Early Land Rover success came about purely by accident, its design was influenced by Willys WW2 Jeep design, while construction and build had more to do with material availability rather than choice.

Most recognizable is the early series one designs that would later be known as Defenders, the type finding popularity in all corners of the world, adopted by anyone needing a rugged farm vehicle, military vehicle, or even expedition vehicle. The basic design would also be the types weak point, owners wanting a more refined comfortable off-roader would be the catalyst that prompted Land Rover to develop the first Range Rover.

Luxury SUVs are big businesses, with many of the world's most exclusive carmakers designing and building their own models to compete for customers, none have the same badge credibility as Land Rover.

10 Land Rover Series 1-3 - Early Beginnings

Coys Of Kensington

Post-war demand for luxury cars didn't exist, Rover faced a bleak future until they launched their 1947 Land Rover series 1. A shortage of raw materials would lead Rover to use corrosion-resistant aluminum bodywork mounted on a traditional steel ladder chassis, proving both rugged and durable. Early series 1 production models feature Rover sourced 1.6-liter gasoline engines, these later made way for larger gasoline and diesel units.

Hemmings

Clearly influenced by the success of the Jeep, where Land Rover really excelled was the adoption of permanent all-wheel drive with optional high and low range selection, even today, the classic Land Rover remains one of the best off-roaders. Proving how durable the design was, over 70% of all models built remain on the roads today.

9 Range Rover 1st & 2nd Generation - Birth Of The Upmarket SUV

Williams Classics

Contrary to popular belief, the first Range Rover model was never intended to be a luxury vehicle. The model's functional interior was designed to be easy to clean and maintain. First generations models shipped with Buick/Rover 3.9-liter V8's, and were only available in two-door specification.

2nmd Generation - Motor Trend

Second-generation models arrived in 1994 with BMW now controlling the Rover Group, huge improvements to both equipment and quality made the model more attractive to buyers. Range Rover had previously suffered from poor fuel economy, but it would now also include BMW's 2.5-liter diesel engine.

8 Land Rover Discovery - From Humble Roots To Luxury SUV

Motoring Research

Hoping to recapture the mid-range SUV market, the Discovery was launched in 1989, following the design ethos of the original Range Rover - a capable off-roader with everyday practicality in mind. Genuine mud-pluggers lacked the high-end luxury of Range Rovers, and early models are notoriously slow due to lack of power and excess weight.

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Confusingly named Discovery 3, second-generation models featured a monocoque construction along with independent air-suspension greatly improving ride and refinement. Most recently updated in 2017 to third-generation spec, Discovery models now fully-aluminum-bodied helping to reduce weight and pollution, gaining its A-rated AIR index emission rating.

7 Ranger Rover 3rd & 4th Generation - Luxury Arrives For Real

Auto Trader

Third-generation Range Rovers crossed two ownership periods, with earlier models relying on existing BMW electrical systems, later models are extensively Jaguar based. Heavily revised styling externally matched the car's new upmarket price, and for the first time, genuinely luxurious interior able to match those of high-end executive sedans, the luxury SUV had arrived.

New York Times

Newly formed Jaguar Land Rover in 2008 couldn't have come at a worse time with the global financial crisis badly affecting Ranger Rover's sales with barely 22,000 units sold in 2009 marking a low point. Revising the model for the fourth generation would greatly improve sales with the arrival of an electric hybrid doubling sales in 2013.

6 Land Rover Freelander - First Baby Land Rover

1997 Land Rover Freelander
Via: Parkers

Switching to a modern monocoque design improved build quality and strength, only for the Rover sourced 1.8-liter K series engines to be the weak point in Freelanders design. Styling cues maintained the Range Rover connection while producing a smaller lighter vehicle, offered in either three or five-door form, and were generally well-received at launch, selling 540,000 over a nine-year period.

Auto Express

Changing ownership would bring changes to the range with Freelander 2 arriving in 2006 based on the Ford EUCD platform, along with improved EcoBoost engines. In a bizarre move for Land Rover, the range also included a 2-wheel drive model.

5 Range Rover Sport - Supercharged By Jaguar

2005 Range Rover Sport - Front Quarter
Land Rover

Range Rover by name, but underneath, the first sport model is based on Land Rover's Discovery chassis, and in top-spec used a Jaguar 4.2-liter supercharged V8 producing 300hp. Sounds impressive, but the sheer weight blunted performance. Even so, the Sport could reach 62mph in 7.2 seconds, not bad for something that weighed 5400lbs.

Via: Land Rover

At the time of launch in 2005, few carmakers produced a sports version of their SUV models, with Range Rover Sport one of the first to market. With competition in the sports SUV market so fierce Land Rover has upped their game with the Sports model now available as both Hybrid and high-performance combustion options.

4 2016 Land Rover Defender - End Of The Line

Car Magazine

After 67 years in production (originally S1-S3) the last Land Rover Defender rolled off the production line in 2016. Retaining the same classic shape and basic design, modernized with some creature comforts added through its history, Defenders have seen service in every corner of the globe.

Car Magazine

Ending such a historic model line is never going to be easy, something Land Rover are aware of. After all, if the early Defenders hadn't been so successful would the company even be here today?

3 Evoque - Smaller Softer Off-Roader

Forbes

Opinions are divided with the Evoque, on one side it has the legendary off-road abilities, but the sloping rear roof styling doesn't quite find the brand image. Launched in 2011 quickly outselling production levels, Land Rover offered three and five-door options, plus in 2018 there was the bizarre five-door convertible, presumably for top-down boulevard cruising.

Forbes

Similar in approach to the earlier Freelander model, Land Rover offered the option of either 2-wheel drive or permanent 4-wheel drive.

2 Defender - Resurrection Of An Icon

Design News

Scheduled to enter production in 2020 Land Rover's Defender is back, this time sporting a much more modern chassis and body set-up, promising greater on-road refinement. Like the original Defender, two body sizes are planned with the longer 110 wheelbase providing better levels of standard kit.

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Where the new Defender really shines is its ability to be excellent off-road while providing almost car-like on-road manners, something the original couldn't manage.

1 Range Rover Velar - Luxury Turned Up To 11

Auto Trader

Launched in 2017, Velar is a curious mix of Range Rover Sport and Evoque combining elements from both designs producing a niche model between the two. Heavily based on existing Jaguar technology featuring the same platform and engine lineup as the F-Pace does seem an odd choice with both models competing against one another.

Car Advice

Adding further confusion, Range Rover Sport lists for $96,000 while the newer Velar with less space and similar performance starts at $90,000 before owners add from the extensive options list.

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