Range Rover

It’s party time at Range Rover! Fresh from the launch of the Evoque, the famous British 4x4 brand is continuing its 40th birthday celebrations with this – the 2011 model year Range Rover. And Auto Express has driven it. 



While just some new lights and a fresh set of grilles and vents are the extent of the exterior tweaks, the world’s best luxury off-roader has received some huge changes under the skin aimed at improving performance but reducing thirst. 



Replacing the current 3.6-litre V8 turbodiesel unit is a new 309bhp 4.4-litre V8 engine along with a new ZF eight-speed automatic gearbox. Inside it’s allied to steering wheel paddles and a Jaguar-style rotary gear selector.

The new unit uses one large turbo to do the majority of the work, with a smaller turbo cutting in to provide extra assistance. The sequential system, combined with the new gearbox, results in a 20 percent improvement in fuel economy – up to 30.1mpg – and a 15 percent drop in CO2, to 253g/km, removing the Range Rover from the top tax band.

Apart from the gear selector, up front it’s pretty much identical to the current car, but in the back there’s an increased focus on luxury with extras such as a 1200watt 19-speaker Harman Kardon stereo.

On the move, the 2011 Range Rover feels majestic. The new engine offers a lovely low V8 rumble and provides deep-chested performance while the eight-speed automatic always finds the right gear, shifting smoothly and quickly. With 700Nm of torque, it’s particularly impressive going from cruising to motorway speed, accelerating from 50-75mph in just 5.1 seconds.

Range Rover

Land Rover revealed the Evoque at an exclusive celebrity-studded event at Kensington Palace in London last week, ahead of the car's official unveiling at the forthcoming Paris motor show. Billed as a Range Rover (and not a Land Rover), the small SUV marks the 40th Anniversary of the original Range Rover and symbolizes the company's move towards developing more lightweight and frugal vehicles.

Virtually identical to the LRX concept revealed at the 2008 Detroit auto show, the Evoque is the first all-new Land Rover product designed under Gerry McGovern's stewardship. "Things that are smaller can take on more of a jewel-like effect, and that's very much been the mindset of this vehicle," McGovern said at the unveiling.

Though the interior of the car has yet to be shown, Land Rover has announced the appointment of Victoria Beckham to guide the direction of its design – the former Spice Girl has been appointed Range Rover's Creative Design Executive. We're not entirely sure what to make of that title – or even of the celebrity's association with the luxury off-road brand. Be sure to stay tuned for a more in-depth analysis...