The Land Rover tradition of using durable aluminium panels has been continued with the new Range Rover. Its front wing outer panels, door skins and lower tailgate skin are all aluminium to help increase longevity and reduce weight. The remaining skin panels and the structural panels are made from double-sided zinc coated steel. The body has been designed for ease of repair so the front wing panels and bonnet latch platform are bolted on, and other panels can be removed and replaced easily. The new chassis and the stiffer monocoque construction, coupled with re-designed body mounts, result in less noise and vibration being transmitted to the passenger compartment. The new Range Rover is slightly longer, wider and higher than the classic Range Rover. Retaining the qualities of luxury and robustness it is aerodynamically more efficient than its predecessor. Semi-flush glazing contributes to refinement by smoothing the air flow around the front and rear screens and side glass. The windscreen, rear quarter and tailgate glazing is adhesively bonded to add body stiffness and for airbag performance. The rectangular halogen twin headlights incorporate an outer pair of headlamps with both dipped beam and main beam, and an inner pair providing auxiliary main beam. Power outputs are outstanding with 60 watt on dip, and 55 watt on both outer main and auxiliary main lamps. The headlamps also have wipers with washer jets on some models, for more efficient cleaning than a single power wash system. Front fog lamps are fitted neatly into the front bib spoiler. The large rear lamp clusters integrate all the rear lighting functions. The stop/tail lamp, direction indicators and reflectors are flush-fitted into the lower rear quarter panels, and the twin reversing lamp and rear fog lights are fitted in the lower tailgate. The intermittent rear wipe with variable delay is proportional to the front delay (i.e. double the front wipe delay), and the rear wiper works automatically when the front wipers are on and reverse gear is engaged. INTERIOR The new interior is spacious and comfortable giving drivers and passengers more head-room, leg-room and shoulder-room than other conventional luxury saloon competitors. The rear compartment can now be used as an extension to the businessman's office. Stowage All models have a glove box in the fascia, large door bins, and stowage behind the front seats. The centre console provides additional stowage, and oddments can also be stored out of sight inside the spare wheel well. Seats The front seats are an all-new design giving improved lateral support and a longer cushion for improved thigh comfort. Folding armrests are fitted. The retractable lever on the outside of the driver's cushion adjusts the height, and a rotary wheel on the squab cushion operates the squab recline. New electric seats have all the features of manual seats plus a front/rear tilt feature, and lumbar support. Adjustments are controlled by buttons on the outer valance of the seats with finger tip control even for the height of the head restraints. Heated front seats are also available. On top-of-the-range models, a two-position memory can store all the adjustments of the electric seats - except lumbar support - and also the positions of the door mirrors and instrument panel dimmer settings. The adjustments can be recalled either by using the interior switch, or - for the driver's seat and mirrors - by a remote handset. Each Range Rover has a 'his' and 'hers' handset which can be programmed for the driver's seat and door mirror positions. The driver simply presses the handset and all the preferred settings are adjusted automatically within seconds while unlocking the vehicle. The rear seats feature a deeper cushion for increased thigh support. They are wider and more comfortable than previous models because the rear wheel arches no longer intrude into the seating area. The rear seats also have two height adjustable head restraints. The seat belt buckles and lap strap are incorporated into the cushion - eliminating the need to feed them through the seat after it has been folded down and re-instated providing a flat loads pace floor. Luggage Accommodation The rear seat folds in a 60/40 split, and there is a choice of partial fold-down or a complete fold-over to give a flat floor area. If the seat base has not been fully latched back into position, the Range Rover's unique lock down mechanism prevents the back rest from being raised. A fabric-trimmed loadspace cover conceals the contents of the boot and is double-hinged and independent of the tailgate. The cover is removable and stowable behind the rear seats. The spare wheel is incorporated in the well alongside tools and can be removed by a sling. Luggage accommodation is about 50 percent greater than in previous models and is more capacious and versatile than the majority of executive saloon competitors. Steering Wheel The four-spoke energy absorbing steering wheel offers a generous range of tilt and telescopic adjustment allowing the driver to alter both the height and reach of the wheel. The unique adjustment system is through a fingertip operated lever which automatically retracts into the column cowl after use. The steering wheel tilts in increments of two degrees between 24 and 32 degrees. Each two-degree movement equals 12mm of vertical adjustment at the wheel rim, giving a total movement range of 48 mm. The telescopic adjustment is infinitely variable within a total movement of 64mm. On the flagship model the in-car entertainment (ICE) switches, and cruise control, are fitted on the steering wheel. The left-hand stalk houses the trip computer switches. Its functions, displayed on the Message Centre in the instrument pack, include average speed, average mpg, distance to empty, master trip distance, and a speed limit warning which can be selected by the driver. Body Electronic Control Module At the heart of the new Range Rover's sophistication is an advanced Body electronic Control Module (BeCM), which controls all the interior and exterior electrical functions, and communicates and interacts with all the other major functions of the vehicle. The BeCM directly controls:- exterior and interior lighting seat/door mirror memories windows and sunroof security system instrumentation wash/wipe features convenience features The BeCM has a continuous dialogue with all other major vehicle systems to give advanced levels of driver control through the comprehensive information it can pass on via the Message Centre. For example, while the vehicle can now be driven in Access mode on the electronic air suspension system up to a pre-determined speed, the BeCM will initiate preventative actions. It will change the ride height to the Low position if the Range Rover's speed exceeds Land Rover's specified safety parameters. The BeCM also plays a key role in service diagnostics. It will log any faults as they occur and disclose the information when the Range Rover is diagnostically checked during a service. Message Centre The wholly electronic instrument pack, which incorporates a state-of-the-art Message Centre, has two clusters of primary and secondary warning lamps. The primary mandatory warnings are in red and the advisory warnings are in amber. The Message Centre itself can display a total of 150 driver warning and information messages covering every function from automatic gear selection to ride heights and speeds, airbag faults to bulb failures, alarm activations and trip computer functions, even when the remote transmitter batteries need replacing. Messages are grouped into three priority levels so the driver reacts promptly to urgent warnings. Critical Messages require an immediate response from the driver (e.g. ABS fault). They are given top priority through audible warning and continuous display, with messages ranked in order of importance. Non-Critical Messages (e.g. windscreen washer fluid empty), also require an immediate response and are signalled by an audible warning and displayed for about four seconds. The display time is two seconds if the Message Centre is cycling between displays. Standard information messages are divided into three sub-levels: Category 1 the display is accompanied by a single beep when the message is displayed for the first time or when the ignition is turned on or off. At other times the information is visual only. Category 2 these higher priority messages are accompanied by a single beep each time the message is displayed. Category 3 these lower priority messages are display only. Switchgear All switchgear is ergonomically grouped and positioned for optimum clarity, accessibility, and control. Door Mirrors are electronically operated and heated on all new Range Rovers. On the HSE models the mirrors are linked to the seat memory and also have reverse gear dipping - a function which can be disabled for specific circumstances (e.g. reversing with a large trailer). Auto dimming interior mirror is available on HSE models with a control to vary the dimming level. The mirror automatically clears when reverse gear is engaged. Electric windows and sunroof have one-touch slide functions and an anti-trap protection controlled through the BeCM. All windows are one-shot down but only the front windows are one-shot up. As the window descends, its motor sends out a series of pulses which are counted by the BeCM so it records the position of the window. When the window is raised it re-counts the pulses and the rate of pulses. Any slowing down of the pulses indicates resistance and the window automatically retracts - the front window backs off 20cm and the rear goes fully down. Other functions include one-shot up/down, and an "all-close" function by remote handset or key through the link with the security and central locking system. The windows can also be operated for up to 45 seconds after ignition off, and for a further 45 seconds if the driver's door is opened. The powered sunroof, fitted to the 4.6 HSE models, has the same convenience and safety features as the windows. The sunroof can be remotely closed, with the windows, by remote handset or key, and operated after the ignition is switched off. If the anti-trap sensing is triggered the sunroof automatically retracts 20 cm. Heating, Ventilation and Air Conditioning The heating, ventilation and air conditioning systems incorporate sophisticated technology to provide comfort and refinement for driver and passengers. The separate side to side temperature distribution allows different settings for occupants on either side of the passenger cabin. A programmed defrost button gives automatic optimum windscreen and side window defrosting at the touch of one button. The major benefit of the new air-conditioning system, standard on SE and HSE models, is Automatic Temperature Control. The driver and passenger can select their preferred temperature shown on the LCD display - and the system works automatically. For maximum comfort and refinement, fan speed and distribution are automatically geared to the prevailing conditions. The system's ECU reacts to sensors which read internal ambient and solar temperatures, and external temperatures. The system can also signal a low temperature warning, displaying a snowflake symbol next to the temperature setting. Under cold start conditions the system delivers warm air at low volume to the feet, gradually increasing in intensity as the water flow to the heater increases in temperature. Under high ambient temperatures the system provides high volumes of conditioned air through face level vents, gradually reducing in intensity as the cabin approaches the pre-set temperature. Replaceable pollen filters are fitted. The system also has a self-diagnostic capability which can be communicated through the BeCM during servicing. In-Car Entertainment Three high quality in-car entertainment systems are available with the new Range Rover. They all feature RDS EON (Radio Data System Enhanced Other Networks) which displays the station name on FM frequencies, and improves reception by continuously retuning to the strongest programme frequency. The system also incorporates a selectable traffic information feature. On base models the 4 x 7W six speaker system has four bass speakers (one in each door) and two tweeters (one in each front door). On SE and DSE models the 4 x 15W system has eight speakers; music search on the cassette deck; dedicated audio control providing balance, fade, treble and bass adjustment, and separate auto search control. The HSE model has a 4 x 30W system with 11 active speakers - including a sub woofer speaker in the luggage area - and five amplifiers. Controls are mounted on the steering wheel and the system includes a six-disc CD player with disc select and repeat, track select, repeat, scan and random play. Interior Lighting The lighting systems have been carefully designed for maximum comfort and convenience. The courtesy lights remain on for 18 seconds after the doors are closed, but fade when the ignition is switched on. They can be manually overridden. The front doors include puddle lamps and door edge reflectors. Some models also have rear map reading lamps, rear door puddle lamps, and footwell illumination. There is also an illuminated passenger vanity mirror. Security On all models the alarm system includes:- perimetric sensing of doors, bonnet, and tailgate volumetric sensing which detects, ultrasonically, movement within the vehicle robust engine immobilisation which shuts down ignition and fuelling. Two remote handsets, which store the key, are provided with each Range Rover. The handset has a lock and unlock button with the lock button identified by a padlock symbol. One press of the lock button activates central locking, engine immobilisation, and perimetric alarm. Two presses give the maximum security of superlocking - making it impossible to open the doors from inside or outside the vehicle - and activating the volumetric alarm. When the key is used to superlock it arms only the perimetric alarm and engine immobiliation. An automatic re-lock feature guards against the driver accidentally unlocking the vehicle, due to the long range transmitter. If the doors remain unopened, a key is not inserted in the ignition, or if there is no movement in the vehicle, the system will automatically re-lock after 60 seconds. A mislock feature warns the driver - with two beeps from a sounder under the bonnet - that the vehicle has not been fully secured and the Message Centre explains the reason for the mis-lock (e.g. tailgate left open). A lazy locking feature - enabling all windows and sunroof to be closed - can be operated by an extended press of the lock button on the remote handset. A lazy seats feature, available on HSE models, enables the driver to unlock the vehicle and have the electric memory seats and wing mirrors return to his/her position. If the vehicle has been locked and the handset has been damaged, the driver can open the doors and re-mobilise the engine using the key to enter a unique four-digit code. The alarm system is protected against electronic devices because the 32-bit rolling code receiver in each handset will not accept a code that has been previously received and processed. The new Range Rover also has a number of other security features, such as a four-track key instead of two, making it difficult to copy or pick. The design of the lock barrel operates with a free wheeling clutch if entry is forced. The four-track lock barrel has a hardened steel cover, and the segmented design will break up under a slide hammer attack rather than coming out in one piece. CHASSIS A totally new stronger ladder frame chassis has been designed by Land Rover engineers to further improve handling, ride comfort, and stability, to satisfy luxury saloon customers. The new chassis is also able to withstand the extreme twisting and bending stresses of off-road use. The welded box-section chassis is made from high-strength micro-alloy steel. Compared to the constant 2mm gauge on the original Range Rover, the new chassis frame varies between 2.5mm and 4mm to improve the vehicles crashworthiness in terms of energy absorption and deformation. Four cross-members form the ladder construction - one is detachable for service access to the engine bay. To maintain the integrity of the passenger compartment the chassis has been designed to deform in a controlled manner. In a minor collision the crush cans, mounted between the steel armature bumper and the front end of the chassis, collapse to absorb the impact, and can be easily replaced. In a more severe collision the front end of the chassis deforms to contain the impact. Further protection is provided by the use of steel panels in the body design, and side impact door beams in all four doors, designed to meet U.S. crash standards. A major feature of the chassis design is the availability of a towing pack which includes a rear towing cross member fitted behind and above the chassis rear cross member. The mounting bracket for the towball is attached to the rear cross member and supported by the towing cross member. The towball can be removed and stowed in the spare wheel stowage area to avoid damage when the Range Rover is used off-road. SUSPENSION Range Rover's legendary suspension system has been totally re-designed for the new model to deliver best in-class handling, ride comfort, and stability both on road and off-road. AXLES Land Rover engineers have designed all-new beam axles which are not only lighter and stronger than previous models, but are also quicker and easier to service. The spiral bevel pinion differential has a hard ground crown wheel and pinion, fine forged differential gears, and two-pin and four-pin derivatives which are fitted to match the powertrain. The banjo-style front and rear axle case contains an integral yoke at the front and integral spring mounts and composite link brackets. Each axle end has a semi floating hub, bearing and carrier sub-assembly, sealed bearings and specially developed sliding calliper brakes. The new axles have not only improved reliability but have also been designed for ease of manufacture. Over the current Range Rover the number of parts has been reduced from 338 to 214 and the axles take 30 percent less time to assemble. FRONT SUSPENSION The front suspension locates the front axle to the chassis by forged steel radius arms to minimise fore and aft movement of the axle and wheels, but to allow maximum axle articulation for off-road performance, ride, comfort and handling. Transverse location of the axle is by a panhard rod. REAR SUSPENSION A totally new rear suspension system has been developed by Land Rover engineers. Replacing the A-Frame concept, the new system uses two lightweight composite radius arms, made from fibreglass and resin, to provide location for the rear axle and to act as an integral anti-roll bar. Lateral location of the axle is provided by a panhard rod. On the new Range Rover roll stiffness has been increased by 30 percent to give secure, confident handling through reduced body roll on corners. The rate of roll - how quickly the vehicle achieves its roll angle - has also been improved by enhanced damper performance. ELECTRONIC AIR SUSPENSION In 1992 Range Rover was the first 4 x 4 vehicle in the world to be fitted with an automatic electronic air suspension. The EAS system has now been refined and developed further and is standard on all Range Rovers. It retains the five ride heights (Access, Low, Standard, High, Extended) of the original system, but increases the options available to the driver. Some of the height settings have been revised. The system is now operated by a rocker switch, and the ride height switches illuminate when selected or when a height change is being made. For example, when changing from Standard to Low, the Standard symbol remains illuminated and the Low symbol flashes until the setting has changed. The Standard symbol then extinguishes and the Low symbol remains illuminated. Additional information is also provided through the Message Centre. The improved features on EAS involve the Low and Access settings. The Low position is now 25mm instead of 20mm below Standard for improved stability and handling. It can also be locked manually irrespective of speed. The Access Height, now 65mm instead of 60mm below Standard, can now be selected up to 40 seconds after engine switch-off and up to 40 seconds before coming to a halt. Where headroom is restricted it is possible to drive the vehicle in Access at speed of up to 20mph by pressing the manual switch when in Access. If the vehicle speed exceeds 25mph the Range Rover will rise to Low, returning to Access if the speed drops below 20mph. BRAKES AND STEERING The new high-performance braking system with anti-lock braking (ABS), as standard on all models, provides excellent stopping power and traction. A new steering system, coupled with the latest generation tyres, plays a key role in the new Range Rover's handling, steering, and all-terrain ability. Large disc brakes, ventilated at the front, are fitted to all four wheels with a front disc diameter of 297.2mm and rear brake disc diameter of 304.0mm. Larger callipers are fitted at the front to deal with the distribution of braking effort - two-thirds front, one-third rear. ABS The new Range Rover, like its predecessor, is fitted with the most advanced four-channel anti-lock braking system on a four-wheel drive vehicle. Improvements include the integration of the pump and accumulator into a more compact unit, and improved brake pedal feel. The optimised front suspension geometry, and reduced ground offset, have improved braking performance and stability, particularly on gravel, ice and snow. The system's ECU collects data from each wheel at the rate of 250 times a second - two and a half times faster than any other system. If the ECU detects that a wheel is about to lock, it releases brake pressure and then immediately re-applies it at a rate of 10 times a second. ELECTRONIC TRACTION CONTROL In 1992 the original Range Rover was the first 4 x 4 vehicle in the world to be fitted with Electronic Traction Control. The system, an extension of the ABS which operates on the rear axle, is carried over as standard equipment on HSE models. When the system's ECU senses that one rear wheel is spinning faster than the other, it will apply brake pressure to the spinning wheel and transfer torque across the axle to the wheel with grip. STEERING The new re-circulating ball power-assisted steering system has the same positive feel as a manual system around the straight-ahead position while providing full power assistance when required. It is a linear system with a fixed ratio so the movement of the road wheels is in direct proportion to the steering wheel. Off-road the system minimises kick-back through the steering wheel by being hard-mounted to the panhard rod mounting bracket - a position that reduces surface-transmitted vibrations and enhances straight-line stability. WHEELS All new Range Rovers are fitted with cast alloy wheels with a five-stud mounting. Each major derivative has a different wheel style with three-spoke 7J x 16" wheels fitted to entry models; five-hole 7J x 16" fitted to SE models; and prestige five-spoke 8J x 16" fitted to HSE models. TYRES The new Range Rover has higher maximum speeds and greater gross vehicle weights than previous models. All derivatives are fitted with 235/70 R16 105H rated tyres allowing loads of 925kg/tyre at a maximum speed of 210 kph (131 mph), except the HSE which gets 255/65 R16 109H rated tyres allowing loads of 1030kg/tyre at a maximum speed of 210 kph (131 mph). ENGINES The V8 engines, which have been at the heart of the Range Rover, have undergone the biggest development programme in their history to transform them into world-class units with vastly improved power, refinement and economy characteristics. Two brand new derivatives have been developed - a 4.0 litre version producing 190 bhp and a range-topping 4.6 litre producing 225 bhp. The 4.6 litre HSE model achieves 0 to 60 mph in 9.3 seconds and has a top speed of 125 mph. In addition, diesel Range Rovers are fitted with BMW's 2.5 litre six cylinder unit which has been widely acclaimed as the best diesel in the world. V8 ENGINES The original V8 engine's inherent strength, torque, and refinement, coupled with its proven record in four-wheel drive and racing and rallying applications, made it the ideal choice for further development. Land Rover engineers set themselves tough objectives for the new V8. They wanted increased performance, improved refinement, reduced size, better economy, reduced servicing costs, emissions compatibility, and compliance with Land Rover's world-renowned standards for four wheel drive. To achieve the objectives the V8 has been totally re-designed with virtually every component either modified or completely changed. A totally new engine management system known as GEMS (Generic Engine Management System) has been developed jointly by Land Rover engineers and Segam Lucas for the new V8 engines. It controls every aspect of fuelling and ignition and features a range of new sensors on all key components. It also communicates with the automatic transmission ECU and the BeCM. The system offers hot wire air mass flow sequential fuel injection, and lambda sensor control of the air/fuel ratio for optimised catalyst efficiency. GEMS provides fully programmed ignition control with knock sensing which continuously monitors every cylinder for signs of detonation or pinking. When this is detected the system automatically adjusts the ignition timing of the affected cylinder to prevent detonation, and progressively re-instates the ignition advance over succeeding cycles to its original value. GEMS uses four double ended ignition coils instead of the distributor giving improvements in reliability through the elimination of the HT lead. The engine management system also communicates with the automatic transmission ECU so that engine performance can be adjusted instantaneously during gear changes to reduce gearbox loading and provide the smoothest possible gear change quality. All major components within the engine have been re-designed and balanced to achieve a much improved level of engine refinement. Crankshaft For the 4.6 derivative a new crankshaft was required with a stroke increased from 71mm to 82mm. To maintain strength both the big end and main bearing sizes have been increased by 5mm to 55.5mm and 63.5mm respectively. Pistons Both engine derivatives have new lightweight pistons with crown height reduced from 48mm to 36mm. The small end diameter has been increased from 22.2mm to 24mm to withstand the higher loads from the increased performance. Connecting Rods The engines are now fitted with new con-rods which have been designed to reduce vibration. They are also fully balanced individually. Camshafts New camshafts have been designed for the 4.6 litre and 4.0 litre engines to cater for absolute engine performance without any degradation to valve train durability. Cylinder Block The cylinder block has been substantially developed to accommodate the larger main bearing diameters and increased crankshaft counter weight radius. To cope with the increased loads of the 4.6 litre engine the main bearing cap material has been upgraded, and the caps are now cross-bolted into the cylinder block on all V8 engines. Additional stiffening ribs have been added to key areas of the block to improve stiffness and durability. Cylinder Head and Gaskets The cylinder head induction and exhaust parts have been modified to obtain the target engine performance from the 4.6 litre derivative. Increased gas loads have led to the introduction of a new composite cylinder head gasket which eliminates the need for outrigger fixings. The cylinder heads and gaskets are now bolted to the cylinder block. Exhaust Manifolds New low thermal inertia, thin wall, stainless steel exhaust manifolds are used to speed up the transfer of heat to the catalyst to reduce emissions. Engine Auxiliaries and Belt Drive All components forward from the front face of the cylinder block have been totally re-designed to reduce the engine length by 75mm. The changes have improved refinement, increased engine durability and reliability, and reduced service requirements. The front cover assembly has been re-designed to incorporate a new high performance oil pump driven off the nose of the crankshaft, and a new reverse rotation water pump. All engine ancillary components are rigidly mounted on cast aluminium alloy brackets to reduce vibration and improve refinement and durability. The ancillaries are driven by a single serpentine (or polyvee) multi-ribbed belt controlled by a dynamic spring tensioner. It has a life of 72,000 miles. 2.5 LITRE DIESEL In the early stages of developing the new Range Rover, Land Rover decided to use the world's finest high performance diesel engine. After investigating six alternatives they chose the BMW 2.5 litre six cylinder power plant. Four years ago BMW and Land Rover engineers began a programme to modify the engine to meet the specific four-wheel drive requirements of the new Range Rover and its unique heavy duty cycle. The result is the optimum balance between power output, fuel economy, refinement, low noise, and low emissions. Compared to BMW car applications the engine in Range Rover produces slightly more torque and a little less power. The maximum power is 134 bhp at 4400 rpm and maximum torque is 199 lb. ft. at 2300 rpm. A major advantage is that about 80 percent of maximum torque is available from 1500 rpm through to 4400 rpm enabling the Range Rover to cruise comfortably at high speed and also to deliver the immense low-speed pulling power required for off-road use and towing. The Range Rover diesel accelerates from 0 to 60 mph in 13.3 seconds and has a top speed of 105 mph. The BMW indirect injection turbo-charged diesel engine was first introduced into the BMW 5 series and 3 series in 1992. Its exceptionally smooth and quiet performance results from a combination of fully electronic injection control and the unique design of the main combustion chamber. In conjunction with BMW engineers the engine has been modified to suit the off-road requirements of Range Rover. Oil Sump All Land Rover engines have to pass a unique test which involves running the engine at angles up to 45 degrees fore and aft, and 35 degrees side to side. The requirements of the off-road test resulted in the oil sump capacity being increased and the pick-up system being revised. Air Intake The air induction system has been modified to meet Range Rover's requirements for wading. Air in now taken from the dry area from inside the wing above the wheel arch liner and then ducted across the top of the engine. Wiring Harness The wiring harness has been re-routed to keep water and dirt ingress in off-road circumstances to a minimum. Cooling Fan The performance of the cooling fan has been increased with modifications to the viscous coupling to provide additional airflow for Range Rover's heavier duty cycle. Other modifications involve the turbocharger, dual mass flywheel, crankshaft thrust bearings, engine tune, crankcase breather, and fuel feed and return pipes. TRANSMISSION The ZF 4 speed electronic automatic transmission has been specifically designed for the new Range Rover, and in particular for on-road cruising, off-road robustness, and for towing. The ZF HP22 is fitted to 4.0 litre V8 models, and the ZF HP24 has been engineered for the more powerful 4.6 litre V8. Both versions have oil coolers for operating in extreme conditions. The Automatic transmission has four shift programmes. High Range Normal for maximum economy on-road Sport for the more enthusiastic driver. Low Range Normal for non-severe off-road and heavy load towing Manual for severe off-road conditions where maximum control is required. "H" Gate Selector System Land Rover engineers developed a world first by designing a new "H" gate system which enables a driver to change from high ratio to low ratio using the same lever. The "H" gate provides control of both the automatic transmission and transfer box through one lever. The need for a separate transfer box gear lever has been eliminated. The graphics plate indicates the gear that is selected, and whether the vehicle is in high range or low range. High range is always positioned on the driver's side of the H-gate for ease of use when selecting automatic gear positions. The selector lever now has a two-stage button. The first allows movement through the automatic gears, and the second - by full depression - selects the change from high to low ratio. Low range is selected by first selecting "N" and then moving the lever through the centre of the "H". The lever is then moved to select a forward or reverse gear position. To select high range from low range the procedure is reversed. High-to-low and low-to-high range shifts can be made up to 5 mph but it is recommended that the gear change is made when the Range Rover is stationary. If a shift is attempted above 5 mph the lights on the graphics plate will flash on the range being selected. The Message Centre will also display the "Slow Down" warning. If the shift lever is moved too fast for a range change to be completed the lights will flash and the Message Centre will display the "Select Neutral" advice. When the engine is started the normal programme is selected. Pressing the mode switch then selects Sport. (Manual in Low Range) MANUAL TRANSMISSIONS The manual transmission fitted to the new Range Rover is a further development of the five-speed R380 first introduced on Land Rover models in March this year. On diesel models the gearbox has a lower first gear ratio to suit the diesel engine's characteristics. Synchromesh is fitted on all gears - with triple cone on the first three gears and a large single cone on fourth and fifth. The conventional transfer box lever is replaced by an electronic button located on the fascia to make it easier for the driver to change between high range and low range. Transfer Box As with current Range Rovers, all new Range Rovers have permanent four-wheel drive and a viscous coupling unit on the centre differential. A new Borg Warner transfer box is fitted to the new Range Rovers. Range selection is operated by an electric motor and controlled by a dedicated ECU on both manual and automatic derivatives.