Although the year 1970 is (correctly) referred to as the launch year of the Range Rover, the story of the British SUV began a year earlier, with the birth of the last prototype, already very close to the production model.
In fact, the first 26 units did not bear the Coventry brand emblem, but the symbol of another fictitious manufacturer, the Velar of Croydon name — this is where the name of the current Range Rover Velar comes from.
Four generations and 48 years later (NDR: at the time of this article's original publication), Land Rover pays homage to an iconic model in this short 1.5-minute video:
It was the first all-terrain vehicle with permanent four-wheel drive, as well as the first offroad to feature ABS, electronic traction control and automatic air suspension. The fourth generation, introduced in 2012 and still on sale, was also the first SUV (brand words) to be built entirely in aluminum.
The combination of luxury and capability has always marked the Range Rover since its inception, characteristics that would serve as an influence for so many others.