International Land Rover History
The Land Rover is a type of 4X4 SUV style vehicle. This all terrain type of vehicle was manufactured in the West Midlands area located in the UK. The history of the Land Rover dates back to 1948 where the first Land Rover was developed. Maurice Wilks was the chief designer of the vehicle. He claims he got his inspiration by the American Jeep that was used during the Second World War. The first kind of prototype of the vehicle, called "centre steer," was constructed on a Jeep chassis. These vehicles had some unique properties to them. The body was lightweight in nature, and was designed out of an aluminum alloy and magnesium, also known as Birmabright. This kind of metal had a tremendous resistance to corrosion, and the vehicle quickly gained a positive response from the public because of its durability even under some of the roughest environmental elements. For the most part, early styles of Land Rovers mostly came in a light green color.
The Series I was an early type of Land Rover and the Series II was launched in 1958. In 1967, Land Rover became a part of Leyland Motors Ltd., known later as British Leyland (BL), but in 1975 BL fell apart. It was suggested that Land Rover should split up from Rover and become a separate entity within BL. Land Rover now became a novel commercial entity in the segment known as the Land Rover Leyland Group. By 1970 the infamous Land Rover Ranger was introduced. Land Rover engines also became a useful mechanical item and were put to use in Ford pick-up trucks. At first, the TDi engine was used mostly in these vehicles, but production of this type of engine came to a halt in the mid 1980's. The International Motors company in Brazil began to offer another kind of engine called the 2.8 TGV Power Torque. This is basically a 2.8 liter extension of the 300TDI, except power and torque were augmented. This power works in combination with all-terrain traction control. After more changes and switches within the company, the Rover Group was finally taken over by BMW in 1994. The initial Range Rover made its first appearance on the US market front on March 16th, 1987. When BMW took over the Rover Group, a second generation of Range Rovers made their appearance. In 1997 the Freelander, a compact style SUV, became very popular. By 2002, the third generation of Land Rovers was already hitting the streets. In 2005 the Range Rover Sport was showcased. This luxury style SUV was a more driver focused type of vehicle with a rear spoiler and aerodynamic taillights for extra efficiency. One of the more popular features of this particular model was its off-road capability, something Americans thrive on when it comes to fun driving. Ford eventually took over the production of Land Rovers, and both Jaguars and Land Rovers seem to generate profitable sales and many are produced together at the same factories and featured together at local car dealerships.
Ford eventually was looking to sell both the Jaguar and the Land Rover to another buyer. The year 2007 seemed to be a very profitable year for the Land Rover. In May of that year, the four millionth Land Rover made its way off the production line. This model was a Discovery 3 (LR3). In 2008, Tata Motors finalized the final paperwork needed to take over both Land Rover and Jaguar; however, the Land Rover Limited was re-acquired by Ford but Tata Motors now owns both Land Rover and Jaguar.
Land Rovers continue to remain very popular among Americans. They are spacious, fun, and innovative upgrades are being made every year to make the driving experience even more enjoyable. Shopping for a new Land Rover is very easy. Take International Autos of Orland Park for example. Serving the greater Chicagoland area, this dealership specializes in selling Land Rovers, Jaguars, Audis, and even Volvos. There are also eight franchise locations located in Wisconsin, so residents up there now have the benefit of receiving great customer service from a family owned business that has made its mark in the Chicagoland area and is now expanding. Driving should be fun, and when shopping for a new vehicle, why not a Land Rover? As a driver you will quickly fall in love with its style, handling capabilities, and off-road capacity. Most of all be safe, always ask about Land Rover safety features before purchasing, and of course have fun with your new vehicle! International Land Rover in Tinley Park brings a little history on the popular Land Rover SUVs, International Land Rover in Tinley Park sells new Land Rovers serving the greater Chicago area.
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