The original Range Rover became the first production luxury four-wheel-drive off-roader when it was launched in 1970.
Developed by British Leyland, the Range Rover combined genuine off-road capability with a level of comfort and road manners unusual for utility vehicles. It used permanent four-wheel drive, a V8 engine, long-travel suspension, and a practical five-door-style body concept that was later expanded in the model’s history.
Earlier vehicles such as the Jeep Wagoneer and Toyota Land Cruiser had already blended passenger-car features with off-road ability. The Range Rover’s distinction was the particularly deliberate combination of luxury, refinement, and serious all-terrain performance.
The model was initially sold as a two-door vehicle. A four-door version followed in 1981, and the Range Rover name later became a major luxury-SUV brand within Land Rover.