By RICHARD WILLIAMSON
Scripps Howard News ServiceHistory is wasted on those who lack a sense of irony.
That one of the symbols of British privilege should end up in the hands of an Indian company is rich, indeed. But there it is: Tata Motors, based in the former colony, now owns and seeks to save Land Rover and its companion marquee Jaguar, keeping Brits employed in Solihull and Coventry.
With the introduction of Land Rover's 2010 Range Rover in New Delhi recently, Tata outlined plans to expand throughout the country, starting from a single showroom in Mumbai. In the subcontinent, the Range Rover fetches 9.85 million rupees or $210,470.
In Texas, I recently treated a pair of Indian high school students and their teacher to a short road trip in the crown jewel, the Range Rover Supercharged, which goes for $94,275 without the add-ons. With options, the price rose to $111,425.
The teacher loved the comfort of the heated, leather-upholstered seats and the great view. The teens loved the LCD screens mounted on the back of the front headrests that allowed them to hone their video game skills. Kids are pretty much the same everywhere.
The SUV prompted a discussion of Indian history since Land Rover came into existence in 1948, a year after India won its independence. Never waste a teachable moment.
When we reached our destination, a country house north of Dallas, the Rover got a chance to show its off-road skill, cruising through a field muddied by recent heavy rains. This is what promoters mean by "mud and caviar" credibility.
In keeping with its traditions, Land Rover this year rolled out its 2010 flagship, boasting awesome power and brilliant performance under any conditions short of a lunar excursion.
With supercharging, the 5-liter V8 roars to 510 horsepower, sending the SUV from 0 to 60 mph in 7.2 seconds. Top speed is electronically limited to 130 mph.
The supercharger is a sixth generation Eaton twin vortex system that feeds air through twin intercoolers. Those are, in turn, water-cooled by their own cooling circuit. The design minimizes noise to the point that the only evidence of the supercharger's existence is in performance.
Engineers also redesigned the air intake, feeding oxygen directly to the supercharger inlet from the front throttle body.
Another new design is the variable camshaft timing system that boosts torque and saves energy. The four VCT units work independently on all four camshafts, improving response by 25 percent, according to Land Rover.
Other amendments for 2010 include subtle exterior design changes, new brakes, adaptive technology to improve the ride, and a new interior design with an elegant thin-film transistor screen and instrument panel graphics.
Safety is non-negotiable, with 11 air bags to pad passengers in the event of a collision. Other safety features include adaptive cruise control, emergency brake assist, blind spot monitoring, optional automatic high beam assist and surround camera system."The 2010 Range Rover is a considerable step forward for what is already regarded as one of the world's most complete luxury vehicles," avers Phil Popham, Land Rover managing director.
The Range Rover is a very handsome vehicle, as it always was. Designers tweaked the headlights, grille and bumper for an updated look. The interior gains more luxurious materials and finishes to enhance the sporting-lodge environment.
The ride quality is enhanced by the new "adaptive dynamics" system that uses predictive technology to adjust damper settings for a vast range of conditions. Damper pressure on each wheel is monitored 500 times per second, allowing quick adjustments to varied off-road or on-road terrain.
The Rover's braking system has also been updated to improve stopping power and driver feel. The huge vented discs measure 14.2-inches in the front and 13.8 in the back, with lightweight aluminum calipers.
On corners, the Range Rover gains an advantage through Enhanced Dynamic Stability Control that communicates with the brake control module. If the speed is excessive for a turn, automatic braking reduces speed at the required wheels to prevent loss of control. Brake lights automatically warn trailing traffic.
Hitting the scales at almost 3 tons, the Range Rover is not the most fuel efficient form of transportation at 12 city miles per gallon and 18 on the highway. However, no one shopping for this type of vehicle is likely to be looking for frugality.
Without doubt, Range Rover can navigate some of the most dismal swamps or the most challenging peaks. Whether it can survive the wretched economy is another question. With the help of its Indian friends, this remarkable marquee might keep roving to new adventures.
WHAT'S NEW: Styling; engine, brake, suspension upgrades; interior tweaks.
PLUSES: Safety, performance, styling, prestige.
MINUSES: Fuel economy, availability of dealer service.
BOTTOM LINE: Highest status, most traditional SUV.
E-mail Richard Williamson at motorfriend(at)sbcglobal.net
