Range Rover Range : ONWARDS AND UPWARDS

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The Range Rover was already clearly the best luxury 4x4. Now it moves even further ahead of the pack. Andy Enright reports

Its hard to believe that in the years since the third generation Range Rover first appeared, the competition has not closed materially. Yes, weve seen cars like the Porsche Cayenne, Volvo XC90 and Volkswagen Touareg appear but none of these vehicles had the same opulent focus as the Range Rover and none could boast its impeccable pedigree. Given that it was so far ahead of any comparable rival, are the most recent model year updates really necessary?

The answer back in 2006 was probably yes. The 3.0Td6 diesel was lagging behind established rivals and was rightly dumped in favour of an all-new 272bhp TDV8 powerplant that has seen sales rise by over 20%. At the same time, to further emphasise this cars off road excellence, a class-leading Terrain Response system was added to help the tiny proportion of customers brave enough to subject £60,000 of luxury 4x4 to extreme off-tarmac conditions.

That only left gadgets, equipment and interior tweaks, all vital elements in this market. An electronic park brake and rear e differential have in recent times been joined by extra stowage space, enhanced finishes and more effective four-zone air conditioning plus the option of cooled front seats. Theres also a climate control windscreen and side glass, available in conjunction with automatic rain and headlight sensing. Wood is more copiously used around the cabin (with a choice of veneers) and there is now a wider range of exterior and interior colours from which to choose.

Prices start at £55,100.

"Target customers are used to not only having their cake and eating it, but also having preferential stock options in the cake factory"

Otherwise, its pretty much as you were. If you havent driven a Range Rover for a bit, then you wont have had a chance to experience the new Jaguar-derived petrol powerplants. Theres a 305bhp 4.4-litre V8 and a supercharged 4.

2-litre engine, cranking out 400bhp and 420lb/ft of torque. An adaptation of the Jaguar XJRs unit, this generates over 35 per cent more power and 25 per cent more torque than the outgoing V8 and will get to 60mph in just 7.6 seconds. Both units are lightweight and use sophisticated torque-based engine control systems that, in concert with the drive-by-wire throttle control and variable camshaft phasing (on the 4.

4-litre powerplant), continually adjust the engine to return optimum performance, fuel economy and emissions. Both petrol engines are mated to a ZF six-speed automatic gearbox with a centre differential and a proper low range box. Most owners however, will (rightly) go for the TDV8 diesel. It makes the sprint to 60mph to 8.

5 seconds on the way to a top speed capability of 124mph easily enough for high-speed intercontinental ballistic cruising. Refinement is impressive too. The TDV8 is claimed to be 75 per cent quieter overall than the old 3.0-litre diesel and you wont need to rev it until its valves bounce because the almost obscene torque figure of 472lb/ft comes on stream from just 2,000rpm.

Almost two thirds of that figure is on tap from just 1,250rpm, which is more than the old engine could make at full chat. If youre used to older versions of this current shape Range Rover, youll also notice that at the wheel of a new one, the steering has been tweaked for better feel and the air suspension has been revised to offer better on-road comfort and off-road performance. The supercharged version needs some serious stoppers to control its mass and is fitted as standard with Brembo front brakes and a revised suspension set-up aimed at quelling body roll, pitch and dive. The interior is, as weve suggested, a major selling point of this vehicle and in the supercharged petrol model, it looks even better.

Jet/jet is an all-black colour scheme that works wonderfully with black leather and black metallic paint whereas ivory/jet lightens the tone a little and looks good with classic green, blue and red exterior finishes. As well as being faster, the Range Rover is also quieter than before, all engines doing better in terms of noise, vibration and harshness than their predecessors. Notwithstanding this fact, Land Rover have also isolated the engines from the interior more effectively. The front side glass is now laminated to cut down on noise and the A-pillar has been reprofiled to reduce wind roar at high speed.

A wide range of electronic functions is available, including a rear camera for easier reverse parking, a tyre pressure monitoring system and adaptive front headlamps that swivel when cornering to improve illumination. A rear seat entertainment system is also on offer, with two headrest-mounted 6.5-inch screens, a six-disc DVD auto-changer, infra-red remote control, wireless headphones and sockets for auxiliary media sources (such as an MP3 player or games console). Other luxury appointments include a DVD satellite navigation that provides both on and off-road guidance, a Logic 7 harman/kardon audio system boasting 14 speakers and 710 watts of power, and a personal integrated telephone system.

This latest in-car phone is Bluetooth-enabled and can be voice, touch-screen or steering wheel operated. Cradle-mounted phone handsets also allow for SMS text messaging (via an on-screen keyboard). A touch-screen is standard on all models. It has clear resolution for easy visibility in all light and provides an interface for audio, navigation, on-board computer, telephone, and 4x4 information and settings.

Its impressive stuff. Its reassuring to know that if you want the best luxury 4x4 money can buy, the Range Rover delivers. Nothing can touch its accomplishment both on and off road and although most will never see anything more arduous than a gravel track, its good to know youve got capability in reserve. Most important of all, the Range Rover is socially presentable - its target clientele being very sensitive about brand values and badge equity.

If you have the means and require the definitive article, accept no substitute.

FACTS AT A GLANCE

CAR: Range Rover range
PRICES: £55,100-£74,900 - on the road
INSURANCE GROUPS: 16-18
CO2 EMISSIONS: 299-376g/km
PERFORMANCE: [TDV8] 0-60mph 8.5s / Max Speed 124mph
FUEL CONSUMPTION: [4.4 V8] (combined) 17.9mpg
STANDARD SAFETY FEATURES: Twin front and side airbags, ABS
WILL IT FIT IN YOUR GARAGE?: Length/Width/Height 4950/1863/1863mm