Car Star of the Month: Range Rover

Forget the Sport model, which is aimed at Wags and Yummy Mummies, the original is still the best, the good old fashion Range Rover.

While hardly unknown in the motor industry the Range Rover comes under of Car Star spotlight this month, not because it’s an unsung hero but because the singing is disproportionate to its greatness.

So Land Rover have changed it a lot over the years, its become domesticated and tame, adding a greater sense of luxury and eliteness over the years and at times compromising on its rugged, outdoor capabilities to incorporate this sense of pampered privilege but never sweeping it under the carpet as others might do.

It’s a British as tea too, which is rather accurate since both are really Indian. But despite now being owned by Mumbai resident Tata Motors, Land Rover remains a part of our culture and our heritage.

I’m not as a strict rule fond of driving round in a vehicle of a size beyond my needs. That is to say that if I need a large vehicle, I’ll drive one, but if I don’t then I can’t help but view them as an oversized menace, a nuisance to park in congested areas and a sap of my finances. Having said that, if I ever get to live in rural idyll as I often dream of doing, then the Range Rover is coming with me as I’ll need something to cope with the demands of country-living. After all I need something that can deal with treacherous roads, fit in a tonne of shopping after a 25 mile round trip to the nearest supermarket and still have room for the dogs and my wellies. Ah I can dream anyway…

Where was I? Oh yes, the Range Rover. What you really have to love about this model, despite its many changes of face, you can still see ancient models Land Rover classics from back in the day knocking around on the roads.

With a new 2010 model out and it celebrating its 40^th birthday this year, now seems the perfect time to focus on what makes the model what it is; an institution. With true off-road capabilities borne out of Land Rover’s Series heritage, the new Range Rover is equipped as ever with the best of cutting-edge driving technology.

In its latest guise, the Range Rover proves that life really does begin at 40, with a new top-of-the-range, more efficient and powerful petrol engine-the LR-V8. This engine provides the Rover with 510PS (a 29 per cent increase) and 625Nm (a 12 per cent increase)- all this while still reducing fuel consumption. Fuel use is reduced by 7.3 per cent to 19mpg and CO2 emissions down to 348g/km – a reduction of 7.4 per cent. OK so this hardly a green and fuel efficient model but it’s a step in the right direction.

The popular diesel derivative continues to be powered by the acclaimed 272PS 3.6-litre TDV8.
A host of additional improvements include subtle exterior revisions, featuring changes to the headlights, grille and bumper. The interior benefits from more luxurious materials and finishes which add further refinements to the premium interior.

More significantly, the 2010 Range Rover uses some revolutionary new interior technologies to enhance the experience for driver and passengers alike. The vehicle is the first to feature ‘dual view’ infotainment touch screen technology which allows the driver and passenger to view different images simultaneously. This means that the passenger can enjoy a DVD movie while the driver follows navigation instructions, all on the same screen.

Meanwhile more practical improvements include updated Terrain Response™ and Stability Control System for enhanced all-terrain performance, while active safety aids include Adaptive Cruise Control, Emergency Brake Assist, Blind Spot Monitoring, and surround camera system.

It’s no bargain car, that much is true and there are is a choice of similar cars produced mainly by German rivals which make perfectly adequate competitors, however the Range Rover still retains advantage over them; its robust legacy.

Starting at £66,640, the Range Rover makes your eyes stink in price but the lesson is that if you want the real thing then it doesn’t come cheap. Still as popular as ever with all kinds of people, from celebrities to wealthy landowners, the Range Rover is a status symbol to be seen in. While most of us will not be driving one any time soon, it still attracts affection and admiration even from those of us for whom it’s nothing more than a pipedream. As such, it’s no wonder it was recently named car of the decade by Autocar readers, despite the fact that its price tag puts out of most people’s league.

Besides it’s not just a status symbol either, it has many practical elements to it too.
Many expensive, luxury vehicles don’t have this factor to them; you end up losing out on sensible things like room for the kids and luggage in return for speed, style and elegance. The majority of the most expensive cars are much like expensive shoes; uncomfortably proportioned, beautiful to look at but awful to use over any extended period of time and provide no room for the little ones (in the case of shoes, I’m referring to toes). If the likes of a Lotus Elise is a Jimmy Choo, then the Range Rover is like the designer wellies made by Hunter which only the upper middle class kids at the riding school wore when I was a kid. They too, like the Rover last forever and to be fair are probably worth paying for, even if they do cost at least four times what a regular pair cost.

The Range Rover is not some fancy tart, its solid sturdy and purposeful and yet it still manages to feel luxurious and elite. With more than 40 years under its belt and still going strong, that why the Range Rover is this month’s Car Star.

Author: Faye Sunderland, May 4th, 2010
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