August 2002
New Range Rover In Demand, Wins Accolades

The new Range Rover is beating all sales records with 6 months production allocation already sold in the UK before the vehicle hit the showrooms, and a backlog of 3,000 orders in the US. The 500,000th Range Rover was produced in May this year. This is reminiscent of the introduction of the original Range Rover in 1970 -- the new vehicle was so popular that it took years for the factory to catch up with demand. In all, 317,615 Classics were produced (1970-96), followed by 167,259 4.0/4.6 models (1994-2001).

The new model has also won the praise of the on- and off-road motoring press. It has been voted best vehicle of the year by BBC Top Gear and others. In a Land Rover Owner International Magazine off-road match-up against the Land Rover Defender (usually considered to occupy first place in purely off-road capability), the new Range Rover won! The attention Land Rover has paid to enhancing off-road ability has really paid off. Buyers know they are getting the world's best off-roader, rather than just another gadget-laden luxury SUV like the other offerings that now crowd the upscale sport-utility segment. Much like the Ferrari's 180 mph top speed, extreme off road ability may be fully utilized only by a relative few, but without these characteristics both vehicles would lose their attraction. The backlog of orders confirms that the new vehicle is truly perceived as the most capable all-round vehicle in the world.

July 2002
Baby Range Rover???

With the growth in size of the Mk III Range Rover to Toyota Land Bruiser proportions, it has been rumored that Ford is targeting a new "Baby Range Rover" for around the year 2006. The idea would be to fill the price gap between the new Range Rover and the upcoming Discovery Series III, providing a smaller ultra-luxury SUV.

However, initial gossip indicates this model would not be a real off road vehicle, as it would have no low range gears!!! If so, let's hope they don't call it a "Range Rover" and devalue the name!!

The strategy of attempting to increase sales by using car-like models to exploit the Land Rover name to the maximum is understandable, and perhaps inevitable in the pressure for sales and profits. The Freelander has already taken Land Rover a good distance down this road. Overall sales have indeed increased, but the strategy has led to negative reviews such as that in the July 11, 2002 issue of USA Today entitled: "Phony Freeloader, er, Freelander Falls Flat" . Even reviews like this by regular automotive columnists can see through Land Rover's marketing ploy in offering a vehicle that "lures with the Land Rover name but lacks characteristics that make that name so credible". The Freelander is described as "a parasite, riding the brand's good name without the goods to back it up". Indeed, this model appears to lag behind even its small SUV competition in both on and off road utility, placing it poorly in magazine comparison tests with other SUVs. If this strategy is taken further with the introduction of a "Baby Range Rover", the Range Rover name will certainly be devalued.

Perhaps a differentiation in Land Rover model designations between real off-road models and those with more modest capabilities would help preserve Land Rover's reputation while allowing it to exploit the wider market for SUVs that are not real off-roaders. This could be done, for example, by continuing variations of the Freelander name (Freedom, Freelance, Freestyle, etc) on the pavement-oriented models, to make it clear to customers that these models are ideal for the average customer's all-weather and low-traction situation needs, going to the ski fields etc, but do not pretend to offer full-scale off road capabilities. In this way the negative public perception of "pretender" models may be avoided.

July 30, 2002
New Range Rover Model Launched Successfully

The launch of the new Range Rover model has been a great success. Since going on sale on June 1 in the US, the vehicle has been very well received by both the buying public (with wating lists for delivery) and by the motoring press. Details of the new model appear on the Range Rover Mk III page of this website.

Most of the information in the pre-release rumors (see below) has proven to be true, and the new vehicle is fully worthy of the Range Rover name.
 

November 6, 2001
Land Rover Releases Photos of Next Range Rover

LRM magazine reports that Land Rover has released several photos of the new model which is to be officially unveiled at the Detroit Motor Show in January. The photos confirm the look of the new model from the spy photos and technical details previously reported here. Shots of the interior have also been released, showing a clean modern arrangement without an intimidating array of controls except on the steering wheel which is festooned with buttons. Land Rover confirms the use of the 4.4 litre V8 as predicted below and states that the new model will be built in Solihull on a new production line. Importantly, improvements in both on and off road ability are claimed by the manufacturer.
 

Updated September 17, 2001
2002 Range Rover Model Rumors

The next Range Rover is now ready for production. It was due to be introduced at the Frankfurt Motor Show this week, but will now probably be introduced to the press in December, and its official public introduction may be at the Los Angeles Auto Show in January. The present model may get a modest facelift and continue alongside it through 2002 or 2003. The recent takeover of Land Rover by Ford was too late to materially affect the new design, so the next RR is largely a BMW creation mechanically, involving build agreements between Ford and BMW.  Auto magazines, spy photos, common sense and "informed sources" have by now given us a good idea of the main features of the 2002 Range Rover, but the information below is my opinion only.

1. Body: The overall size is slightly larger than the current model, with a 2 inch increase in wheelbase to 110 inches and an increase in body length to nearly 5 meters (16.5 feet), making it even bigger than a Toyota Land Cruiser. To keep body weight down but retain the necessary stiffness for of road use, Land Rover is reportedly using Karmann - developed racing car construction techniques with an aluminum and composite body shell bonded to structural foam and aluminium extrusions, probably with steel subframes for the suspension mountings. Total weight is only slightly more than the present model.

Spy photos show a new shape very similar to the present one, but more angular and less bland, with a return to the "Classic" styling cues including round headlights, more prominent castellations on the hood, and squarer topline & rear pillar. (Rumor has it that Spen King, designer of the legendary Classic, has been consulted). Large (probably fake) air vents grace the sides of the front wings or doors. The rear overhang is shorter and slopes upwards for a better departure angle. The interior is naturally upgraded from the present and past ergonomically quirky, rattle-and-squeak-prone tradition. It is rumored to be described by a senior Ford designer as "the best interior I've seen on any car, ever". The superb tailgate design is retained, a relief for those of us who use it for off road camping and picnic table duty.

2. Engines and Transmission: Due to the advanced state of development by the time of the Ford takeover, the BMW 4.4 liter V8 is being used as planned. A deluxe model may use a turbo version originally designed for the Bentley, and a special high powered diesel engine will also be available. These engines should at last improve  the Range Rover's 0-60 times from its traditional economy sedan acceleration. The engines are retuned for the low end torque needed in four wheeling. In 2003 or 2004, Ford family engines -- the 4 liter Jaguar V8 and the 6 liter Aston Martin V12) should start replacing the BMW-derived power plants. Land Rover is re-engineering the Jaguar engines for the torque and other characteristics needed for off road vehicles.

Reportedly, the "H" gate transmission lever design of the current model is being replaced by a button on the dash to select low range.

3. Off-Road Ability and Suspension: It is a given that the 2002 Range Rover will sport every possible luxury for its passengers, but in today's crowded luxury SUV market its main selling point will be its reputation for superior off road performance as the "King Off Road". Spy photos confirm that suspension is independent all round, (probably based on highly modified components from the BMW X5) with ride height adjustable over a wide range, combining low-slung highway performance with a tall off-road mode giving awesome clearance and articulation. Suspension travel is reputed to be extreme, far exceeding that of any previous or current civilian 4x4. Spy photos indicate that wheel and tire sizes are increased over the current model, probably to 20 inch wheels and 31 inch tires. There may even be room for enthusiasts to fit "33's" if such tires can be found for 20 inch wheel sizes.

Normally, independent suspension has an inherent disadvantage over a beam axle off road; the differential's height off the ground is not fixed, and traversing bumps and obstacles can lower it relative to the wheels, bringing it into unpredictable contact with rocks and other aspects of terra firma. In the new Range Rover, this problem is rumored to be largely overcome by programming the electronic air suspension to articulate in a fashion very similar to that of a beam axle in off-road mode.

Other features of the suspension include automatic raising of ride height when the sensors detect large, rapid vertical wheel movements. Electronically adjustable shocks allow damping rates to be reduced at low speeds and off road to eliminate the 4.0/4.6's harsh ride over small bumps, hopefully returning to the Classic's velvet off-road ride quality. At highway speeds, ride height is lowered and damping rates increased to provide the necessary firmer control. Swaybar operation is controlled hydraulically as on the Disco II (hopefully with improvements to eliminate any traction-robbing swaybar effects off road). Use of air springs also allows reduced spring rates in off road mode, improving ride quality and enhancing traction. Four wheel traction control and the Disco/Freelander hill descent control is included.

Recent insider reports confirm that supreme off-road ability appears to have been retained, even improving on the current model in this paramount area of performance. If true, this will be a great relief to Range Rover fans all over the world. One magazine reported that the off-road performance of a test mule spotted in the Middle East was quite remarkable, and better than any previous Land Rover product.

4. We hope the breakover and departure angles are NOT compromised as they have been on the Series 2 Discovery. (The dealer off-road demonstration courses had to be modified to allow the new Discovery to negotiate them!!!) Fortunately, current spy photos indicate that departure angle has been improved. So far, however, breakover is uncertain, and will not be helped by the longer wheelbase.

5. Pricing: The new model will continue the tradition of Range Rovers in going further up-marlet and up in pprice, sporting a slew of luxury options to try and keep ahead of the competition. However, it is unlikely to command the $160,000 mentioned by The Times in a recent interview with Ford's head of Premium Brands. Such figures make good news copy, and probably serve a purpose in deterring customers from waiting for the next model before buying.  However, if any significant  sales volume is to be achieved in today's very competitive SUV market, the "base" price will have to be at or near present levels. If a decision were really made to elevate the Range Rover to the Rolls-Royce price category, most buyers wanting an ultra-luxury SUV with very good off-road capability would switch to Lexus and the like, while those wanting really superior off-road ability would go for the pending 2002/2003 mini-Hummer (H2) to be produced by GM. Realistically, the base model will come in somewhere around the present price levels, with the higher powered versions costing more.

Summary
Overall, I expect the new Range Rover to have four main features: a) Much improved acceleration. b) Better looks. c) Better Off-Road Capability, and d) Better ride quality. If off-road ability is compromised, the main selling point (like a Ferrari's 180 mph top speed -- vital even though few might use it) will be gone. Customers will soon drift away to the competition, which can easily outdo Land Rover in most other respects.

Spy Photo Sept 17, 2001 showing round headlights.
Article in Auto Express Sept 2001 with some details; older article December 2000.
Recent German Spy Photos of the future RR with headlights disguised
Spy photos Aug 2001 showing conservative exterior changes (headlights disguised)
Spy photo showing grille, round headlight design and side vents
Spy picture of a test rig 12/27/2000 on a transporter trailer.
2002 Range Rover in the snow next to a Jaguar S type 5/8/2000
 

February 2001
Year 2001 Range Rover Models

The Year 2001 Range Rover models hold few surprises. The main news is that the 4.0 engine has been dropped (still used in the Discovery), and all 2001 RRs have the 4.6 engine. Two levels of trim are offered, SE and HSE, with the minor differences detailed below.

4.6SE:
16 inch wheels & tires
300 watt, 12 speaker stereo

4.6HSE:
460 watt, 12 speaker stereo with speed equalization
18 inch wheels and tires
GPS navigation system with off-road marker capability standard
Additional wood trim (window switch surround, rear ashtray)
Exterior rub strip with chrome insert
Optional Lightstone Leather intereior with complementary piping and carpets
Optional wood & leather steering wheel.
Wider choice of interior colors

Otherwise, there are no substantive changes from 2001. On a humorous note, an "off-road" accessory package is offered which includes Running Boards -- an accessory which actually impedes off-road performance and is always removed by anyone who really wants to go off road. Price of the SE  model is up to about $63,000.

March 17, 2000 (Updated June 9, 2000)
Range Rovers to be Made by Ford

BMW is selling the Land Rover division of Rover to Ford, while transferring the remaining (extremely unprofitable) parts of Rover for a token 10 pounds sterling to the Phoenix Group, a new company headed by a former Rover executive. After  rumors that the deal might fall through, Ford Motor Co. announced on May 24, 2000 that it finalized its purchase price for Land Rover, from BMW AG at 3 billion euros, or about $2.73 billion. It was revealed that Land Rover (traditionally the only money-making part of Rover) has itself been losing money for the past two years, even though market conditions for its Sport Utility Vehicles have been exceptionally good. Ford anticipates returning it to profitability in its third year of ownership. The Land Rover business will become part of Ford's Premier Automotive Group, which includes Lincoln, Volvo, Jaguar and Aston Martin. (Ford has also made its own cars in Britain for decades at its Dagenham plant).

Thus, Range Rovers will henceforth be manufactured and sold by Ford Motor Company, headquartered in Dearborn, Michigan. The addition of Land Rover to its stable should not cause direct competition with Ford's existing products, since its current SUVs are not intended as serious off-road vehicles. In earlier times, however, Ford did pioneering work in off-road vehicle development; indeed the early Bronco's front suspension design was copied in the design of the Range Rover Classic.

How will the sale affect the launch of the next Range Rover model (see below)?  It has been widely assumed that the new Range Rover will use a BMW engine and other parts from the BMW X5; some have even said it would be assembled in BMW's US Spartanburg plant alongside BMW's new quasi-SUV. Development of the new model is by now far advanced, and recent comments by Wolfgang Reitzl, formerly of BMW and now chief of Ford's Premium Brands division, indicate the model launch will go ahead as planned sometime in 2001. A price range over 100,000 pounds sterling (or $165,000) was mentioned for the next in the Range Rover line, which he described as "the ultimate luxury off-road car with the Lawrence of Arabia touch", and the "Rolls Royce of four wheel drives".

It is difficult to reconcile the mooted price with Ford's desire to expand sales volume for the Land Rover brand. However the intention is to increase the number of Land Rover models, and expand the US share of sales. Production in a BMW plant is also hard to imagine, so actual production may be in Solihull or in Ford's Dagenham plant in the UK. It also seems very possible that a suitable Ford engine will be slotted in at some point.

Regardless of how these matters are worked out, I am encouraged by the manner in which Ford has treated its Jaguar, Volvo and Aston Martin subsidiaries, which have turned out some distinctive and universally acclaimed models since Ford acquired them. It is very likely that the same thing will happen at Land Rover, and I look forward to seeing the resulting stream of new and improved Range Rovers!

Dealer Off-Road Courses Softened Up for New Models

In a disturbing development, Land Rover dealers have had to make their off-road demo courses easier so the new   Discovery Series II models can make it over them. Is this an ominous portent for the rumored new Range Rover?

The  redesigned Land Rover Discovery Series II, while possessing many fine off-road features (eg more wheel travel),  has worse rear overhang, reduced departure angle and reduced ramp breakover angle compared to previous Discovery and Range Rover models. Consequently,  dealers have had to modify the concrete ramps in their demo courses to make them easier to negotiate. The modifications are cleverly done, by embedding rocks in the transition zone at the bottom of the ramp, so the course looks more rugged. However the real effect is to ease the transition between flat ground and the steep slope, reducing demand on vehicle approach and departure angles. As anyone who frequently goes off pavement knows, the rear end is the most common point of contact as you drag the tail through ditches and washouts.

Now that Land Rover has lowered the bar for ultimate off road clearance, Will Land Rovers gradually lose their main marketing distinction -- superior off road capability? Just as people buy Porsches for their superior speed (even though they might not use it), people buy Land Rovers for their superior off-road ability. If the off-road ability of future models is gradually "dumbed down" to merge with other SUVs, most buyers will gradually switch to the less expensive, more fuel efficient, more reliable, faster mass market alternatives, while those who really use their vehicles off-road will have to buy Hummers!

I receive a lot of emails from people wanting to know what the next Range Rover will be like -- and writers express the same desire not to see it go the way of other SUVs. We are hopeful that the next Range Rover will have more rather than less off-road clearance and capability compared with the existing model. The Range Rover tradition of suspension innovation should allow improved breakover, approach and departure angles while retaining good on-pavement geometry. We hope those "helper rocks" can be removed from the demo courses when the new Range Rover emerges. If necessary, an easier bypass section could be included for the Discovery and Freelander -- but the main route should be made harder, not easier, so that Range Rovers are the only vehicles that can negotiate them!!

Solihull -- please do not compromise on the vital ground clearance, approach and departure angles. These are very often  the limiting factors off road, no matter how many electronic traction-aiding features the vehicle has. All Range Rovers to date have had at least a 29 degree ramp breakover angle -- we would not like to see this reduced as it was on the latest Discovery. Please give us at least 30 degrees for approach, breakover and departure angles!
 

11/2/99
Year 2000 Models

Y2k Range Rovers continue the standard 4.0SE and 4.6 HSE models with minor detail upgrades, and there are some additional "limited availability" models with subtle variations in trim and color options. All 2000 models include side airbags in the front seats, and front seatbelt pre-tensioners. Models include the following:

Range Rover 4.0SE: the standard model gets body-colored spoiler and exterior mirrors; round-effect headlamps, smoked glass indicators, sidemarker and taillamps; chrome interior trim pieces; revised instrument graphics; and cup holder and auto-dimming exterior mirrors.  All colors available. On 4.0 models the "Lightning" 16 inch alloy wheels are standard, "Hurricane" 18 inch wheels optional.
Range Rover County: (4.0 engine), lightstone leather upholstery, "County" tailgate badge.  Available colors: Kent Green, White Gold and Java Black.
Range Rover 4.0: brush bar, rear lamp guards, roof rack. All colors available.

Range Rover 4.6HSE: the standard 4.6 model has the same trim as the 4.0SE. On 4.6 models the 18 inch "Hurricane" wheels are standard, and the 16 inch "Lightning" wheels are optional.
Range Rover 4.6 Vitesse: J.A.M.E.S. navigation system, wood trim kit, java black grille and mirrors, basalt gray badging. Colors: Java Black with walnut leather.
Range Rover  4.6HSK: wood trim kit and cell phone. All colors.

Most of the ones I have seen so far are badged "County", bringing back the name from the 1989-95 Classic models.

Under the hood, matters have been further complicated by the addition of a smog pump, making it more difficult to access the engine for repairs.

November 1999
4.0/4.6 Expedition Roof Rack and Ladder
Now Available Through Dealers

The heavy duty full length roof rack made by Safety Devices for the 1997 Land Rover Trek Range Rover 4.6HSEs is now available as an official accessory through Land Rover dealers.  Also available is the nifty matching roof rack access ladder that mounts on the tailgate.

For a picture of these accessories mounted on a Trek 4.6 and on my 4.0SE, see the Roof Rack section of Range Rover Expedition Accessories.

June 1999, Consumer Reports
Range Rover Recall

Granville Pool reports that the June 99 issue of Consumer Reports mentioned that there is a recall
for '95-'99 Range Rovers.

If moisture freezes in transmission breather tube and blocks it, transmission fluid could leak out from the dipstick tube and create a fire hazard.