The Range Rover For 2006

Range Rover

"Supreme breadth of capability is a hallmark of the Range Rover," says Matthew Taylor. "It is outstanding both on-and off-road, and inspires a sense of well-being no matter what the conditions. The new Range Rover for 2006 offers even better performance, both in handling and straight-line speed. It is effortless irrespective of terrain.

"The arrival of the supercharged model with its extra power reinforces the Range Rover's status at the head of the premium SUV sector. Yet, as always, the Range Rover is a vehicle that is never out of place. It is just as much at home in the outback as at the opera."

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."