MOTORING 7FRIDAY 13 NOVEMBER 2009 THE SCOTSMAN
The new Range Rover offers unparalleled luxury and refinement � and a real sense of occasion
Range Rover shows
its pedigree as top
dog for those looking
for a luxurious 4x4
"There's nothing quite
likethefeelingyouget
sitting at the wheel of
a Range Rover"
JUNE NEARY
I
F YOU have to ask "Why?" or
"How Much?", then you
probably shouldn't be con-
sidering a new Range Rover
in the first place. You can buy a
luxury4x4forlessthan�50,000.
And no, it doesn't seem to make
much sense paying all that
money for off-road ability that
you'll never use.
But that's not the point. This is
a status symbol � the ultimate
status symbol, in fact, for coun-
try dwellers. And, like everyone
else, I'm not averse to having a
status symbol in my driveway.
The sheer bulk of the thing
can tend to put you off but, from
behind the wheel, you really
don't notice it.
The original Range Rover was
all about practicalities. You
could, after all, wash the inside
out with a hosepipe. The idea of
doingthattothecurrentversion
send shivers up the spine.
Today, this is a car whose interi-
or ambience is closer to an Aston
Martin than anything else, with
quality trim materials tastefully
integrated, lustrous pleated
leather seats and intelligent use of
aluminium and chrome finishing
on the dashboard. The effect is
tasteful, restrained and isn't going
to date as quickly as a more ex-
treme design.
Land Rover reckon it essential
that people instantly recognise
this car as a Range Rover and
most will.
The exterior is modern yet re-
tains all the distinctive styling
cues,aswellasintroducingsome
new ones. The headlamps re-
mind you of the Mk1 model,
while the vertically stacked indi-
catorunitsseemtobe,inconcept
at least, borrowed from the utili-
tarian Defender.
There's nothing quite like the
feeling you get sitting throne-
like above it all at the wheel of a
Range Rover. Luxury, comfort,
refinement, craftsmanship and
outright performance fuse to-
gether in its imperious progress,
whether on turf or Tarmac.
Slot the silver-tipped gear
lever into "Drive" and the car
glides away � unless you've the
need to hurl it at the horizon, in
which case the supercharged
petrol model will make 60mph
fromrestinundersixsecondson
the way to a top speed limited to
140mph. That car comes com-
should make sure you return
safely.
At prices starting from
around �65,000, it depends on
how you define "value for
money". You could spend less
and get a large, plush off-roader
thatdoesmuchthesamejob.But
it wouldn't have the same ride or
refinement, the same on-road
presence or off-road ability. It
wouldn't be a Range Rover.
You'll only get a choice of trim
levels if you go for the TDV8
diesel but all variants are as well
equipped as you would expect
for the sums being asked, with
cruise and climate control, nine
airbags, a 14-speaker Harman
Kardon surround sound stereo,
an HDD sat-nav system, leather
trim with a heated leather steer-
ing wheel, a rear parking view
camera, an electric sunroof, a
heated windscreen, auto-dim-
ming mirrors, rain-sensing
wipers and 19-inch alloys.
Recentlydevelopedfeaturesin-
clude adaptive radar cruise con-
trol that works with the Forward
Alert and Emergency Brake Assist
functionstooffergreatmotorway
driving peace of mind also en-
hanced by a blind-spot monitor-
ing system to help prevent you
changing lane dangerously.
There's also a superb Sur-
round Camera System that uses
no fewer than five cameras to
somehow provide a 360-degree
"helicopter view" on the 7in
touchscreeninthemiddleofthe
dash for close manoeuvring at
up to 11mph, with options for se-
lecting and zooming in to assist
with close-quarter parking.
Were I to own this car, my
garage would need an extension,
� but it would be worth it. If
you want the very best, you'll
want one.
plete with a mighty 503bhp 5.0-
litre V8 borrowed from Jaguar.
The alternative that most cus-
tomerswillchooseisanotherV8
butthistimea3.6-litrediesel,de-
veloping 375bhp and still capa-
ble of rest to 60mph in 8.6 sec-
onds.Bothunitsarematchedtoa
six-speed automatic gearbox.
The all-independent suspen-
sion set up gives the car a stan-
dard of ride that is quite simply
in a different league to any other
4x4. I particularly liked the air
suspension system that allows
the car to be lowered for digni-
fied mini-skirted exits.
Although this Range Rover
may be used as the ultimate
urban battle bus, should the
need to take it off-road beckon, a
Torsen centre differential
Pentland Land Rover
1 Lanark Road, Edinburgh, Midlothian EH14 1TG. Tel: (0131) 273 2000
www.pentland-landrover.co.uk
2 years FREE Servicing
on ALL Defender sold
by 30th November 2009
Order for 2010 Delivery
Discovery 4 3.0 GS
from �34,495
Range Rover 3.6 TD V8 Vogue
from �64,695
Range Rover Sport SE
from �44,895
Defender
90 TDCI
Hardtop
from
�16,945
+VAT +RFL
The official fuel consumption figures in mpg (l/100km) and CO2 emissions (g/km) urban 17.9 (15.8) - 30.6 (9.2), extra
urban 33 (18.6) - 45.5 (6.2), combined 25.2 (11.2) - 37.7 (7.5). CO2 194g/km - 265g/km. Prices correct at time of printing.
Freelander
08/58 Freelander 2 TD4 XS Auto, Baltic Blue �21,995
08/58 Freelander 2 TD4 SE, Silver, Half Leather �22,995
07/57 Freelander 2 TD4 XS, Silver, Black Trim �18,995
07/57 Freelander 2 TD4 HSE, Tambora, Leather �22,795
07/07 Freelander 2 3.2 HSE, Stornoway, Leather �19,995
07/57 Freelander 2 TD4 XS, Rimini Red, Air Con �18,695
09/09 Freelander 2 TD4 SE Auto, Silver, Sun Roof �25,495
07/56 Freelander 2 TD4 HSE, Blue, Leather, Tints �20,795
07/07 Freelander 2 TD4 XS Auto, Silver, Ebony Trim �18,995
Discovery
08/57 Discovery 3 TDV6 HSE Auto, Black, 7 Seats �32,995
08/08 Discovery 3 TDV6 GS, Blue, 17,000 miles �23,995
05/55 Discovery 3 TDV6 S Auto, Black, 7 Seats �17,995
08/58 Discovery 3 TDV6 GS Auto, Silver, 7 Seats �25,995
05/55 Discovery 3 TDV6 SE, Green, Leather, 7 Seats �20,995
07/07 Discovery 3 TDV6 SE, Silver, Tan Leather �25,495
07/07 Discovery 3 TDV6 SE Manual, Zermatt Silver
Ebony Cloth, 7 seater, 44,900 Miles �23,995
09/09 Discovery 3 TDV6 GS Auto, Black, 7 Seat �28,495
08/57 Discovery 3 TDV6 HSE Auto,Java Black,
Ebony Leather, 7 seater, 14,100 Miles �32,995
Defender
07/57 Defender 110 TD5 Utility Double Cab, Silver �18,995
07/57 Defender 110 XS Station Wagon, Green �20,995
09/09 Defender 90 County Station Wagon, Black �21,995
09/58 Defender 110 XS Station Wagon, Silver �23,995
08/58 Defender 90 SVX Limited Edition, Black, 800 miles �23,995
Range Rover Sport
05/05 Range Rover Sport 4.2V8 Petrol Super Charged
Auto, Rimmini Red, Black Leather, 45,900 miles �26,995
05/55 Range Rover Sport 4.2 S/C, Blue, Ivory Leather �26,995
06/06 Range Rover Sport TDV6 HSE, Silver, Leather �29,995
06/56 Range Rover Sport 2.7 TDV6 HSE Auto,
Java Black, Ebony Leather, 22,400 Miles �31,495
09/09 Range Rover Sport TDV8 HSE, Silver, Leather �45,995
09/09 Range Rover Sport 3.6 TDV8 HSE Auto,
Santorini Black, Ebony Black Leather, 10,900 Miles �46,995
09/09 Range Rover Sport TDV8 HSE, Black, Leather �46,995
06/56 Range Rover Sport TDV6 HSE, Silver, Leather �28,995
07/07 Range Rover Sport 3.6 TDV8 HSE Auto
Lugano Teal,Alpaca Leather, 24,400 Miles �36,500
08/08 Range Rover Sport TDV6 HSE, Rimini Red �38,895
05/05 Range Rover Sport 4.2 S/C, Rimini Red �28,495
Range Rover
09/58 Range Rover 3.6 TDV8 Vogue SE Auto,
Stornoway Grey,Jet Leather, 17,500 miles �52,995
08/58 Range Rover TDV8 Vogue, Black, Leather �47,995
08/08 Range Rover TDV8 Vogue, Black, Leather �47,995
07/07 Range Rover TDV8 Vogue, Silver, Leather �38,995
06/56 Range Rover 4.4 Vogue SE, Silver, Leather �29,995
05/55 Range Rover 4.2 Vogue SE, Black, Leather �31,995
Telephone Hayley Davidson on 0845 389 6065
DO YOU HAVE A LANDROVER?
Then apply for your Pentland Loyalty Card
today and save up to 30% on servicing,
repairs, parts and accessories.
Approved Used Land Rover

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