This year’s London Classic Car Show will pay homage to the British brand that founded the luxury SUV market; Range Rover. For half a century, Range Rover has been at the pinnacle of luxury automobiles. To mark this milestone, eight of the marque’s luxury SUVs, representing key moments in its history, will be on display at the Show between 20-23 February 2020 at Olympia London.
Following the successful testing of the Prototype Range Rover Velar, the first Range Rover was launched in 1970, giving birth to a global icon and a motoring phenomenon. It was met with widespread critical acclaim, thanks to a rare combination of rugged off-road 4WD capability and elegant design.
Over the next 50 years the vehicle has continuously evolved and the number of models extended to meet public demand. The Range Rover family now spans four models, with eight from its history to be at The London Classic Car Show thanks to Land Rover Classic.
Range Rover Classic Reborn (1974)
To mark 50 years since its unveiling, Land Rover Classic is restoring two door Range Rovers to factory condition, using only Land Rover Classic Parts and original components through a programme called ‘Reborn’. The programme has seen the engineering, development and homologation of parts that had been obsolete for many years including body panels, rubber mats and seats.
Range Rover Vogue LSE (1994)
The eight-inch longer wheel base of the LSE model was added to the rear passenger compartment to allow for exceptional rear legroom. In addition, the introduction of air suspension with electronic control, which would become standard on all future Range Rovers, gave the LSE models an extremely comfortable ride. These late ‘run-out’ models were badged as Range Rover ‘Classic’ to differentiate them from the new Range Rover P38 that launched in 1994.
Range Rover P38 Holland and Holland Edition (2000)
Replacing the original Range Rover, the P38 was named after the Engineering and Design building (Block 38A) at the Lode Lane Plant in Solihull, where the development work was completed. The idea was simple; to create the ultimate ‘Country’ Range Rover, combining style and luxury with rugged practicality. Created in collaboration with the famous London gunsmiths Holland & Holland, just 400 of this limited edition model were produced.
Range Rover L322 (2011)
The third generation Range Rover, codenamed L322, was introduced in 2002 and designed under BMW ownership. The L322 was a technological leap forward from the P38 Range Rover it replaced. Many changes were made throughout its ten-year production cycle, the most significant being the transfer from BMW engines and electronic systems. This particular vehicle is fitted with the 4.4-litre V8 twin turbo diesel engine mated to all-new ZF eight-speed automatic transmission.
Range Rover SVAutobiography Dynamic (2019)
The Range Rover SVAutobiography Dynamic offers the ultimate combination of performance and renowned Range Rover luxury. The indulgent interior belies the exceptional performance and engaging handling. Featuring Land Rover’s 5.0-litre V8 supercharged engine producing 565PS and 700Nm it is capable of 0-60mph in 5.1 seconds (0-100km/h in just 5.4 seconds), allowing it to move from silent and refined cruising to engaging performance in an instant.
Range Rover Evoque (2019)
The Range Rover Evoque made its global public debut at the 2010 Paris Motor Show. It delivered premium levels of craftsmanship, luxury, performance and renowned Land Rover all-terrain capability into a more compact package. The 2019 model features a world-first ground breaking technology that makes the ‘bonnet’ invisible by projecting camera imagery onto the touch screen, which can be of use when navigating difficult parking spaces or indeed rough terrain. This model also introduces Smart Settings, which uses artificial intelligence algorithms to learn the driver’s preference. In addition to seat position, music and climate settings, it can also control steering column preferences to maximise comfort and convenience.
Range Rover Velar SVAutobiography Dynamic (2019)
Sitting at the pinnacle of the Velar line-up and developed by Land Rover Special Vehicle Operations, it is powered by a 550PS 5.0-litre V8 supercharged engine which enable it to accelerate from 0-60mph in just 4.3 seconds (0-100km/h in 4.5 seconds) and on to a top speed of 274km/h (170mph). This upgraded performance is underlined with an uprated braking system and enhanced engine cooling.
Range Rover Sport SVR as seen in No Time To Die (2020)
Special Vehicle Operations is no stranger to the 007 franchise and the Range Rover Sport SVR plays a supporting role in the 25th James Bond film, No Time To Die. The SVR is the fastest ever Land Rover, combining incredible 575PS performance with an unforgettable V8 supercharged soundtrack and supercar levels of acceleration – 0-100km/h in 4.5 seconds (0-60mph in 4.3 seconds) – with a top speed of 283km/h (176mph).
