L322 Range Rover Series II

The L322 Range Rover was extensively reengineered just three years after its local launch, featuring two Jaguar-derived AJ V8 petrol engines instead of the previous BMW V8, which where deemed to expensive to source.

Visually the Range Rover was identifiable by its revised front bumper, headlight and tail-light treatments, redesigned grille and vents, and restyled 19-inch alloy wheels. The supercharged 4.2 model added a mesh-look grille and vents and 20-inch alloys.

Standard equipment levels also increased and new trim combinations were offered, along with the availability of stainless steel pedals. Refinement levels rose with the quieter Jaguar V8s, new sound-deadening materials, wind-noise reducing pillars and laminated side glass.

To differentiate the Range Rover from the Discovery-based Range Rover Sport, ‘Vogue’ was added to the Range Rover name.

Land Rover also simplified the model structure to engine-related nomenclature in place of the previous SE, HSE and Vogue designations. Now it reads Td6 (base), V8 and Supercharged.

A normally aspirated 4.4-litre (4394cc) engine produced 225kW of power at 5750rpm and 440Nm of torque at 4000rpm. Above this was a slightly smaller 4.2-litre (4197cc) supercharged version rated at 291kW at 5750rpm and 560Nm at 3500rpm. The EU combined fuel use figure was 14.9 and 16.0l/100km respectively.

Both AJ-V8s were mated to ZF’s six-speed automatic gearbox with a Sport mode and sequential-shift operation, in lieu of the previous five-speed automatic unit.

Meanwhile the BMW-sourced 130kW/390Nm 3.0-litre in-line six-cylinder engine in the otherwise-facelifted Td6 model remained unchanged, and was still offered with a five-speed automatic.

May 2006 saw the Vogue receive a new twin-turbo diesel V8. Designed by Land Rover for use in Range Rover, the 3.6-litre diesel V8 produced 200kW and a big 640Nm of torque – over 50 per cent more than the BMW-sourced TD6 engine it replaced.

September 2009 saw the petrol V8s grow to 5.0-litres, sending drive through an improved six-speed automatic transmission. Power and torque increased to 276kW and 510Nm for the naturally-aspirated V8, while the supercharged version leapt to 375kW and 625Nm.

A fully configurable new 12.3-inch laptop-style LCD instrument panel also debuted, complete with virtual graphic displays, dials and pointers, as standard across the line-up.

In February 2011, Land Rover increased the size of the TDV8 to 4.4 litres and fitted an 8-speed automatic transmission, improving fuel economy to 9.4l/100km and earning it the title of most efficient Range Rover ever while upping power and torque to 230kW and 700Nm.

Available in eight exterior colours, the Vogue also offered an Exterior Design Pack comprising a revised front bumper with fog lamp surrounds, front grille and side vents in Titan finish, revised side sills, rear bumper and stainless steel exhaust tips.