The Land Rover Range Rover has a long and storied past. Its debut almost 40 years ago as a spartan go-anywhere off-roader is a far cry from the luxurious palace on wheels we find in showrooms today. Through it all, including numerous ownership changes, the Range Rover has largely managed to remain true to its legendary off-road roots.
The 2010 Range Rover sees quite a bit in the way of development, both under the hood and inside the cabin. Last year’s 4.4-liter V8 and supercharged 4.2-liter V8 are gone and have been replaced by all-new direct-injection 5.0-liter V8s. The base V8 is rated at 375 horsepower, a significant 70-hp bump over last year’s model. The supercharged V8, meanwhile, cranks out a whopping 501 hp, which is a 101-horse improvement. Notably, fuel economy stays the same even with the power increase (though admittedly, those mileage numbers are quite abysmal).
Range Rovers are powered by 5.0-liter V8s. The HSE model produces 375 hp and 375 pound-feet of torque, while the Supercharged’s V8 develops an impressive 501 hp and 461 lb-ft. Both engines are paired with a six-speed automatic transmission with manual shift control. The standard Terrain Response system allows the driver to customize powertrain, suspension and electronic stability and traction systems to best handle five predetermined off-road conditions (general, grass/gravel/snow, mud/ruts, sand and rock crawl).
A properly equipped Range rover can tow up to 7,700 pounds, and that ability is further enhanced by a new Trailer Stability Assist system and a very nifty feature built into the exterior cameras that predicts the effect of steering on a towed trailer while reversing. Both the HSE and the Supercharged return an EPA-estimated 12 mpg city/18 mpg highway and 14 mpg combined. 2010 Range Rovers come equipped with antilock disc brakes (Supercharged models receive more powerful Brembo systems), traction control, stability control (with rollover control), hill descent control, front-seat side airbags, side curtain airbags, front-seat whiplash protection and a driver knee airbag. Front and rear parking sensors and a 360-degree parking assist camera are also standard.
2010 Range Rover vehicle costs around $78,425 US Dollars. This pricing depends on different models and specifications.
