On June 17, Range Rover – still considered by most to be the world’s best luxury SUV – celebrates its 40th birthday.

In fact 2010 is a very special year for the iconic special brand with the two existing model lines – Range Rover Vogue and Range Rover Sport – being joined by a third model, the compact version, which will debut at the Paris Motor Show. 

The classic Range Rover drew wild acclaim when it first appeared back in 1970. The second generation P38a model arrived in 1994 and the current generation bowed in 2001. Range Rover Sport started life in 2005 and in 2007 was Land Rover’s global top-seller.

From the British Royal Family, Prince Ranier of Monaco, the Sultan of Brunei and countless entertainment and sports stars, Range Rovers have been owned, and still are, by the world’s ‘Who’s Who’.

Still manufactured at Solihull in England, 78 per cent of all Land Rover-Range Rover vehicles are exported for sale in 140 countries.