Land Rover has been a staple of the British motor industry since it was introduced in 1948.
After then Rover designer Maurice Wilks thought up of the idea of the Land Rover, with inspiration taken from the Willies Jeep, the name has become synonymous with off-road excellence.
With the legendary Series I, II and III paving the way for the brand, other models such as the Discovery and Range Rover have meant that Land Rover has established itself as an automotive giant.
With this guide, we’ll take a look at the brand and what models they currently produce…
Who owns Land Rover?
Land Rover has had a tumultuous time in the business sense, as it has passed hands through four ownership changes in its time, with the most recent being from Ford Motor Company to Indian manufacturer Tata Motors in 2008.
In that deal, Land Rover were paired with Jaguar to become commonly known as JLR. Now, the two share technologies, factories and resources, with Tata Motors overseeing the operations.
German automotive executive Dr Ralf Speth is the CEO and director for Jaguar Land Rover.
Where are Land Rovers made?
Due to the brand’s worldwide recognition, Land Rover uses five plants around the world to build its vehicles – two of which are in the UK. The Halewood and Solihull facilities are used to build all of the brand’s models for the European market, while factories in Pune, India, the Brazilian town of Itatiaia and Changsu, China, make up the rest of the brand’s worldwide vehicles.
The Wolverhampton and Changsu plants make all the engines for Jaguar Land Rover models, while a planned facility in Nitra, Slovakia, will also be used to build future JLR products.
Land Rover latest models
Land Rover currently has six base models at its disposal, with all having some form of off-roading capabilities. Four of the current models use the Range Rover moniker, while the other two come from the Discovery family tree.
Here is a rundown of those models…
Range Rover Evoque
Currently the smallest model in the Land Rover line-up, it is also one of the brand’s newest names. Following its initial release in 2011, it has proved to be one of the brand’s most popular models, thanks to its smaller dimensions, cheaper outlay and fantastic looks. Coming with many off-roading capabilities found on its larger siblings, the Evoque is considered a modern design classic, but recently has been made into a less favourable convertible version.
Land Rover Discovery Sport
Based on the last Discovery, the Sport is a more compact vehicle that has sleeker lines and is seen more as a leisure vehicle than a rugged model – even if it does have all the off-roading capabilities. It replaced the Freelander back in 2014, and since then has become very popular. Available with both five and seven seats, the Discovery Sport is an ideal family car, as it is cheaper than many of its family members, is very practical and is very comfortable.
Range Rover Velar
The newest car in the Land Rover stock, and it is very futuristic indeed. It boasts an angular design, while the interior has a dual-touchscreen setup that will surely be seen in future Land Rover models. The five-seat model is seen as a premium mid-size SUV, pitting it against BMWs and Audis alike – and that’s a tricky task. But with a modern design and much more advanced interior look, the Velar is one of the cars of 2017.
Range Rover Sport
The fastest and possibly most menacing of all. Tuned to be more dynamic than the rest of the line-up, the Range Rover Sport has gained a lot of praise since its inception in 2004, and rightly so. Usually found with a V6 or V8 engine under the bonnet, the Sport also comes with a bonkers SVR version, and uses the same engine found in the Jaguar F-Type that produces 543bhp. It has just recently been updated and now comes with a plug-in hybrid version that is available from next year.
Land Rover Discovery
The most rugged car that Land Rover offers, and after its 28 years in service the Disco has become on off-roading master. Even though the design of the Discovery 5 may not have tickled everyone’s taste buds, it comes with a wide variety of gadgets making it perfect for going on the rough stuff and vast amounts of space to bring six other people with you. Land Rover also revealed the mean-looking SVX version at the 2017 Frankfurt Motor Show, while the British Red Cross has a version that can launch a drone out of a special roofbox.
Range Rover
Arguably the most luxurious one on offer, and for other car manufacturers this is the benchmark to beat in terms of all-round performance and comfort. Now into its fourth generation, Land Rover has perfected the way in which the Range Rover can get you from A-B – whether that be by road or on rutted tracks. Available in a long wheelbase, the Range Rover has redefined comfort in an SUV, and that means everyone else has to catch up. You can find out more about the new 2018 Range Rover here.
