L an ddRover .Stage 3
Page 10
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LAND ROVER introduced stage three of its E200 million investment programme this week in the forms of a larger and more luxurious 4x4 station wagon called the County and a 4x4 pick-up which claims a superior payload and cubic capacity to its rivals from Jeep, Toyota, and Datsun. BILL SHOCK reports.
Stage one in 1979 was the introduction of the V8 engine in the Land-Rover, and this was followed last year in stage two by the 4-door Range Rover.
The County Station wagon extends the existing 7-seater 88in and 12-seater 109in wheelbase range in response to the demand by the private market sector for additional comfort and refinements.
The new models come in either of two new distinctive colours, Masai red or russet brown, with limestone roof and wheels. Upper side panels carry stripes and a County badge is at the rear.
Tinted glass, twin auxiliary driving lamps, reversing lamps, spare wheel cover, rear mud flaps, and side repeaters for the direction indicators are all included as standard.
New seats, trimmed in a black and grey tweed cloth, are high backed and can be adjusted for squab height and back rest rake. Head restraints are fitted to the outer front seats. The roof has been acoustically damped to reduce the level of interior noise and all trim is washable.
A lockable box with a large open-topped tray is offered as an option to the front centre seat on sevenseater models for sale in the UK and on afl export models.
Two high capacity pick-ups employ the 109in wheelbase. An all-aluminium cargo area will accept a maximum 1.3 tonne payload, an increase of 25 per cent over existing models for the new 3020 gvw model. The smaller 2710 gvw version boasts similar increases with a 1050 payload.
A rust-proofed cargo floor set at 762mm (30in) above the ground offers a bed measuring 2.01m (79in) long, 1.63m (64in) wide, and with 0.92m (36in) between the flat topped wheel arches. At the rear, the tailgate is 0.46m (18in) wider than the current Land-Rover pick-up.
County seats and trim are offered as an option, as are they for models across the range.
The 109in County Station Wagon and all versions of pickups can be specified with the Vee eight petrol unit or with either of the four-cylinder petrol and diesel engines which now employ five-bearings crankshafts.
All 3.5-litre V8 models are equipped with permanent fourwheel drive but economy options with the 2.1-and 4-litre pick-up models include freewheeling hubs.
On the heaviest of the new pick-ups heavy-duty front and rear suspension, heavy-duty front axle, and low ratio steering with damper are fitted as standard.
Prices range from £7,833 to £8,647 for the high capacity pickups, and from £8,647 to £9,728 for the County range.
Last week, in the depths of Oxfordshire, I had the opportu nity to drive these new model briefly.
On the road, the Iwb Count Station Wagon showed a defi nite tendency to wander; it wal almost impossible to keep tht vehicle in a straight line a speeds above 40 mph whet loaded. This was apparent at two separate vehicles and Final have been because tyri pressures were adjusted for sib work.
Off road, both models lived Lij to the Land-Rover reputation o being tough, reliable, and versa tile.
Steering although unassistei was easy, even in thick, rutted muddy tracks.
With the aid of a little extr, initial momentum, forward mc tion was maintained whirl climbing the steepest of bank almost axle-deep in mud. Thi low gearing of the two-speo transfer box used in conjuctioi with the gearbox allowed des cent of equally steep and loos] surfaced gradients just using th, braking of the engine with ful control of steering and spew maintained.
The seats and thicker trans mission covering make for qui eter and more comfortabli operation, but the large steerinl wheel, messy facia, long gea shift, and location of the ham brake leave a few details fa change on the Mk 4. Judging b, recent events, this can be ex pected within the next 1 months.