Photos submitted

‘THE ROVER offers a new electronically controlled air-spring suspension, 200-horsepower 4.2-litre V8, traction control, and four-wheel disc brakes with ABS as standard
equipment. Check out the Range Rover County at MCL Motor Cars, 1730 Burrard St., Vancouver.

TEST DRIVE

THE BRITISH-built Range
Rover is Land Rover’s
top-of-the-line four-
wheel-drive vehicle. Over its
20-year history it has won
many awards for its unique
design and versatility.

The 1993 Range Rover County
LWB (long wheelbase) recently
won its class (Best New Light
Truck/Sport Utility) ia the annual
Car of the Year Awards from the
Automobile Journalists Associa-
tion of Canada.

The Range Rover defeated the
Jcep Grand Cherokee and the
Toyota T100 to win the title,
clear indication of what a for-

&& At speeds greater than 80 kph (the
air suspension) automatically lowers to

improve aerodynamics .

midable vehicle this is, despite an
asking price of over $66,000.

When introduced in England in
1970, the Range Rover was one of
the first ‘‘civilized’’ 4X4s,
predating today’s luxury sport-
utilities by more than 20 years.

The Range Rover’s large, lux-
urious and comfortable interior,
combined with full-time four-
wheel drive, a generous amount of
wheel travel and gutsy V8 engine,
made it the ultimate compromise
between a luxury car and an off-
road vehicle.

The 1993 Range Rover County
LWB is longer and more powerful
than the regular wheelbase model
(which is still offered) and offers a
unique, height-adjustable air-
spring suspension and electronic
traction control.

The wheelbase of the new LWB
model has been stretched by 20
cm from 2,540 mm (100 in.) to
2,743 mm (108 in.), Rear passen-
ger legroom is now limousine-like,
a vast improvement over the
standard model, and probably the

wD

roomiest back seat area of any
vehicle, save a stretched limo.

The increased vehicle length has
bumped curb weight from 2,000
kg (4,400 Ib.) to 2,075 kg (4,565
lb.). To counter the extra vehicle
weight, Range Rover increased
engine displacement from 3.9
litres to 4.2 litres, with horse-
power increasing from 182 to 200.

The performance of the LWB
model is actually better than the
short wheelbase model. Zero to
100 kph is now ceached in 9.9 se-
conds — compared to 10.6 se-
conds — and standing %-mile
times are now 17.4 seconds versus
17.9 seconds,

The new air-spring suspension
replaces the conventional coil
springs, but the live-axle setup
remains. The air suspension offers
five height settings: Access for
ease of entry and loading cargo,
Low Profile for highway cruising,
Normal! for urban use, High Pro-
file for difficult roads and tracks,
and Extended Profile which will
cause a wheel to reach down 4 cm

THE SIG, bright interior offers excellent outward visibility with 3
high centre console.

(1.6 in.) from standard height to
gain traction if the vehicle is
high-centred. Everything can be
controlled from the driver's seat
via three push buttons. The height
differential from Low to High is
an amazing 12.7 cm (5 in.).

Left alone, the air suspension
automatically reverts to the Nor-
mal height setting, but at speeds
greater than 80 kph, it
automatically lowers 2 cm (0.8 in.)
to the Leow Profile position to
improve vehicle aerodynamics,
handling and fuel economy (Land
Rover claims a 2% gain in fuel

“economy).

The 4.2-litre V8 (originally
derived from an American Buick
V8) is perfectly suited to this
vehicle, offering plenty of low-
end torque for off-road use while
providing smooth, quiet, powerful
operation on the pavement.

At 100 kph, the lazy V8 turns
over just 2,200 rpm, a relaxing
and quiet engine speed. The ZF
four-speed automatic transmission
is also extremely smooth.

i had just one complaint with

See Range Rover page 38