ROAD TEST: To say that it was quite a handful has to be an understatement. But the new Range Rover which we had been just testing does actually feel its size. Andrew Hamilton reports
The old model was one of the biggest and heaviest luxury cars around and now the new one has grown some more - eight inches longer and three inches wider than its predecessor. Our test vehicle had the 3.0 litre six-cylinder turbodiesel engine and it comes with three levels of specification, SE, HSE and Vogue with ex-works prices ranging from €84,425 to €106,615.
On the open road, we thoroughly enjoyed the elevation and vision. The 3.0 litre 174bhp turbodiesel which is basically the same unit that does service in the admirable BMW 330d, is quiet and refined but not hugely fast. Land Rover quote a top speed of 111mph with a 0-62 mph (or 100kph) time of 13.6 seconds. For terrific get-up-and-go, a better choice is the V8 4.4 litre petrol version with 282bhp. On Irish terra firma it will set you back even more, from €103,730 to €124,620 depending on specification. Who's counting though. Certainly not the super rich people with land and horses who are likely to account for the bulk of customers.
During our test, we simplified the attributes of the latest Range Rover, only the third generation since 1970. It's either the vehicle with everything or the vehicle that offers more than anybody needs.
At the international press launch in January, Bob Dover, the usually modest boss of Land Rover told us it was "the most capable vehicle in the world", combining the off-road prowess that has taken previous Range Rovers through jungles and across deserts with the comfort of a limousine. "It's the King of the Road", he claimed triumphantly.
Examine its technical features, the way it has been designed to handle any conditions, employing the latest electronic devices in conjunction with a rugged four-wheel-drive system and you can see his point. There isn't another vehicle with the Range Rover's array of talents.
But why should one car have to be the ultimate for two quite different purposes? Those who can afford around €100,000 for a Range Rover often have other vehicles at their disposal. Wouldn't a garage housing both a smart saloon and a rough-and-tough 4x4 be a better proposition for perfect motoring? Logically, the answer is yes. But then there is the status thing.
UNDERSTATED but reassuringly expensive, a Range Rover suggests a person of substance. Internationally it's the car to take to the smartest ski resorts, the polo field or a country house party. The driver will not tax the Range Rover's off-road capabilities but then the driver of a sport car doesn't do 150 mph on his or her way to an exclusive watering hole.
Back to the real world of driving the Range Rover in its diesel form. As we mentioned the open road experience was fine and exhilarating. The sheer size only becomes apparent driving in the city. Sadly we had to reject numerous parking spaces: there wasn't enough room to accommodate those extra eight inches. In elevated city car parks, it felt awkward too. Reasonable-sized family cars looked like minnows parked beside it.
On our Irish test there was no dirty work and we didn't muddy the tyres off-road. That all happened in the Scottish Highlands at the international test. Churning through thick mud, fording streams and pushing aside forest undergrowth, was like going hiking in an Armani suit. Of course, RR tackled everything with aplomb. We wondered though, how many owners would indulge in such behaviour, risking a new paint job.
The Range Rover does remarkably well on the road. On fast winding roads, the independent suspension absorbs undulations and is tightly controlled. The steering response is good enough to swing into bends at speed. We found reserves of grip and no tricks in the handling. It gives a much more comfortable ride than the previous Range Rover but is not as relaxing to drive or to travel in as the best luxury saloons with which, of course, it is compared.
They will probably beat it on fuel consumption which has to be a downside. We managed 28mpg which may not seem exceptional for diesel motoring. Most of our driving was long haul. It hardly matters though to those who value a luxury vehicle that can go anywhere and do anything; a few extra gallons is a small price to pay.
There's a lot of BMW influence in Range Rover. It was developed by BMW before it sold Land Rover to Ford and apart from its general appearance-and the aura that surrounds the name-owes little to its predecessors. This is also the first Range Rover with a unitary body/chassis, independent suspension for all four wheels, and five-speed automatic transmission with manual override. An air suspension system provides self-levelling and allows the ride height to be changed, depending on the terrain.
The classic Land Rover permanent four-wheel-drive system, with its low range gearing, is retained.
AS for the BMW connection and its ownership of Rover, Dr Wolfgang Reitzle was number two in the German company and the development of the new Range Rover was his priority. It was nearly ready when BMW dispensed with not just Rover but himself. By a curious twist of fate, Land Rover is now part of Ford's Premier Automotive Group, run by the same Dr Wolfgang Reitzle. For the second time he was able to sign off his pet project for production.
This impressive machine is really BMW's. The engine and many other components come from BMW which will supply them for the life of the model. No doubt BMW was sorry to lose a vehicle that was so expensive to design and was intended to fit above the X5 in its range. But it was a valuable part of the £1.8 billion deal to sell Land Rover to Ford and Dr Reitzle happily got his car back.
FACTFILE
Range Rover 3.0 litre diesel
ENGINE/TRANSMISSION: 2,926 cc six-cylinder in-line unit (Td6) developing 174 bhp at 4,000 rpm. Four-wheel drive. Five-speed automatic two-speed transfer transmission.
PERFORMANCE: 0 to 62 mph in 13.4 seconds. Top speed 111 mph.
FUEL CONSUMPTION: 28 mpg as tested.
SPECIFICATION: Everything you would expect in a luxury car.
PRICES:
3.0 litre SE €84,415
3.0 litre HSE €92,640
3.0 litre Vogue €106,615
The Opposition
Toyota Land Cruiser 3.0 D4D GS 5-door. Automatic transmission...€63,880
BMW X5 3.0 diesel. Automatic transmission...€66,200
Mercedes-Benz S-Class 320...€95,495