Range Rover (2002 – 2013) Review

March 2002

Range Rover L322 went on sale. Engine line up began with a BMW 288bhp 4.4 litre V8 with 325lb ft (440Nm torque)or a BMW 184bhp 3.0 litre straight-six turbodiesel. The interior is both luxurious and stylishly modern with an architectural theme, unlike that of any of its competitors. ZF 6HP26 a utomatic transmission only.

New body 4,972mm (16' 4") long and 2,192mm (7' 2") wide, kerb weights 2,557kg to 2,717kg. All tow 3,500kg.

March 2002

Land Rover introduced unlimited mileage three-year warranty on all new Range Rovers sold by official UK dealers.

April 2006

Changes include Jaguar rather than BMW V8s: supercharged 400bhp, 560Nm torque 4.2 and 305bhp 4.4 non-supercharged; new front grille, bumper, lights and alloy wheels; interior improvements; adaptive headlights, tyre pressure monitoring and touch-screen satnav. 3.6 litre twin turbo V8 diesel with 272PS and 640Nm torque due late 2006.

Production at Ford's Dagenham plant started April 2006. Despite more power and torque than the TDV6, fuel consumption figures are the same or better at 19.6mpg urban, 31.2mpg extra-urban, 25.1mpg combined. Cuts 0-60 by 4 seconds to 8.5 seconds, so seems like the engine the Range Rover has been waiting for.

September 2006

Prices started from £53,995 for the 3.6 TDV8 with deliveries from late September 2006. The all-new TDV8 diesel engine replaces the outgoing 2.7-litre TD6. The 2007 model also has Terrain Response, electronic rear ‘e’ differentials and a revised interior that includes a fresh new facia, cooled front seats, improved air conditioning and extra stowage.

TDV8 HSE came with 6-speed automatic transmission, Terrain Response, Hill Descent Control (HDC), Electronic Traction Control (ETC), electronic air suspension, ABS, Dynamic Stability Control (DSC), 9 airbags, central locking, ultrasonic alarm system, powered leather seats, 7” touch screen with 4x4 information, climate control, 6 disc auto changer, personal telephone integration system, 19” alloy wheels. £53,995 IG 16E.

TDV8 VOGUE has above equipment plus: Oxford leather luxury seats with memory function, touch-screen satellite navigation and hybrid TV, Harman/Kardon ‘Logic 7’ surround sound audio system, wood trim, heated leather multi-function steering wheel. £61,825 IG 17E

TDV8 VOGUE SE. As Vogue plus: 20” alloy wheels, cooled front seats, full Windsor leather seats, rear screen entertainment system, extended wood trim, ski bag, adaptive headlights. £68,825 IG 17E

V8 HSE As TDV8 HSE £55,075 IG 15E

V8 VOGUE As TDV8 Vogue £62,875 IG 16E

V8 VOGUE SE As TDV8 Vogue SE £69,875 IG 16E

V8 SUPERCHARGED VOGUE SE As above plus: unique 20” nine spoke alloy wheels, electronic rear ‘e’ differential and supercharged interior & exterior design features. £74,795 IG 18E

Satnav updated mapping CDs and DVDs now available regularly, quickly and reasonably cheaply fromwww.navigation.com/landrover in the native languages for customers in the UK, Germany, France, Italy, Spain and the United States with other countries to follow. Pan–European and North American DVDs are being sold at £129 – with CDs of individual countries at £99.

July 2007

2008 model year gear on sale from July 2007. Changes include introduction of four-zone air conditioning, which enables rear seat passengers to control their individual heating and ventilation. 'Climate control' windscreen and side glass available in conjunction with automatic rain and headlight sensing. The special glass cuts infrared heat transmission into the vehicle, reducing heat build-up when the vehicle is parked in the sun, for example, so allowing the air conditioning to function faster and more effectively on drive away.

A redesigned rear seat armrest provides extra stowage space (including a dedicated location for the optional rear seat entertainment remote control) and there is additional leather trim on the heating and ventilation unit and centre console. There are now a total of seven real wood veneers to choose from, all sourced from sustainable forests, and additional wood veneer elements have been applied to the rear of the centre console. A matching wooden gear knob has also been introduced on some models.

Detailing includes new tread-plates and revised graphics on the touch-screen and instruments. New interior colour, called Storm, as well as two new exterior colours, Alaska White and Lucerne Green, and a fresh set of "designers choices" for recommended interior and exterior combinations.

Also included is a 'black box' drive recorder, information from which could be downloaded in the event of a crash. And, on diesels, Ford's clever Easyfuel filler restrictor that prevents accidentally filling with petrol. Prices for the Range Rover for 2008 start from £55,100 for the TDV8 HSE and rise to £74,900 for the V8 Vogue Supercharged SE.

July 2008

New, high spec 'Autobiography' model for 2009 announced with debut at London Motor Show. Has more leather upholstery than any Range Rover before. What's more, this luxurious semi-aniline leather is from the very best hides, which, after minimum processing, will age over time to give the truly unique character. Its facia, door casings, door bins, seats and centre console are all finished in leather, complementing the traditional interior wood.

The steering wheel is leather-wrapped, the leather-topped facia has a softer, more luxurious feel, and even the floor mats are edged with leather. Also offered with the standard 'blinl option of new 20-inch diamond-turned twin-seven-spoke alloy wheels, new paint colours and an optional half wood steering wheel with matching gearshift insert.

Across the Range Rover line-up for 2009 there are new wheel styles, new exterior colours and optional wood and leather heated steering wheels. Satellite navigation and Hybrid TV will now be available as standard from HSE specification, and an exterior design pack featuring Supercharged grille, side vents, lights and stainless steel pedals will now be available on the TDV8 Autobiography which will be available from £72,995 on the road.

2009 Model Year Range Rover Prices:-

TDV8 HSE £58,695

TDV8 Vogue £63,950

TDV8 Vogue SE £69,495

TDV8 Autobiography £72,995

Petrol V8 Supercharged Autobiography £76,495

March 2009

Range Rover TDV8 'Westminster' editions on sale at Land Rover dealerships in the UK from the end of March 2009. The unique 'Westminster' features include 20" Diamond Turned wheels, an exterior design pack, 'Westminster' tailgate badging, half wood steering wheel and stainless steel accents to the brake and accelerator pedals. It is available in either Santorini Black or Stornoway Grey with Ivory/Jet or Jet/Jet interior colour ways from £62,995, or with a distinctive limited edition metallic paint colour called Marina Black from £63,995 on the road.

April 2009

New 2010 Range Rover unveiled at the New York International Auto Show. A new powerful engine, revolutionary interior technologies and enhanced driving dynamics reinforce its position as one of the world's most complete luxury 4x4s.

2010 Range Rover gets brand new LR/Jaguar 510PS 5.0-litre supercharged LR-V8 petrol engine. The engine was developed in-house by the Jaguar Land Rover powertrain team, with the requirements of the Range Rover in mind from day one. The LR-V8 engine has been developed to deliver more power and refinement, but not at the expense of fuel consumption and emissions. The LR-V8 improves fuel consumption by 7.3 percent to 19mpg on the EU cycle and CO2 emissions by 7.4 percent to 348g/km, despite substantial increases in both power to 510PS (+29 percent) and torque to 625Nm (+12 percent), compared with its 4.2-litre Supercharged predecessor.

The popular diesel derivative continues to be powered by the 272PS 3.6-litre TDV8 and also benefits from upgrades to the design and under-the-skin modifications.

Design enhancements to the 2010 Range Rover include subtle exterior revisions, featuring changes to the headlights, grille and bumper which enhance the classic Range Rover style with more contemporary detailing. The interior benefits from new luxury grade leather trim for the headlining, pillar and door casings and facia buttons which now feature a satin chrome-plated finish.

High quality black satin and natural wood finishes are highlighted by the Range Rover's upgraded waterfall interior lighting and complete the sumptuous feel of the interior architecture adding further refinement to the premium interior ambiance..

New headlights feature the Range Rover's trademark inter-locking circle design, but are more clearly visible, day or night, with LED lamp technology. A new bumper completes the smoother, more sculpted front end. The fog lamps are relocated from the bumper skin to the lower front air-intake.

The side of the vehicle features new 'three-stripe' LED indicators and redesigned three-section fender vents. The same design theme is adopted by the rear LED light clusters, which incorporate 'three-stripe' directional indicators.

The 2010 Range Rover receives two intuitive interior technologies including a world first dual view touch screen. The dual view infotainment touch screen technology 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. Traditional physical instrument dials are replaced by the world's largest configurable 12″ Thin Film Transistor (TFT) screen which presents all essential driver information via cleverly designed 'virtual' dials and graphical displays.

State-of-the-art Adaptive Dynamics technologies have been added to improve the Range Rover's peerless ride quality. All-terrain performance is also enhanced by updates to the Terrain Response™ and Stability Control systems. The 2010 Range Rover benefits from a more powerful braking system and a series of added active safety aids including Adaptive Cruise Control, Trailer Stability Assist, Emergency Brake Assist, enhanced Under Steer Control, Blind Spot Monitoring, Automatic High Beam Assist (AHBA) and a surround camera system.

The new surround camera system aids easier parking, towing and off road manoeuvring. It features five digital cameras which relay a near 360-degree view to the touch-screen display. The cameras can be used at speeds of up to 11mph, with options for selecting and zooming in to assist with close quarter parking and with towing.

The patented 'reverse tow assist' function helps perform accurate towing manoeuvres. The wide fields of view on the side cameras give a clear view of the reversing trailer and the images are electronically manipulated to provide an undistorted view. Guide lines overlaid on the rear camera image illustrate both the vehicle and trailer's trajectory and these move in line with steering inputs, making it easier for the driver to predict where the trailer will move to, before performing the reversing manoeuvre.

To make night driving more relaxing, the Range Rover's front headlights incorporate high beam assist technology (AHBA). This can automatically switch on high beam headlights where external light levels are below the system's threshold. Importantly, the system is also designed to detect preceding and approaching traffic, and in a split second will automatically switch back to low beam to avoid dazzling others.

There are also a number of other infotainment upgrades including a new hard-drive navigation system - providing faster route calculation, larger area map coverage and improved reliability – and a new Portable Audio Interface allowing connectivity to an array of personal audio storage devices such as USB sticks and MP3 players, enabling the various devices' functions to be accessed and controlled via the facia-mounted touch-screen system. One of the connectivity ports is a dedicated Apple iPodTM point made exclusively by Land Rover.

Vogue 3.6-litre TDV8 with 19" 7-spoke alloy wheels, Adaptive Dynamics, LED front and rear signature lights, keyless push-button start, 12" TFT Virtual Instrument Panel, iPod & USB connectivity interface, harman/kardon® Logic 7 surround sound audio system, park heating with remote control, 12 piece wood set, hard disc drive touch-screen premium navigation system. £64,695

Vogue SE 3.6-litre TDV8 with 20" V Spoke alloy wheels, Advanced Adaptive Cruise Control with forward alert, dual view touch-screen, perforated semi-aniline leather seat facings, adaptive bi-xenon headlights, 14 piece wood set. £70,995

Autobiography 3.6-litre TDV8 with 20" sparkle finish alloy wheels, autobiography design pack including 'Titan' light finish grille, vents, fog lamp bezels and front bumper splitter bar, leather door panels, leather headlining including vanity mirrors, luxury carpet mats, duo-tone seats. £75,695. Autobiography 5.0-litre V8 Supercharged with 5.0-litre Supercharged V8 petrol engine, rear electronic differential. £79,995

June 2010

Improvements for 2011 MY announced, including new 4.4-litre LR-TDV8 and new ZF 8HP70 8-speed automatic transmission. Also two significant Terrain Response upgrades and subtle external styling enhancements are amongst the features on the new 2011 Range Rover – on-sale in the UK from late September 2010.

The LR-TDV8 4.4-litre with parallel sequential turbocharging replaces the LR-TDV8 3.6-litre and is unique to the Range Rover. The all-new LR-TDV8 combines superior power and massive torque with unparalleled levels of refinement. Despite the extra performance, this V8 engine is cleaner too, delivering even lower fuel consumption andemissions than its predecessor. The combined cycle fuel consumption of the new LR-TDV8 4.4-litre is 30.1mpg, making this the first Range Rover ever to better 30mpg.

With 313PS and 700Nm torque, the Range Rover's new powertrain reduces CO2 emissions by an impressive 14 percent from 294g/km to 253g/km. The new diesel engine is helped in this respect by its marriage to a new, electronically controlled, ZF 8HP70, 8-speed automatic. This combination is enough to catapult the Range Rover from rest to 60mph in a mere 7.5 seconds and complete the 50mph-70mph dash in just 4.0 seconds while the top speed increases from 125mph to 130mph.

Available only on 4.4-litre LR-TDV8 models, this 'smart' transmission integrates with the diesel engine to deliver the most efficient operating regime in all conditions. To reflect the performance of the new 4.4-litre LR-TDV8, diesel models are fitted with the same Brembo-based braking system fitted to the 5.0-litre LR-V8 supercharged model. The system comprises 380mm ventilated front discs with unique, lightweight aluminium six-piston opposed action monoblock callipers. 365mm ventilated discs with single piston sliding callipers are fitted at the rear.

The new ZF 8HP70 8-speed transmission is tuned to take advantage of the LR-TDV8’s low end torque with torque converter lock-up being selected as early as possible to reduce slip and energy loss. The wider ratio spread, tall overdriven top gear and the fact that no more than two internal clutches are open at any one time all contribute to improved fuel economy and emissions.

Transmission Idle Control disengages 70 per cent of the drive when the vehicle is stationary and the engine is idling in Drive, significantly reducing consumption in the urban cycle. In cold conditions, the transmission selects a lower gear to promote fast warm up and get the engine up to its efficient operating temperature as soon as possible.

Driver controls include steering wheel-mounted paddle-shift as standard enabling the driver to take control of gear shifting manually. The CommandShift lever is replaced by a rotary knob for selecting park, reverse, neutral, drive or sport modes, the last of these optimising the gearbox response times for maximum acceleration, improved response and sharper upshifts. The selector knob is flush with the centre console when the ignition is switched off, rising up when it is switched on. To avoid confusion, the Terrain Response Rotary Switch is replaced by a new Terrain Response Optimisation Switch.

For 2011, the Range Rover retains the same 5.0-litre LR-V8, supercharged petrol engine married to the ZF HP28 6-speed automatic transmission introduced in 2010. Developing 510PS and 625Nm torque the Supercharged LR-V8 will take the Range Rover from 0-60mph in 5.9 seconds and remains the flagship model.

Inside the cabin there are optional illuminated treadplates for the front doors and new transmission controls for the diesel model. Detail improvements to the exterior include new 'Jupiter' grilles and side vents for the diesel models.

A new Exterior Design Pack option gives customers the chance to give their Range Rover a more individual look and new colours and wheels have been added to the range. The Exterior Design Pack comprises of a revised front bumper with fog lamp surrounds, front grille and side vents in Titan finish, revised side sills, rear bumper and stainless steel exhaust finishers.

The range of exterior paint colours has been expanded with two further choices, Fuji White (replacing Alaska White) and Baltic Blue (replacing Buckingham Blue).

The 2011 Range Rover is further enhanced by improvements to the Terrain Response system in the form of Hill Start Assist and Gradient Acceleration Control. Hill Start Assist retains the initial driver-generated brake pressure long enough for the foot to move from brake pedal to throttle, without the car rolling backwards. Gradient Acceleration Control is designed to provide safety cover on severe gradients when the driver does not have Hill Descent Control engaged.

The ultimate incarnation of the Range Rover, the Autobiography Black 40th anniversary limited edition is quite simply the last word in bespoke vehicles. With a unique finish in Barolo Black, the exterior also features 20-inch alloy wheels, Diamond Turned, a unique front grille with Titan grille mesh, a bright chrome grille 'U' edge and black grille surround. Side vents have a new mesh set off by bright chrome bars and a black vent surround. There are body coloured door handles and of course, the tailgate badge, 'Autobiography Black'.

Inside, there's a choice of the standard colourway in Jet, or two colourways unique to the Autobiography Black – Jet and Ivory, or Jet and Pimento. The Autobiography Black logo is repeated throughout the interior where it is embossed on the rear seat armrest and appears on the four unique, Grand Black door veneers. Front door sill tread plates are illuminated with the words 'Range Rover' and there's a half wood Grand Black steering wheel. Supercharged models also offer gearknob veneers.

February 2012

'Autobiography Ultimate Edition' announced to be unveiled at Geneva Motor Show March 2011, to be limited to just 500 units. Has either 4.4 V8 diesel of 5.0 Supercharged V8 petrol. Rear cabin completely revamped with two individual seats, centre console with leather and wood veneer containing a drinks chiller and fold-out laptop/keyboard table. Front seatbacks adapted to hold Apple i-pads. Load space has teak plank floor. Estimated to cost £130,000.

The Range Rover enters its 10thanniversary year in 2012, continuing to set benchmarks in luxury, capability and performance. Going beyond the 2012 model year enhancements that were introduced in October 2011, the Range Rover line-up is being developed to include three new Special Editions; The TDV8 Westminster, TDV8 Autobiography and Supercharged Autobiography.

The new arrivals focus on further extending the luxury and high specifications that are at the core of the Range Rover brand.

In 2012 Land Rover celebrates 10 years of Range Rover in its current guise. The third generation Range Rover was introduced in 2002 to critical acclaim setting new benchmarks in levels of luxury and all-terrain capability. Over the past decade, several facelifts and model year updates have kept the Range Rover at the cutting edge of technology leading up to the latest special editions, which will provide customers with increased options and convenience.

Westminster Edition

The new Range Rover Westminster Edition joins the line-up to replace the previous TDV8 Vogue and Vogue SE models. Going further than its predecessors, it comes handsomely equipped with an extensive collection of additional features that raise both the vehicle’s prestige style and comfort levels for everyone on board.

The exterior of the Westminster Edition is distinguished by the bright 'Noble' finish to the front grille and side vents, 'Titan' silver lower splitter bar and fog lamp bezels, 20-inch, 10-spoke alloy wheels and 'Westminster' badging. Opening the doors reveals illuminated treadplates and a cabin finished with luxury carpets and Grand Black lacquer trim elements, plus bright-finished pedal finishers. The front seats feature both heating and cooling functions and the in car entertainment system benefits from a 19-speaker, 1,200W harman/kardon LOGIC7 surround sound system as well as Range Rover’s innovative Dual View infotainment screen.

Featuring the powerful yet refined 4.4-litre TDV8 engine with eight-speed automatic transmission, the new Westminster Edition is available in a choice of seven exterior colours, with five interior colour combinations. The standard equipment specification further includes an electric sunroof, automatic headlights and windscreen wipers, Park Distance Control with rear-view camera, memory setting for the steering wheel, driver’s seat and rear-view mirror and a heated, leather trimmed steering wheel.

TDV8 Autobiography and Supercharged Autobiography

Bold design and ultimate luxury underpin the new Range Rover TDV8 Autobiography and Supercharged Autobiography. Both benefit as standard from the Range Rover Design Pack, a collection of exterior styling features that are seamlessly integrated to compliment the car's powerful appearance, without compromising its classic lines.

The pack introduces new front and rear bumpers, ‘Titan’ silver front grille and side vent treatments and fog lamp surrounds, integrated stainless steel exhaust finishers and side skirts. These are complemented by striking 20-inch alloy wheels in Shadow Chrome.

Inside the focus is on unparalleled luxury and comfort with the Range Rover Seat Style Pack. This comprises rear seats with recline and lumbar adjustment, heating and cooling functions and multi-adjustable aircraft-style headrests with wings for added support. The passenger "front seat away" function provides a simple control for adding extra rear legroom, while the front passenger seat itself benefits from a memory function than can store up to three different personalised settings.

Both versions gain the 19-speaker, 1,200W harman/kardon LOGIC7 surround sound system and are fitted with illuminated treadplates. Seven exterior finishes are available, together with an extensive range of interior colour and trim combination options. The TDV8 Autobiography retains its 4.4-litre engine and eight-speed automatic transmission, with the Supercharged Autobiography powered by the 5.0-litre LR-V8 petrol unit with six-speed automatic gearbox.

The new Range Rover Special Edition models go on sale in March. The TDV8 Westminster Edition is £69,995, presenting customers with significant additional feature content over and above the specification of the former Vogue and Vogue SE models.

On-the-road prices for the TDV8 Autobiography and Supercharged Autobiography are £84,295 and £86,895 respectively.