-road competitors yet again. In the July 2002 Land Rover Owner International magazine "off-road-only" comparison test report shortly after its introduction, the new Range Rover bested even the formidable Land Rover Defender in off-road performance.

The most recent addition to the Range Rover stable is the Range Rover Sport. As the name suggests, this model emphasizes sporty performance, but off-road prowess has by no means been neglected. With its reduced bulk and 300 or 400 horsepower engine choices, it is no slug on the tarmac. Off the pavement, it can run circles around any other "Sporty" utility from Mercedes, Porsche and the like. The sophisticated Terrain Response system first introduced in the Discovery 3/LR3 is included, along with optional locking rear diff, 4-wheel traction control, Hill Descent Control, and a suspension that can be lifted, in extremis, 3 inches above the "High" position normally used off road.

In 1972 the British Trans-Americas Expedition Range Rover became the first vehicle to travel from the northern tip of North America to the southern tip of South America, including traversing the famous Darien Gap. In the 1980's the honours included winning the Paris-Dakar Rally and being the official vehicle in the 1987 Camel Trophy in Madagascar. In the 1990 Great Divide Expedition, a convoy of Range Rovers became the first vehicles to make a north-south traverse of the U.S. Continental Divide. The P38/4.0/4.6 Range Rover models have been involved in a number of official expeditions including one across the Australian Desert and the Land Rover Trek in which Land Rover dealers competed in various special off-road tasks using specially prepared 4.6HSEs. They were not used for the Camel Trophy, no doubt because it would make things too easy for the contestants!! In 2003, soon after the new Mk III/L322/4.4 Range Rover was introduced, specially equopped versions with mud tires, winches and expedition racks were used in the newly inaugurated G4 Challenge (left), successor to the Camel Trophy. This was a five-week trek across three continents, including a long stretch of desert travel in the Australian Outback. In 2006, the new Range Rover Sport is scheduled to compete in this event. 

Expeditions more modest in scope are recounted in the Range Rover Expedition Reports section of this website, including videos on the Tonopah & Tidewater Expedition and the Lake Lahontan Expedition. Another expedition retraced the Pony Express Trail across Eastern Nevada while others in the Mendocino National Forest have pitted Range Rovers against other Land Rover models. Additional Range Rover Desert Expedition Reports can be found in the Desert Exploration section and desert photographs sections of these pages. Many primitive dirt roads have recently been closed under the guise of environmental protection, so Range Rover owners who plan to take their vehicles off pavement should educate themselves about Environmentally Responsible Off-Pavement Travel. They should also be prepared for emergencies and carry appropriate tools, spares and supplies. Training in off-road skills, specifically oriented towards late model Range Rover owners, is now available from such sources as Off Roving.com. 

Range Rovers have always been distinguished by innovation in suspension design. The Classic Range Rover was able to use exceptionally soft springs, while retaining a 1600 lb payload capacity, by virtue of the Boge self-levelling strut fitted to the central A-frame link on the rear axle. This is, in effect, a variable rate self-adjusting air spring which provides a restoring force on the center of the axle to compensate for load, allowing very low spring rates to be used at the road wheels. This results in maximum possible traction on uneven terrain.

Why does a soft suspension give better traction? This is a secret that other 4x4 manufacturers and aftermarket suspension builders have apparently never learned. When a wheel droops even an inch or two on uneven terrain, that wheel is "unloaded" -- ie its ground contact force is reduced -- in direct proportion to the stiffness of the spring and anti-roll bar (if fitted). Any loss in ground contact force reduces available traction at the wheel in question. With an open differential on the axle, traction is lost at both wheels simultaneously.

Conventional and "lifted" 4x4s overwhelmingly use leaf springs or stiff coils with anti-sway bars tuned for flat high speed cornering on pavement or supposed "heavy duty" use off-road. Aftermarket "upgrades" invariably include even stiffer springs, shocks, bushings and/or anti-sway bars. The net effect is a very stiff suspension that not only provides less maximum wheel travel (resulting in wheels lifting off the ground in very uneven terrain) but much reduced traction even in mild off-road situations requiring only modest vertical wheel movements.

This is why the conventional dogma dictates that serious off-road vehicles must use "lockers" on the differentials to maintain traction. Lockers force both wheels to rotate at equal speed, transferring all the torque to whichever side has the grip. They therefore greatly increase stress on the drivetrain components, and have adverse side effects on steering control. On newer Range Rovers, any lost traction is restored through a sophisticated system of electronic traction control. This senses when a rear wheel starts slipping and pulses its brake, effectively transferring half the engine torque to the opposite, gripping wheel. The combination of soft suspension and electronic traction control is formidable. The system gently equalizes torque distribution to the two wheels, whereas the locker can suddenly transfer 100% torque to one wheel, breaking parts with notorious regularity.

Not unimportantly, soft suspensions also Tread Lightly and result in less environmental impact. The Range Rover's soft "magic carpet" ride also enables it to run circles around other 4X4's on the typical rough road or trail, where stiffly sprung vehicles are reduced to a bone-jarring crawl.

Secrets of Later Models' Off-Road Prowess
The redesigned Range Rover 4.0/4.6's  electronically controlled airbag suspension is another innovation in 4x4 underpinnings. Although slightly firmer than the early coil spring design, it is plenty soft enough to cause complaints about body roll. by automotive journalists. The same journalists, however, rave over its ability to soak up gaping holes in the road like a Mercedes negotiating speed bumps. Axle articulation in stock form easily outclasses other SUVs (except for the Series II Discovery, introduced in 1999). The ability to raise the vehicle 1.6 inches above normal provides more clearance for off road use, while conversely the body is lowered an inch in highway mode to stabilize the vehicle. When it becomes high centered, the suspension hoists itself above even the "high" setting to try and break it loose. The maintenance of constant height under all load conditions is a boon for off road use when the vehicle is often heavily loaded. No sagging in the rear, or reduction in clearance. Also, the progressive nature of air springs reduces the chance of "bottoming out" when hitting a bump too fast.

In the Range Rover III model introduced in 2002, the designers debunked the traditional assumption that independent suspension is unsuitable for serious off-road use. Careful design resulted in stupendous vertical wheel travel that easily bests any other production vehicle -- 10.75 inches in the front and 13 in the rear. Off-road, the air suspension is programmed to operate like a beam axle, so that a rising wheel forces its opposite mumber downwards, maintaining clearance. This is achieved by opening valves that link each left air spring to its right hand opposite number, so that upon compression of, say, the left spring, its  air is forced into the right one. This also has the effect of reducing the effective spring rate to near zero, hugely increasing the available ground contact force and traction on the drooping wheel (see above). A third benefit is the much softer ride achieved off road, allowing faster progress and lighter impact. A full 2-inch lift in off-road mode gives 11 inches of clearance and reduces the spring rates.

Nobody can accuse the Range Rover Sport of having a soft suspension, but it makes up for it in sophistication, as an off-road drive of it shows. The tracrtion control, center and rear diff locks, hill descent control and Terrain Response system make it hard to stop. Its suspension, like the 4.0/4.6, it has the "extended profile feature that senses when the vehicle is grounded, and raises the suspension another 1.5 inches. Beyond that, the driver can raise it another 1.5 inches by holding down the "up" button!

More information on Range Rover suspensions can be found in the Suspension Details and Mods page; air suspension operation and mods are covered in Repair and Upgrade Operations.

Innovative suspension is not the only secret behind the Range Rover's legendary off-road prowess. The solid construction of the 14 gauge box section chassis (even thicker on the new model), the axle housings and linkages, and other underbody parts means the Range Rover will withstand exceptionally severe off-road treatment. The transfer case uses relatively high numerical gear ratios, enabling the use of lower numerical ratio gears in the axle differentials for extra strength. High underbody clearance provides extreme ramp or "breakover" angles (a measure of how acute the brow of a hill can be without scraping the central underbody or becoming "high-centered"). If the vehicle does become high centered, the electronic air suspension on later models senses this condition and raises the body even higher to set it free.

Drive along behind most 4x4s and you will see the rear shock mounts hanging vulnerably well below the axle, in a perfect position to be snagged on rocks. The Range Rover's shock mounts are positioned so as not to cause such problems. Similarly, on most 4x4's the rear differential is in the middle of the axle while the front diff is off to one side, effectively reducing usable clearance over rocks and ridges since one or other differential, or a shock mount, is almost certain to hit something. The Range Rover's differentials are both positioned in line, offset from the center, so that foot-high obstacles can pass straight under the vehicle.

Many other features distinguish Range Rovers, old and new, from SUVs designed mainly for looks. Mud deflectors are fitted to all the brakes, and mud flaps are standard on many models. The V8 has an exceptionally flat torque curve from very low speeds, giving good low speed crawling power, and the throttle has unusually long travel, for delicate adjustment in off-road situations. The handbrake operates on the driveshaft and locks all four wheels -- vital in tricky off road maneovering so you can get out and take a look at your predicament. The high seating position and short hood make it possible to see obstacles on the ground very close to the front of the vehicle. The transfer case differential automatically and progressively locks when it senses a difference in front-to-rear axle speed indicating slippage of a wheel.

On the 4.0/4.6 models, the automatic transmission can be locked in any gear while in low range -- a boon for off road control -- and shifting between high and low range is simplified by a new "H" gate single shifter design. Ground clearance is increased under the differentials, components are better tucked up between the chassis rails to give a cleaner underbody, and the air intake is further raised on diesel models for a dry air supply when fording. The V8 engine has undergone testing in extreme off-camber positions for extended periods, and prototypes driven for hours at high speed behind dust-making machines on dirt roads to test the filtration system which is designed to eliminate the ingress of dust into the cabin. The chassis is substantially strengthened, including radius arm mountings which are much less vulnerable to being knocked out of alignment by a hit from a rock. The fuel tank is in a more protected position and is designed to deform substantially under impact from the ground, without stopping the fuel pump from operating.

On the Range Rover III, yet more off-road features were added. Wheel travel was increased to staggering levels, combined with the innovative cross coupling of the air suspension. A cleaner underbody with 11 inches of clearance in high profile has Kevlar protection and very few vulnerable protruding parts; even the normally vulnerable exhaust outlets are tucked up under the rear of the vehicle so they are flush with the rest of the body. Other improvements include increased approach and departure angles, more ground clearance, a torque sensing center differential, a shift-on-the move transfer case, a dual-program throttle tuned for longer travel in low range, power folding mirrors to avoid trees and other obstacles, a heavy duty front recovery loop, Land Rover's patented Hill Descent Control, and All-terrain Dynamic Stability Control to prevent skids and slides on slippery surfaces. In combination with the clean underbody and excellent ground clearance, all these features make the Mk III quite unperterbed when the terrain turns awful. Most of these features are incorporated into the Range Rover Sport as well.

A Range Rover is one of the very few production vehicles that you can order with a winch -- the only others I know of (aside from lesser Land Rover models) are Hummers. (Try ordering  J**p with one!)

Photo: Official photo of winch-equipped G4 Challenge Range Rover Mk IIIs

These and other design characteristics make Range Rovers almost unique among modern 4x4's in being seriously designed from the ground up as true all-terrain vehicles.

Links to More Information

Buying a New or Used Range Rover
Using a Buyer's Broker to purchase a new RR
Model Year Detail Pages: Detailed information on every Range Rover model year
Used Range Rovers for Sale: Listings right here on Rangerovers.net
RangeRover Extended Warranty Info Page
Range Rover New & Used Financing Page
Range Rover Insurance Page
Comparison with Other SUVs
Range Rover Service -- Dealer and Independent Shops
Life with a Range Rover
Ownership Experiences: Reports from other owners
Range Rover Lifestyle Accessories Products and services that complement the Range Rover Lifestyle
Range Rover 4.0/4.6 Model overview
Range Rover Mk III Model overview
Range Rover Sport Model overview
SUV Choices: Comparing Range Rovers with other SUVs
Technical Specifications for all models

Carsmith Motors: The premier buyer's broker, covering the whole US (for new RR buyers) and the Western US for 2003 & up used RRs. Try them for a quote -- you'll be amazed!
Best in Fleet: West Coast Auto buyer's broker specializing in new Rovers.
Automotive.com: New & Used Range Rover discount price quotes, 60-second auto loan quote, information, reviews, you name it!
Cars.com Buy, Sell & Research New & Used Range Rovers (Seems to have the largest selection of used RRs, including some MkIIIs)
New-Car-Discount.com -- Britain's lowest cost source for new & used Range Rovers
Carwatch UK: Provides complete vehicle history data for Used Range Rovers in the UK.
eBay.ca eBay Canada Used Car Listings (Buy or Sell)
eBay Motors eBay UK Listings
Extended Warranties for Range Rovers
LeaseTrader.com Save by taking over someone else's Range Rover lease 
New-Car-Discount.com -- Britain's lowest cost source for new & used Range Rovers
Used Range Rover Listings on this site