Mercedes threat to Range Rover
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LATEST manufacturer to join the rush to produce a competitor to the British built "goanywhere" Range Rover is Mercedes-Benz.
Although details of the specification are at present extremely sketchy, it is known that the vehicle was developed jointly by Daimler-Benz AG at Stuttgart and Steyr-DaimlerPuch of Austria.
Prototypes have been undergoing testing both in Graz and Stuttgart, although it is not envisaged that production will start before the end of 1978.
The on/off road Mercedes has a four-wheel drive transmission layout — permanently engaged as on the Range Rover.
A choice of power units will eventually be available with petrol and diesel engines from the Mercedes-Benz range, and a petrol engine from SteyrDaimier-Puch, with outputs ranging from 48 to 90kW (65 to 120bhp).
A joint company called Gelaendefahrzeug Gesellschaft (literally: "Country Vehicle Company") was formed by the two manufacturers in February this year.
With Toyota, Chrysler and now Mercedes-Benz getting involved in this market, one hopes that Leyland can somehow step up its production of the Range Rover.