Cars: Third generation looks just as good.

Byline: MALCOLM ROBERTSHAW

IT was in 1948 that the Rover Company introduced the Land Rover, a name which has become universally identified with the definitive four-wheeldrive vehicle.

While the Land Rover quickly became the 'Farmer's Friend' in more recent times, the search was eventually on for the ultimate luxury 4x4 which would prove to be equally at home on or off-road.

In the early 70s, under then parent company British Leyland, the result of Rover's more luxurious off-road design philosophy finally became a reality.

The Range Rover was launched at the Blue Hills Mine in St Agnes, Cornwall, on June 17 in 1970.

It was available only in two-door guise with an opening tailgate and a still somewhat Spartan interior.

Today, Land Rover operates under the umbrella of Ford Motor Company's Premier Automotive Group alongside stablemates Jaguar, Aston Martin, Volvo and Lincoln.

But, amazingly, the current breed of Range Rover is only the third evolution in more than 30 years of this luxury off-roader.

The Range Rover comes with a brace of engine options: a 4.4-litre 282bhp V8 petrol unit or a threelitre 174bhp six-cylinder turbo diesel, while trim levels are SE, HSE and Vogue.

The test car was under oil-burning power. There is permanent fourwheel-drive, with a torque-sensing centre differential which helps to prevent wheel spin wasting power and a five-speed, fully automatic transmission which also operates as a clutchless manual in bothhighand low ratio to provide increased control when the Tarmac runs out.

While conventional wisdom these days is that most 4x4 owners stick religiously to the Tarmac, there are many that do venture forth into the world of serious off-roading where the terrain can be difficult and driving skills require more than a little help in certain circumstances. The Range Rover provides this help in spades.

As you would expect from a carmaker whose natural territory has been off-roading for more than half a century, the Range Rover includes an impressive array of driving aids starting with dashboard on-screen information which, when you are travelling over difficult ground, provides graphic information on gear selection, articulation of each wheel and even the direction in which the front wheels are pointing at a given time.

In addition, four-wheel Electronic Traction Control comes into play to distribute drive evenly to each wheel when conditions become difficult at tyre level, while Hill Descent Control adds its weight to help you to slowly and safely negotiate downhill gradients and Dynamic Stability Control helps to counter skidding.

The sophisticated Electronic Air Suspension is computer controlled, to automatically detect uneven terrain with the air springs being inflated to provide maximum clearance over boulders and deep ruts when off-road, while deflating the air springs lowers this high vehicle to ease passenger access.

From the high command driving position in a cabin where quality is everywhere, overall vision is of the highest order.

All three trim levels are generously lavish, but the flagship Vogue takes matters onto another plane, adding a 12-speaker sound system with six-disc CD autochanger, satellite navigation, electrochromic door mirrors, powered sun-roof and headlamp washers, all of which come as standard.

Comfortably ensconced in heated Oxford leather seating with bags of electrical adjustment on both the driving seat and tiller to answer the comfort needs of drivers of all shapes and sizes. Standard safety kit includes a sextet of airbags and ABS braking.

On the Tarmac, the Range Rover exhibits good road manner. But, while the three-litre diesel engine does its best work as a very refined motorway cruiser, its 174bhp can come under pressure a little when the task is uphill overtaking of slow movers.

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ACTION: a new Range Rover makes easy work of the countryside