Range Rover lineage: Classic to L405The L322 is the third of four Range Rover generations. Placing it in the family line shows what it inherited, what it changed, and what came next. In short: The L322 is the third of four Range Rovers and the first with a monocoque body: the template the lighter L405 built on.
The generations at a glance
Range Rover Classic (1970-1996)The original, launched 17 June 1970. Early "Suffix-A" cars were rugged utility 4x4s, hose-out interiors, not the luxury machines the badge later implied. Engineered by Spen King and Gordon Bashford around the Buick-derived 3.5 V8, it created the "as good on-road as off-road" concept. Air suspension appeared late in its life. Range Rover P38A (1994-2001)The second generation (named after Solihull building 38A) added luxury, on-road manners and standard height-adjustable air suspension, with BMW 2.5 diesel and Rover V8 petrol options. Seen as evolutionary and somewhat budget-constrained, it was the car BMW deemed too dated to last, triggering the L322 project. Range Rover L322 (2002-2012)The subject of this site: the first monocoque?monocoque. A unibody structure where the body shell itself carries the loads, instead of bolting a body onto a separate ladder chassis. Stiffer, quieter, lighter. Range Rover with all-round independent air suspension, developed under BMW, built under Ford and Tata. It pushed the Range Rover firmly into full luxury-SUV territory while keeping serious off-road ability. Full overview » Range Rover L405 (2013-2022)The successor: an in-house design built on an all-aluminium monocoque that shed over 400 kg versus the L322, improving economy and on-road manners. It continued the clamshell bonnet, floating roof and horizontal lines, and offered a long-wheelbase model with airline-style rear seats. Developed under Tata ownership with the resources to push the Range Rover even further upmarket. |