The latest auto news, reviews, prices, product and vehicle releases. Jul
13th
Stay connected Subscribe to our RSS feed
Any journalist coming from within the industry is sure to be carrying some baggage connected to a particular manufacturer. For me, that would be Land Rover. I served my mechanical apprenticeship with them back in the 70s, I've been President of the local Land Rover club, and prior to swapping wrench for pen, I owned and operated my own independent Land Rover/Jaguar workshop.
Because of this, over the decade or so in which I've been writing automotive reviews, I've purposely steered clear of reviewing Land Rover products for fear of being labelled a tainted enthusiast.
Of course, growing up on a farm in the UK, on what other possible brand of vehicle would I choose to serve my apprenticeship? After all, that's where the world's first SUV was born, down on the farm.
Yes, when the Range Rover first appeared in the late 60s, it was aimed at the wealthy farmers and land owners who, while content to let their farm hands drive around in the trusty LR Series workhorse, wished for something a tad more comfortable themselves.
Over the years, the Range Rover evolved from this to the point where it is now perhaps more of a status symbol than anything else. It's still one of the most capable vehicles in its class but, as is often pointed out, owners today rarely venture off-pavement with them. Of course, as unlikely as they are to charge into the darkest depths of Africa or scramble across a furrowed field, like the Ferrari owner who never pilots his car at 300 km/h, he or she does own the distinct pleasure of being able to say “if I wanted to, I could.”
Range Rover aside for the moment, Land Rover now offers a wide variety of vehicles, including the entry-level LR2, the new Evoque, the Range Rover Sport and, of course, the one perhaps most likely to be seen out on the trail, the highly capable LR4.
Although still sold in the UK, and in use by numerous armed forces around the world, we no longer enjoy the option of purchasing the granddaddy of them all, the Land Rover Defender. Still the closest vehicle in DNA to the company's original 1948 Series one, it is the coolest of 4x4s, which is why I've imported my own.
Of course, as it has now been 10 years since I laid my hands upon a modern Land Rover (I have the clean fingernails to prove this), I can honestly say that I no longer feel any true connection to the company. As such, I'm now quite comfortable in offering my evaluation of its product line.
So come for a ride with me as I check out the new 2012 Land Rover LR4.
Because of this, over the decade or so in which I've been writing automotive reviews, I've purposely steered clear of reviewing Land Rover products for fear of being labelled a tainted enthusiast.
Of course, growing up on a farm in the UK, on what other possible brand of vehicle would I choose to serve my apprenticeship? After all, that's where the world's first SUV was born, down on the farm.
Yes, when the Range Rover first appeared in the late 60s, it was aimed at the wealthy farmers and land owners who, while content to let their farm hands drive around in the trusty LR Series workhorse, wished for something a tad more comfortable themselves.
Over the years, the Range Rover evolved from this to the point where it is now perhaps more of a status symbol than anything else. It's still one of the most capable vehicles in its class but, as is often pointed out, owners today rarely venture off-pavement with them. Of course, as unlikely as they are to charge into the darkest depths of Africa or scramble across a furrowed field, like the Ferrari owner who never pilots his car at 300 km/h, he or she does own the distinct pleasure of being able to say “if I wanted to, I could.”
Range Rover aside for the moment, Land Rover now offers a wide variety of vehicles, including the entry-level LR2, the new Evoque, the Range Rover Sport and, of course, the one perhaps most likely to be seen out on the trail, the highly capable LR4.
 |
| Photo: Kevin ''Crash'' Corrigan |
Although still sold in the UK, and in use by numerous armed forces around the world, we no longer enjoy the option of purchasing the granddaddy of them all, the Land Rover Defender. Still the closest vehicle in DNA to the company's original 1948 Series one, it is the coolest of 4x4s, which is why I've imported my own.
Of course, as it has now been 10 years since I laid my hands upon a modern Land Rover (I have the clean fingernails to prove this), I can honestly say that I no longer feel any true connection to the company. As such, I'm now quite comfortable in offering my evaluation of its product line.
So come for a ride with me as I check out the new 2012 Land Rover LR4.