Range Rover L322 - Third Generation in a Grand Line of SUVs
By Simon Drew
There is no question that the Range Rover is in the forefront of off-road four-wheel drive luxury SUVs. The iconic set of wheels was produced by British company Land Rover in the United Kingdom. After years of changing hands, Land Rover is now owned by Indian multinational corporation, Tata Motors Limited. The Range Rover was initially introduced in 1970 and due to its success and thanks to its many loyal followers, the vehicle is still in production today. In Land Rover's continued pursuit of growth and improvement, the Range Rover line has had three major generations so far. The first in the line of luxury sport utility vehicles was simply referred to as the "Range Rover" until the name Range Rover Classic was introduced to place a line between models. The second generation of Land Rover SUVs was then given the code name "P38A" and the third, and latest, generation was then designated the name Range Rover L322 to distinguish it from older models. Evolution of Power Formerly under BMW, the third generation models of the Range Rover line were introduced back in 2002. Initially given the project code name "L30", the latest generation of SUVs was planned as an all-wheel drive complementing the release of BMW's E65 7 Series. The two lines were to share many components and technology such as core power units and installed electronic parts. At that time, it was also packaged to be equipped with BMW's V12 and V8D power units in newer batches of line. However, by the expected launch period, Land Rover was sold to Ford as part of the decision of the Rover Group to split up. As a result, these engine updates were not implemented and the third generation (L322) releases stayed equipped with the BMW V8 4.4 litre engine until it was fitted with a 3.6 litre TD V8 engine. Third Generation 4x4s The line of Range Rovers has evolved significantly through the years. The manual transmission found in the Classic Series was completely phased out, giving way to strictly automatic transmission systems. Also, the most modern incarnation of this vehicle used a monocoque/semi-monocoque structural frame construction in order to improve the handling and road performance. This also served to achieve a higher level of predictability in terms of crash performance. Four-corner air suspension is also a signature feature of the updated line. It allows the vehicle to adjust its ride height in order to adapt to various road conditions. This was implemented in order to ensure the driver's comfort and improve the car's handling in any terrain. Suspension components were also cross linked in order to retain a high axle articulation and to ensure the maximum off-road performance that was the selling point of the product. Improvements made for the L322 line this year includes a modified exterior grille, encrusted LED headlights and taillights, updated bumpers as well as two new high performance engines for improved fuel efficiency and less C02 emissions. The 2010 model was showcased last year at the 2009 New York Auto Show. If you are looking for Range Rover L322 Parts you can visit McDonald Landrover. They are also a good place to find out about Range Rover L322 Servicing. Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Simon_Drew
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