Disclosure of interest: I have a specific and possibly over-inflated admiration for the first three generations of Range Rovers. Not the Sport; nor the smaller Evoque; or the more modern, super expensive, and ever-more-complicated interpretations of the brand that arrived during the last decade.
No question that the first two Range Rovers, arriving in 1970 and 1994, were great designs with unique characters. Then, in 2001, along came generation three, which seemed, and proved to be, a large step into tomorrow. Initially, I wasn’t entirely convinced by the upright body styling when introduced to the newcomer in Queenstown 21 years ago, although there was no doubting the vehicle’s superb ability both on- and off-road. These attributes and the warm presence of the car were enough, almost, to persuade me to ignore the greenhouse that looked narrow from some rear angles in a way that was not dissimilar to the London Metrocab.
Nevertheless, the exterior featured plenty of the familiar Range Rover styling cues, such as the clam-shell bonnet with castellations, horizontally split tailgate, and upright front end. Distinctive features like the high-tech headlamps and tail-lamps, and the dramatic front-wing power vents added a dashing glamour to the evolutionary shape. Despite its instant recognition, the L322 had no body panels in common with its predecessor.
