Carsales Staff•17 Jun 2020

NEWS

Range Rover Fifty marks five decades of Rangies

Just 37 examples of limited-edition Range Rover to land Down Under

Land Rover has revealed the Range Rover Fifty special-edition to celebrate the release of the original luxury SUV on this day 50 years ago.

Five decades on from the first Ranger Rover’s launch on June 17, 1970, the Range Rover has evolved over four generations and is now a brand comprising four distinct model lines, including the Sport, Evoque and Velar.

In the last half-century, the Range Rover has also notched up many world firsts, including becoming the first 4x4 with an anti-lock braking system (ABS) in 1989, and the first 4x4 with electronic traction control (ETC) and electronic air suspension in 1992 – see the full list below.

Strictly limited to just 1970 units globally, signifying the year the original Range Rover was launched, just 37 examples of the Range Rover Fifty will be available to Australian buyers.

Based on the V8-powered Range Rover Autobiography ($274,210 plus on-road costs), the Fifty gets a number of exclusive features including ‘Fifty’ badging in a special font designed by Land Rover’s chief creative officer Gerry McGovern, illuminated door sills and two unique 22-inch wheel options.

Australian vehicles will be delivered in standard wheelbase configuration (not based on the $285K long-wheelbase Autobiography) and powered by a 386kW supercharged 5.0-litre petrol V8.

Each vehicle will come with a unique numbered plaque, along with four exterior colour options including Carpathian grey, Rosello red, Aruba and Santorini black.

Pricing and further specifications will be revealed closer to the model’s arrival.

Range Rover timeline

1967 — Development begins on the ‘100-inch Station Wagon’ – the first Range Rover prototype, on September 6, 1967
1969 — Prototypes wear the name ‘Velar’ in an effort to hide the Range Rover’s identity – the name is made up of letters from production-ready badges for the ‘Alvis’ and ‘Rover’ marques though is derived from the Latin ‘velare’ meaning to veil or cover
1970 — Two-door Range Rover launches on June 17 – it features a lightweight aluminium V8 engine, permanent 4WD and all-round disc brakes
1971 — Range Rover becomes the first vehicle to be displayed at the Louvre museum in Paris, applauded for its ‘exemplary work of industrial design’ – the production model is displayed in the entrance while a ¼ scale model is exhibited inside
1971 — Range Rover receives the RAC Dewar award for outstanding technical achievement
1972 — The Range Rover is the first vehicle to cross the length of the Americas, including the Darién Gap, an 18,000-mile British Army Trans-America expedition, taking 99 days to cover 250 miles of dense jungle
1974 — Range Rover completes the west to east Sahara desert expedition – 7500 miles in 100 days

1977 — A modified Range Rover wins the 4x4 class in the London-Sydney Marathon, a gruelling 30,000km (18,750 miles) event and the longest ever speed-based car rally

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1979 — A specially modified Range Rover wins the inaugural Paris-Dakar rally (a Range Rover wins again in 1981)1981 — First production four-door is launched – based on a conversion by Swiss company Monteverdi
1981 — First factory-produced limited edition Range Rover – the 'In Vogue' – is produced, heralding Range Rover’s evolution into a luxury vehicle; the name (Vogue) is later adopted for top of the range variants
1982 — Range Rover production reaches 100,000
1982 — The option of automatic transmission is introduced on Range Rover
1982 — Specially-commissioned Range Rover is manufactured for Pope John Paul II’s visit to the UK
1983 — Range Rover five-speed manual gearbox is introduced
1984 — Following the success of the ‘In Vogue’ LE, the Range Rover Vogue is introduced as top of the model’s line-up
1985 — The diesel-powered Range Rover 'Beaver Bullet' breaks 27 speed records, including a diesel record for averaging more than 100mph for 24 hours
1986 — First diesel Range Rover is introduced – a 2.4-litre turbo-charged VM engine; front spoiler added to all except Turbo Diesel variants
1987 — Range Rover launches in North America
1988 — A Borg-Warner chain driven transfer box with a viscous coupled centre differential is introduced into the Range Rover’s driveline, providing a significant improvement to the vehicle’s refinement and reinforcing its luxury credentials
1989 — Range Rover is the world's first 4x4 to be fitted with ABS anti-lock brakes, the first in the world designed for optimum performance off- as well as on-road
1989 — A caravan of expedition-ready Range Rovers traverse the most demanding portion of the Continental Drive in Colorado, USA which Land Rover christens the ‘Great Divide’

1990 — To commemorate the end of the Range Rover two-door, a Limited Edition CSK – named after Range Rover Chief Designer Charles Spencer King (Spen), is launched (200 vehicles produced)
1992 — Range Rover Classic is the world's first 4x4 to be fitted with electronic traction control (ETC) and automatic electronic air suspension – two world firsts!
1992 — LWB LSE (known as County LWB in the US) is launched with a drive in Morocco to showcase the new model and demonstrate the automatic electronic air suspension technology
1993 — The Autobiography designation is announced at the London Motor Show (introduced to customers in 1994), limited to 25 vehicles
1994 — 2nd generation Range Rover (P38A) is launched with a long wheelbase chassis and re-styled semi-monocoque body plus upgraded electronic air suspension
1996 — Range Rover Classic bows out after total production of 317,615 units (two year production crossover with P38A)
1999 — Land Rover creates the most luxurious Range Rover yet with the Limited Edition Range Rover Linley, inspired by furniture designer Lord Linley – only 10 vehicles priced at £100,000 are produced
2001 — Third-generation Range Rover (L322) is launched with all-round independent air suspension, demonstrated with drive at RAF Kinloss, Skibo and Novar Estate
2002 — Half-millionth Range Rover is built at the Solihull plant
2005 — 4.4-litre V8 and 4.2-litre V8 supercharged petrol engines added
2005 — Second model line – the Range Rover Sport – is launched
2006 — Terrain Response® and TDV8 diesel are introduced to the Range Rover
2009 — Range Rover features all-new LR-V8 5.0-litre and 5.0-litre supercharged petrol engines and world-first Adaptive Dynamics system to continually optimise body and ride control

2010 — Range Rover celebrates its 40th anniversary
2010 — Third model line – the Range Rover Evoque – is launched and creates a new vehicle segment, the luxury compact SUV
2011 — The Range Rover Autobiography Ultimate Edition is revealed
2011 — The new 313PS 4.4-litre LR-TDV8 is introduced to the Range Rover, offering a 14 per cent reduction in CO2 and an improvement in fuel consumption of 18.5 per cent
2012 — Fourth-generation Range Rover (L405) is launched on September 6 at the Royal Ballet School, London – the world’s first all-aluminium SUV
2013 — Range Rover introduces 340PS 3.0-litre LR-V6 supercharged petrol engine
2013 — Second-generation Range Rover Sport (L494) is launched
2013 — Range Rover Hybrid prototypes take on the epic Silk Trail to India, travelling 9950 miles from Solihull to Mumbai as part of their final engineering sign-off
2013 — The first Range Rover long wheelbase in 20 years is launched in addition to an exclusive specification – the Range Rover Autobiography Black
2014 — A fleet of Range Rovers and a Range Rover Classic travel nearly 1,000 miles along a portion of the original Great Divide route to celebrate 25 years since the expedition
2014 — Long wheelbase Range Rover Hybrid makes its world debut in China
2014 — The Range Rover and Range Rover Sport showcase a world-first innovation – All-Terrain Progress Control (ATPC) and also get Head-Up Display
2015 — The 21st anniversary of the Autobiography designation – the pinnacle of the Range Rover model line-up
2015 — The most powerful production Range Rover ever debuts at the New York Auto Show – the Range Rover SVAutobiography boasts a 550PS V8 supercharged engine and celebrates 21 years of the Autobiography name
2015 — Six millionth production Land Rover is a Range Rover Long Wheelbase Vogue SE and celebrates 45 years of Range Rover
2015 — A hybrid-powered Range Rover State Review is used for the first time by Her Majesty The Queen, replacing the previous Range Rover State Review vehicle
2015 — A Range Rover is driven across a specially-commissioned freestanding paper bridge in Suzhou, China – spanning five metres, it is constructed without any glue or bolts
2016 — A Range Rover Autobiography tows Virgin Galactic’s SpaceShipTwo at its reveal and naming ceremony at the Mojave Air and Space Port, California
2016 — Advanced Tow Assist and Intelligent Speed Limiter launch
2017 — New Range Rover SVAutobiography Dynamic; a more driver-focused Range Rover, lowered by 8mm with a powerful 550PS 5.0-litre V8 supercharged engine
2017 — Land Rover Classic announces ‘Range Rover Reborn’, a new programme providing the unique opportunity to purchase an original and highly collectible two-door Range Rover direct from the original manufacturer
2017 — Range Rover Sentinel is announced, based on the Autobiography but designed to withstand penetration by 7.62mm high velocity incendiary bullets (later version revealed in 2019)
2017 — Fourth model line – the Range Rover Velar – is launched
2017 — Range Rover P400e PHEV is revealed at the London Design Museum
2017 — Range Rover SVAutobiography Long Wheelbase is revealed at LA Auto Show, available with the new PHEV driveline and also an uprated 565PS V8 Supercharged petrol engine
2018 — A new 275PS 3.0-litre twin-turbo SDV6 diesel engine replaces the TDV6 3.0-litre unit
2018 — Second-generation Range Rover Evoque is launched
2020 — Range Rover gets 3.0-litre in-line six-cylinder Ingenium petrol engine and MHEV powertrain, as well as the Range Rover Fifty special edition

Range Rover world firsts

1971 — Range Rover becomes the first vehicle to be displayed at the Louvre museum in Paris
1972 — The Range Rover is the first vehicle to cross the Darién Gap
1979 — A specially modified Range Rover wins the inaugural Paris-Dakar rally
1985 — Diesel-powered Range Rover 'Bullet' breaks 27 speed records
1989 — Range Rover is the world's first 4x4 to be fitted with ABS anti-lock brakes
1992 — Range Rover is the world's first 4x4 to be fitted with electronic traction control (ETC)
1992 — Range Rover is the world’s first 4x4 to be fitted with automatic electronic air
suspension
2009 — Range Rover debuts Adaptive Dynamics system to continually optimise body & ride control
2012 — Fourth-generation Range Rover is world’s first all-aluminium SUV
2014 — All-Terrain Progress Control (ATPC) debuts on Range Rover and Range Rover Sport

Range Rover Expeditions and Drives

1971 — First hill rally is won in a Range Rover in Llangollen
1972 — A British Army team, led by Major John Blashford-Snell, affirms the all-terrain properties of the original Range Rover when in 1972 they drive two cars from the north of Alaska to the southernmost tip of Argentina, crossing the infamous Darién Gap – a dense forest and swamp that prevents road access between central and South America
1974 — Range Rover completes west to east Sahara desert expedition – 7500 miles in 100 days
1977 — A modified Range Rover wins the 4x4 class in the London-Sydney Marathon, a gruelling 30,000 km (18,750 miles) event and the longest ever speed-based car rally
1979/81 — A specially modified Range Rover wins the inaugural Paris-Dakar rally, and wins again in 1981
1985 — The diesel-powered Range Rover 'Bullet' breaks 27 speed records, including a diesel record for averaging more than 100mph for 24 hours
1980s — The famous Camel Trophy competitions of the 1980s and 1990s see Range Rovers, Series III Land Rovers, Defenders, Discoverys and Freelanders tackle the ‘Olympics of 4x4’. From the Amazon to the Far East, Australasia, Africa and Siberia, the Camel Trophy evolves from an all-out driving challenge to tests of human endurance, such as kayaking, mountain biking and water sports. 1981 (Sumatra); 1
1982 (Papua New Guinea); 1987 (Madagascar – diesel vehicles used)
1989 — A caravan of expedition-ready Range Rovers traverse the most demanding portion of the Continental Drive in Colorado, USA which Land Rover christens the ‘Great Divide’
2003 — The G4 Challenge sees teams compete in the ultimate global adventure. Combining demanding 4x4 driving and extreme adventure sports with mind-bending strategy, the challengers compete in four week-long stages covering New York and the Eastern Seaboard, South Africa, Western Australia and the Wild West
2006 — For the second G4 Challenge, competitors cross thousands of miles, through four countries on two continents – Thailand, Laos, Brazil and Bolivia – in support of the International Federation of the Red Cross and Red Crescent societies (IFRC)
2013 — Range Rover Hybrid prototypes take on the epic Silk Trail to India, travelling 9,950 miles from Solihull to Mumbai as part of their final engineering sign-off
2014 — A fleet of Range Rovers and a Range Rover Classic travel nearly 1000 miles along a portion of the original Great Divide route to celebrate 25 years since the expedition