In the UK, the Land Rover was the 4x4 of choice. Seeing how people were using the cars prompted the company to develop a more civilized vehicle; one that felt as comfortable in the country as it did in the city.

 

The Range Rover was born in 1970, and sported a new V8 engine that was both lightweight and powerful. It had permanent four wheel drive and independent suspension. At its introduction, the Range Rover became the fashionable 4x4 in Europe and was even displayed at the Louvre in Paris as automotive art. In 1987, the Range Rover appeared as the most luxurious utility vehicle in North America and took the market by storm.

 

By the end of the 1980s, Land Rover needed a new model to compete with more car-like Japanese vehicles such as the Mitsubishi Pajero. With the creature comforts of the Range Rover and the ruggedness of the original Land Rover, the Discovery was launched.

 

In 1996, Land Rover turned 50 and celebrated its anniversary with the launch of the next generation of off-road vehicles; a smaller SUV called the Freelander.

 

In 2005, the Range Rover Sport was launched bringing another level of dynamism to the 4x4 market. With a Jaguar-derived 4.2 litre V8 petrol supercharged engine and a V8 Turbo Diesel engine to choose from, the Sport offers as much power as off-road capability.