IRVINE, Calif., April 30 /PRNewswire/ -- 60 years ago today, a motoring icon made its public debut, when the original Land Rover was shown at a motor show in Amsterdam, on April 30, 1948. The current Defender is clearly descended from that first vehicle, known as a Series 1. Extraordinarily, they even share a couple of original parts, an oil filler plug and a cleat for tying down the canvas roof. But the rest of the vehicle technology has moved on considerably.
Today, Land Rover goes from strength-to-strength, with a five-model line- up headed by the Range Rover, and record global sales of over 226,000 vehicles in 2007.
The company recently received an early birthday present, in the form of two Queen's Awards for Enterprise. The first, for 'International Trade', was given in recognition of export sales of nearly 4 billion pounds Sterling per annum to 147 countries, with markets such as China and Russia driving major growth. The second, for 'Innovation', was awarded for Land Rover's acclaimed Terrain Response(TM) system. At the twist of a knob, this sets up the vehicle's engine response and traction systems to maximize performance on all terrains -- the electronic equivalent of having an expert instructor alongside the driver.
Around the world, Land Rover will be celebrating its 60th anniversary year throughout the summer with a series of special activities and events.
Success Story
Land Rover is an outstanding British engineering and manufacturing success story. Its manufacturing plants at Solihull (near Birmingham) and Halewood (near Liverpool) and its Research and Development facilities in the English Midlands, employ a workforce of 8,500 -- and the company helps support an estimated further 40,000 jobs through automotive suppliers.
Since the first Series I model rolled off the production line at Solihull, the vehicles created by Land Rover have defined the SUV market. In 1970, the company introduced what's been called the most significant SUV ever, the Range Rover -- the first SUV to be equally capable on-road as off-road. Now, alongside the Range Rover and Defender*, sit the LR3, LR2 and Range Rover Sport.
Land Rover's spirit of adventure has been evident from the earliest days. Adventurers, farmers, scientists, naturalists, and outdoor sport enthusiasts have all used Land Rovers' capability to access some of the world's most inhospitable regions. For 60 years, the company's vehicles have also worked for a multitude of humanitarian and conservation organizations, represented today by Land Rover's formal ties with the Born Free Foundation, Biosphere, Earthwatch, the Royal Geographical Society (with IBG), and the China Exploration and Research Society.
Phil Popham, Land Rover's Managing Director, commented, "Land Rover's history is a long and illustrious one -- and the future is just as exciting. We are committed to maintaining our relevance and meeting the needs of our customers in a changing global environment. Earlier this year, we unveiled a glimpse into our possible future -- the diesel hybrid LRX cross-coupe concept. This signals that Land Rover will continue to evolve, with capability, premium values and sustainable motoring at the top of the agenda."
For further information and images please visit www.media.landrover.com
* Defender is not sold in North America.
LAND ROVER HISTORICAL TIMELINE
1948 LAND ROVER SERIES I The iconic British SUV makes its
debut at the Amsterdam Motor Show
1949 ARMY EDITION British Army orders its first Land
Rovers
1953 Long-wheelbase version introduced
1958 LAND ROVER SERIES II UNVEILED
1966 500,000th Land Rover
1970 RANGE ROVER Land Rover's versatile model
launched in two-door format
1971 LAND ROVER SERIES III LAUNCHED
1976 Millionth Land Rover built in June
1982 Four-door Range Rover introduced
1989 DISCOVERY Third Land Rover model launched
1990 DEFENDER Original 'Land Rover' relaunched
and renamed
1994 2ND GENERATION RANGE ROVER
1995 Land Rover production tops 100,000
per annum
1997 FREELANDER Land Rover's fourth model launched
2002 3RD GENERATION RANGE ROVER All-new Range Rover makes its debut
2004 LR3 Land Rover launches all-new model
2005 RANGE ROVER SPORT Popular sports tourer goes on sale
2006 Land Rover announces ground-
breaking CO2 offset scheme
2006 LR2 New model begins production at
Halewood plant
2007 Record sales of 226,000 vehicles
2008 LAND ROVER LRX LRX concept signals the possible
future of Land Rover
Land Rover North America
Land Rover North America is part of Ford Motor Company's Premier Automotive Group with headquarters in Irvine, California. Land Rover established operations in the U.S. in 1986, and now imports and distributes Range Rover, Range Rover Sport, LR3 and LR2 vehicles manufactured by Land Rover in Solihull and Halewood, England. Land Rover's worldwide operations are wholly owned by Ford Motor Company, Dearborn, Michigan. For information about the Land Rover retailer nearest you, call 800-FIND-4WD or log on to www.LandRoverusa.com .
Vehicle specifications and features are subject to change. For the latest Land Rover pricing and product information, contact Land Rover North America Product Communications at (949) 341-5800. Land Rover-related press releases and electronic photos of the company's products are available on-line in the Land Rover section of Ford Motor Company's news media website (media.landrover.com ).