Until 2012, when a brand new generation Range Rover will be launched, Land Rover will unveil a two-door version of the Range Rover Sport model (and probably for the Freelander 2). The new model will debut in 2008 and will go on sale at the end of 2008 as a 2009 model.

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2009 Range Rover Sport 2-doors

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In a previous interview, Phil Popham the Managing Director of Land Rover said “We are keeping the Range Rover offering fresh with regular changes: some are major, like the TDV8 engine last year which, incidentally, will now be badge on the back of the vehicle while others are about the detail, such as those coming in 2008.” And one of those new models is a 2-door SUV.

The new 2-door Range Rover will be the first 2-door luxury SUV available on the US market.

The first 2-door (3, if we consider the "third door" being a horizontally split tailgate) range Rover was unveiled in 1970 when the company introduced the first generation Range Rover. It was powered by a 3.5 L aluminum Rover V8 engine.

After almost 40 years, Land Rover wants to turn back history with the introduction of a new 2-door model. It will be powered by a range of vehicles including the normally aspirated V8 and advanced turbodiesel V6 used in the 4-door version of the Range Rover Sport.

The top of the range will be powered by a 4.2-litre supercharged V8 engine with an output of 390 hp and a peak torque of 410 lbs-ft. Other options will be: a 300 hp 4.4-litre normally aspirated V8 and the advanced new 2.7-litre 190 bhp turbodiesel V6. The top model will make the 0 to 60 mph sprint in 7.5 seconds and will have a top speed of 150 mph.

The new 2-door model will feature the same Dynamic Response suspension system first used in the 4-door Range Rover Sport. This system will help the SUV to have an excellent on-road dynamics because it senses cornering forces and acts to optimize body control and handling. It also decouples off-road to allow greater wheel articulation during tough all-terrain driving.

The 2008 2-doors SUV features will be the same as for the 2008 4-door model: a of four-zone air conditioning complemented with 'climate control' windscreen and side glass available in conjunction with automatic rain and headlight sensing, redesigned rear seat that will provide extra storage space.

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History



Range Rover Classic

Land Rover unveiled the first generation Range Rover in 1970 at the Amsterdam Motorshow. It was the first land Rover model that turned the old company into a mass volume manufaturer.

With a basic design that was never basically changed for more than a quarter of a century, the Range Rover was created to meet the growing demand for a light 4x4 which was capable of rough-terrain work in pursuit of leisure activities, towing a caravan or boat, and doubling as fast road transport.

The vehicle was launched in a three-door design option (the "third door" being a horizontally split tailgate). In 1981 came the big changes with the introduction of a 4-door body. Because the doors in the 2-door version were very heavy, the new model launched in 1981 was very well received by the customers and the two-door version was dropped starting 1984.

The Classic Range Rover was powered by a Buick-derived Rover V8 engine. The engine was fitted with carburetors until 1986, when they were replaced by Lucas electronic fuel injection.

In 1979 Land Rover tried to introduce a diesel version of the Range Rover's 3.5-litre V8 engine, but the project failed under the much greater pressures involved in diesel operation. The first diesel engine was unveiled in 1986: it was a more efficient 2.4 litre VM diesel from Italy.

The original models disc brakes on all four wheels and came with no power steering (was added a few years later). Also the first year vehicles suffered considerably from body roll. Because of this, the suspension was lowered by 20 mm in 1980 and air suspension starting 1992.

The Range Rover used a permanent FWD system and the only gearbox available was a four-speed manual unit. In 1982 Land Rover offered a three-speed Chrysler automatic gearbox.

When it was launched, the Range Rover had better road performance than any other family saloon cars of its era: a top speed of 95 mph and the 0 to 60 mph sprint in less than 15 seconds.