Fresh design details for iconic exterior
The Range Rover retains its iconic shape, but there are subtle yet distinct changes. All Range Rovers for 2006 get a new front bumper design, new headlamps and tail-lights, a new front grille and revised power vents. New 18-inch and 19-inch alloy wheels are also available. The supercharged derivative gets distinctive, additional styling modifications, which include mesh-design front grille and power vents, and unique 20-inch alloy wheels.
"The current Range Rover, launched in 2002, is a design classic that has been fantastically well received," says Land Rover's director of design Geoff Upex. "It carried over the original Range Rover design cues - the clamshell bonnet, the floating roof [created by the black roof pillars], the split tailgate, and the bold upright front with its simple grille and interplay between the vertical and horizontal lines. It clearly owes its lineage to the original Range Rover, launched in 1970, yet is also modern and fresh.
"The technological improvements for the 2006 model year gave us a chance to make the best SUV in the world look even better. For the naturally-aspirated model, we have made only subtle enhancements, to give the design an even more integrated look and feel. No major changes were necessary, or desired," says Upex.
The original Range Rover also created a whole new class of vehicle - the luxury SUV. It combined style, prestige, saloon car handling, and the spaciousness of an estate, with the ruggedness and versatility of a Land Rover. Those qualities have continued through all three generations of Range Rover, up to the present day.
Despite increased competition, the Range Rover is still regarded by many as the world's ultimate luxury SUV. "For the supercharged model, we wanted clearly to signal to the connoisseur car market that there is now a new flagship Range Rover. That's why this model has even more stature and grace. It is very much part of the Range Rover family: it's a vehicle of presence rather than extravagance. But it is also clearly the ultimate version of the ultimate SUV."
The much-acclaimed Range Rover interior design does not change. The supercharged model, however, does offer two new trim colour combinations, jet/jet (all black) and ivory/jet. Black lacquer wood is also now available, and all supercharged vehicles get special sports-designed stainless steel accelerator and brake pedals.
More refinement & more technology
The Range Rover for 2006 is not only faster, it is also quieter. The new engines offer better NVH (Noise, Vibration and Harshness) qualities than their predecessor, and are also better isolated from the interior. Cabin noise is significantly reduced. The front side glass is now laminated to cut out more external sound and the profile of the A-post has been modified to reduce wind noise. The result is the quietest Range Rover ever.
It is also the best equipped. Additional customer features available include 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 now available, 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).
These improvements are in addition to other luxury appointments (optional in some markets). These 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 new, easy-to-use touch-screen is standard on all derivatives. 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.
The popular six-cylinder turbodiesel powertrain (not available in some markets, including North America) continues unchanged, though with the refreshed exterior design details and additional features for 2006.
"The Range Rover has been a huge commercial success for Land Rover with most markets enjoying record sales when the current version was introduced in 2002," says Matthew Taylor. "The improvements for 2006 are the biggest changes we have made to the Range Rover since then, and they reinforce its position as the most complete and most coveted luxury SUV in the world."
Sales of the latest Range Rover models commence in spring 2005, depending on market.
