The iconic Range Rover Mk4 is already a sell out among dealers, just three months after its announcement and within weeks of first deliveries being made.
Coming in the wheel-tracks of Land Rover’s most successful ever year with UK sales up nearly 25pc, the lastest version in the model’s 42-year history brings cutting edge engineering and design to the on and off road market.
The 120 UK LR dealers have already taken 90pc of this year’s Range Rover production schedule and it is expected to account for 10pc of total production from their factories in the Midlands and North West England, which last year produced a record 303,000 models of its six vehicle series.
China is currently top export market but the UK is the second biggest and ahead of the United States, but this does fluctuate.
Significantly lighter because it’s the first luxury 4×4 to be built with an aluminium chassis and body, more economical yet packing more punch, Range Rover Mk4 also features their latest simplified automatic traction control and assistance systems.
It launches now with the newest 285ps 3.0V6 diesel, as used in stable-mate Jaguar models, as well as 339ps 4.4V8 diesel, 375ps V8 petrol (in some markets but not UK) and range topping 510ps 5.0V8 supercharged petrol engines. These will be joined before the end of the year by an advanced diesel-hybrid engine.
All use versions of an eight-speed automatic transmission with electric power steering, the latest disc brakes, and advanced air suspension.
It is just under 5m long by 2m wide and stands under 1.84m high. Front and rear sub-frames carry the suspension but the extensive use of aluminium in chassis and entire body mean it is up to 420kg lighter than the Mk3 so kerb weights across the new range go from 2160kg to 2360kg and emissions are between 196gkm and 322gkm.
This light weight helps the new 3.0V6 accelerate from 0-60mph in 7.4 secs and have a maximum of 130mph, while the 4.4V8 diesel reaches 135mph and takes 6.5 secs to reach 60mph.The petrol 510ps 5.0V8 Supercharged will exceed 140mph and 5.1sec covers its acceleration to 60mph from standstill.
1970 The original two-door Range Rover – known as the Classic – is launched
1994 Second-generation (P38a) Range Rover goes on sale
2001 All-new Range Rover (L322) introduced
2012 Latest Range Rover (L405) revealed
With a longer wheelbase and more rear seat legroom, the latest Range Rover can even be ordered in what they term business class, giving just two back seats, more elbow room and a distinctive rear console, and this could be a significant option among 18,000 available for the mostly business buyers of the new car.
Land Rover is particularly proud of its use of recyclable and sustainable materials in creating the new Range Rover during the last four years. In showrooms now, potential buyers will see full leather interiors with fine wood panels and aluminium detailing on controls and trim.
Under the skin, engineering improvements have increased the wading depth and taken out the guesswork in guiding it over any ground by fitting Terrain Response 2, which automatically senses the grip under the wheels and makes subtle adjustments to the powertrain.
High and low ratios remain and you can manually select terrain modes if you wish.
There are Vogue, Vogue SE and Autobiography trim levels to which you add individual options to build an almost unique model. On road prices for the 3.0V6 diesel begin at £71,295 rising to £87,895, while the 4.4V8 diesel costs between £77,225 and £93,825 with the 5.0V8 S Autobiography at £97,310
FIRST IMPRESSIONS
The new Range Rover Mk4 not only lifts itself on its air suspension to a higher level of refinement and sophistication but it significantly raises the bar in the luxury off road market.
It is now off-road opulence which begins at a little over £71,000 with virtually no upper limit as buyers have over 18,000 options from which to choose and give their new Range Rover the exclusivity they expect in other luxury goods.
Slip into the sumptuous leather seats, which can be ordered with massage mode as well as air conditioning, and you immediately look around a cabin that reminded me of a Rolls-Royce or Bentley.
It is a big car with exquisite on-road refinement and exceptional off-road ability as we discovered in the recent heavy snowfalls and an arduous adventure in Land Rover’s legendary proving grounds at Eastnor, Herefordshire. But it wasn’t without fault nevertheless.
The new 285ps 3.0V6 is derived from the unit used in stablemate Jaguar saloons and estates, but modified for its new role under the Range Rover’s bonnet.
That gives good acceleration, composed cross-country ability, proved flexible and returned 24mpg on our test. There is plenty of pulling power for overtaking and it is surprisingly quiet even when pushed hard to give of its best.
Gearchanges are quick and smooth, the steering returns good feedback and the brakes are strong. Ride quality is good although road rumbles are noticed because the mechanical and wind noises are low.
With the 339ps 4.4V8 diesel you immediately notice even easier performance flowing from the throttle and I thought it actually rode better as well over some ridged and potholed sections.
Brakes and steering inspire confidence and the secondary controls have been simplified with many functions now moved onto the touch-screen multi-mode monitor on the fascia.
For those in the rear, the legroom is noticeably longer, the headroom is good and if you use the load-bed it is easier to access from the redesigned tailgate with its reduced height lower half.
We were slightly disappointed that one of our test cars had an electrical malfunction which started the seats massage function when the lights were turned on, and there was a noticeable smell of diesel fuel and warning of filter blockage after some serious off-road work in the other.
A colleague also reported a strong petrol fuel smell in his vehicle in similar circumstances.
These issues apart, the new Range Rover Mk4 is a real game-changer in the off-road sector and it will become the benchmark for the forthcoming Bentley SUV to exceed, and that will have its work cut out. © Robin Roberts
Fiat Panda proves you don’t have to be big to be better
By DAVID MILES
The latest Panda’s to be imported to the UK will be quite rare on and off our streets.
Fiat normally sells around 6,000 Panda five door 3.68-metre long City Cars in the UK each year and the third generation range is about to get two more family members, but in limited numbers.
The Panda 4×4 with permanent all wheel drive should achieve around 500 UK sales and the Panda Trekking, a two-wheel drive Traction+ version of the chunky high ground clearance 4×4, will sell in numbers that currently Fiat UK cannot estimate but this version could exceed its 4×4 stablemate.
Fiat say the Trekking is the World’s first CUV or City Utility Vehicle.
Panda 4×4 and the Trekking versions have the option of two familiar engine choices, a 1.3-litre MultiJet 75hp turbo-diesel and the award winning 0.9-litre TwinAir 85hp turbocharged two-cylinder petrol unit.
The latest Fiat Panda front wheel drive range went on sale last year and the third generation 4×4 and the first generation Trekking gain chunky front and rear bumpers, protective side and wheelarch mouldings, a raised 200mm ride height for better ground clearance and 15-inch alloy wheels.
The 4×4 models have silver coloured front and rear skid plates for further underbody protection. Front foglights, daytime running lights and roof rails are also fitted as standard. Inside both models the centre console is raised in height to position the added traction system select buttons closer to the driver’s hand.
The 4×4 system is permanent but for 98 per cent of the time say Fiat the Panda 4×4 will operate in front wheel drive mode only with drive to the rear wheels taking place automatically when traction is lost at either of the front wheels.
The driver can also select 4×4 mode which gives a progressive and maximum 50-50 torque split between the front and rear axles.
The Trekking’s Traction+ system only operates on the front wheels at speeds up to 18.6mph. Essentially the front differential applies traction to the wheel with the more grip and automatically applies the brake to the spinning wheel so the gripping wheel drags the car out of the mud or snow making it more surefooted than a conventional front wheel drive system.
MILESTONES
Fiat Panda 4×4 1.3-litre MultiJet. Price: £14,950. Engine/transmission: 1.3-litre, 4-cylinder turbodiesel 75bhp, 190Nm (140 lb ft) from 1,500rpm, 5-speed manual, on-demand 4-wheel drive.
Performance: 99mph, 0-62mph, 14.5 seconds, 60.1mpg Combined Cycle (47.4mpg on test), CO2 125g/km, VED road tax £0 First Year rate then £100 for the second year onwards, BIK company car tax 19%.
Insurance Group: 7. Dimensions/capacities L 3,686mm, W 1,672mm, H 1,605mm, boot 225-litres, braked towing weight 900kg.
For: Impressive 4×4 ability, chunky off-roader styling, practical 5-door city car with country car abilities, easy to drive, fun to own.
Against: Unsettled ride, cornering bodyroll, pricey, no off road descent control, space saver spare wheel costs extra.
© David Miles
First impressions:
Fiat has a winner in its and the owners’ hands on or off road with the new Panda CUVs writes ROBIN ROBERTS.
Whether you choose a 2WD Trekker or 4WD Panda, it cannot fail to impress by its abilities when the going gets slippery.
After a heavy snowfall that deterred drivers from leaving the security of their homes for the slippery state of country roads, we eagerly set about testing the new Pandas.
Without hesitation the little Panda set out on the test route over A and B class roads, accelerating, steering and stopping with utter confidence and control and it easily kept up or was held up by gingerly guided saloons and a number of poorly driven big off-roaders.
What was even more impressive was the fact we had chosen to take on the conditions and traffic in our 2WD Trekker and not the Panda 4×4.
The TwinAir’s willing if attractively busy engine gave good account of itself irrespective of the hills it climbed with surprising ease. It covered the snowy roads without hesitation or giving this driver a moment’s concern.
In more arduous conditions over a 4×4 course originally laid down to demonstrate the skills of Land Rover models, the Panda 4×4 scuttled around, nimbly negotiating tight turns, breezing over breasts of ascents and waded through water up to the middle of the doors before confidently descending slopes where the only view through the windscreen was the upcoming ground.
It was a remarkable performance by a city car and if this is the standard of sophisticated engineering what we can expect from future Fiat models it is a real threat to immediate rivals and those a class above, particularly if Fiat decided to provide the 4×4 transmission on a future MPV.
As it stands now, the Panda Trekker or 4×4 really is two cars in one, and that’s a surprise for any competitor.
Derived from the Fiat Panda with its Lounge specification but with added equipment. The Panda 4×4 costs £13,950 with the TwinAir petrol engine and £14,950 with the MultiJet diesel.
That is £2,700 more than the standard Panda Lounge version because of the all wheel drive system, 4×4 styling, electronic stability programme, Blue&Me connectivity, steering wheel control buttons and mud and snow tyres.
The Trekking TwinAir costs £12,450 and the MultiJet version £13,450.
This is £1,200 more than standard Panda Lounge models because of the Traction+ system and the same added spec items as the Panda 4×4.
Customers for the Panda 4×4 and Trekking variants have a wide choice of extras cost options, the most appropriate being, given their off road performance, a £50 space saver spare wheel.
