Range Rover Golden Jubilee
Range Rover celebrates 50 years
Half a century after it made its global debut the original luxury 4×4 remains a benchmark for design, refinement, and engineering innovation. Now, 50 years on, the Range Rover has evolved into the most desirable family of SUVS in the world with the Evoque, Velar, and Sport.
Over its 50-year lifespan, the Range Rover has achieved many world firsts and completed numerous impressive feats. It was the first SUV to feature a permanent 4WD system when it was launched, and in 1989 was the first 4×4 in the world to be fitted with ABS anti-lock brakes.
Later, in 1992, it became the first 4×4 in the world to be fitted with electronic traction control (ETC) and automatic electronic air suspension. In 2012, the latest generation Range Rover became the first SUV in the world to feature an all-aluminium lightweight construction. It has crossed the notoriously impassable ‘Darién Gap,’ was the first vehicle to ever be displayed at the Louvre Museum in Paris, and has even won the Paris-dakar rally – twice.
With its clamshell bonnet, distinctive floating roof, split tailgate, and trademark front fender vents, the Range Rover of today can still trace its roots back to the 1970 original, and the limited-run Range Rover Fifty will be restricted to just 1 970 vehicles globally, to celebrate the year of its world premiere. The limited edition will be joined by the Westminster and Westminster Black editions.
The latest generation of straight-six Ingenium diesel engines will also debut in the Range Rover, incorporating 48V Mild Hybrid Electric Vehicle technology (MHEV). The new engine family, developed in-house, is available with outputs of 183 kw, 221 kw, and 258 kw, and will be introduced to the South African market at a later stage.
Fifty Edition
Enhancements across the Range Rover line-up include the latest connected features, with Apple Carplay and Android Auto, embedded Spotify app, Executive Class seating, and up to eight 4G Wi-fi connections offered as standard.
Building on the Autobiography, the Fifty features some bespoke exterior accents in
Auric Atlas and 22-inch wheels, one with a unique finish. The ‘Fifty’ script badging was created by Gerry Mcgovern, Chief Creative Officer for Land Rover. The Fifty will be available in standard and long- wheelbase, with four carefully curated exterior colours, plus three SVO Heritage solid colours.
The new Westminster Edition, based on the Vogue model, will be available exclusively with a 4.4-litre SDV8 in South Africa. Privacy glass and 21-inch alloy wheels, the black exterior pack, and special gloss black wheels set it apart on the outside.
Inside, black veneer is combined with suede cloth headlining, a panoramic roof, and a powerful 19-speaker Meridian surround sound system. The new Range Rover and special edition Westminster and Westminster Black are expected in South Africa late this year.
Historical overview
The Range Rover model range became a family with the launch of the Range Rover Sport in 2005. In 2010, the compact Range Rover Evoque made its debut and in 2017 the family grew again with the introduction of the Range Rover Velar.
Development of the first 100-inch station wagon prototype began during the late 1960s and was introduced to critical acclaim in 1970. The first-generation Range Rover (1970-1996) was originally only available as a two door but it continued to evolve. The four-door model was introduced in 1981, an automatic gearbox in 1982, and the first diesel-model arrived in 1986.
The second-generation P38A arrived in 1994 and was instantly recognisable thanks to its familiar silhouette. It featured enhanced height-adjustable suspension as well as 2.5-litre diesel and 3.9-litre and 4.6-litre versions of the V8 petrol, providing greater performance than before.
Generation three (2001-2012) delivered engineering innovations such as a stiffer monocoque body (replacing the traditional 4×4 ladder frame), fully independent suspension with interconnected air springs, and wellappointed interiors providing more space and luxury.
In 2012, the fourth generation Range Rover debuted as the first SUV to feature lightweight all-aluminium construction. It featured a wealth of new off-road innovations and has evolved to include new electrified Ingenium engines and a plug-in hybrid electric version.
Some highlights
1989: A caravan of expeditionready Range Rovers traverse the most demanding portion of the Continental Drive in Colorado, USA, which Land Rover christens the ‘Great Divide’.
2003: The G4 Challenge sees teams compete in the ultimate global adventure. Combining demanding 4×4 driving, extreme adventure sports, and innovative strategy, the challengers competed in four-week-long stages covering New York and the Eastern Seaboard, South Africa, Western Australia, and the Wild West.
2006: For the next G4 Challenge, competitors crossed through four countries on two continents – Thailand, Laos, Brazil, and Bolivia – in support of the International Federation of the Red Cross and Red Crescent societies (IFRC).
2013: Range Rover Hybrid prototypes take on the epic Silk Trail to India, travelling 9 950 miles from Solihull to Mumbai as part of their final engineering sign-off.
2014: A fleet of Range Rovers and a Range Rover Classic travel nearly
1 000 miles along a portion of the original Great Divide route to celebrate 25 years since the expedition.