Travel to any far corner of the world, and chances are part of your trip will be in the back of a Land Rover. The company built its reputation on providing vehicles that can stand up to the most inhospitable terrain. Land Rover is the second oldest builder of four-wheel drive vehicles in the world, right behind Jeep. According to official company sources, over 70 percent of its vehicles were still on the road over four decades later, all thanks to their rugged simplicity.\u003C/p>
How did Land Rover begin?\u003C/strong>\u003C/p>
Launched by Rover in 1948, the first Land Rover was heavily based on World War II Jeeps. It was a completely new direction for the company, which had before the war been focused mainly on luxury cars. But the post-war landscape required few of those, so Rover drew up plans for a light-duty, all-terrain agricultural vehicle. The very first prototype was actually built on a Jeep chassis, with a center-mounted steering wheel, and the engine and transmission were out of a Rover P3 car. The production version, which became known as the Series 1, featured leaf-spring suspension, selectable four-wheel drive, and a rear power take off for use with a variety of accessories.\u003C/p>
How different were they from Jeeps?\u003C/strong>\u003C/p>
Despite the origin, Land Rover very quickly diverged from the original Jeep design. Not only did they rely on British running gear, but steel shortages meant the new vehicles were largely made from aluminum. Quickly spreading throughout the world, especially the Commonwealth, Land Rover soon carved out its own identity.\u003C/p>
What does "series" mean?\u003C/strong>\u003C/p>
All Land Rovers coming off the line before 1983 are the Series models, variations on the original Land Rover design dating back to 1948. The Ninety and Land Rover One Ten, later called the Defender, followed them. While it looked similar, the new design featured an entirely new chassis. The four Series designs were:\u003C/p>
Series I:\u003C/strong> Built from 1948-1958. Originally using an 80-inch wheelbase, it eventually settled on the 88 and 109-inch lengths of later Series.\u003C/li>
Series II:\u003C/strong> Built from 1958-1961. Featured the larger 2.25-Liter engine and the introduction of the barrel waistline.\u003C/li>
Series IIA:\u003C/strong> Built from 1961-1971. Notable for the introduction of the 2.25-Liter Diesel engine.\u003C/li>
Series III:\u003C/strong> Built from 1971-1985. Notable for the introduction of all-synchromesh transmissions and a plastic dash.\u003C/li>\u003C/ul>
What about the present?\u003C/strong>\u003C/p>
1994 saw Land Rover bought by BMW, and in 2000, it sold to Ford. Then, in 2008, Ford sold the company to Tata Motors in India, along with Jaguar. Future Land Rovers will feature diesel-electric hybrid technology, which will allow models like the Freelander to achieve excellent fuel mileage while still maintaining superb off-road capabilities.\u003C/p>","contentType":"SEO_TEXT_BLURB"}]}]},"isSmall":false},{"f":1}]],"t":["axkbDxO"]})
