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I've never been hooked on cigarettes. Those awful cancer sticks enslave the addicted, unlike rewarding the connoisseur of a fine cigar, a moment of pleasure. I know that sounds hypocritical but I've been a cigar aficionado since before college and I believe the cigar craze of a few years ago and the SUV bubble that is about to burst have a lot in common. So what does the supercharged 2006 Land Rover Range Rover have in common with a fine cigar? There has always been a base of cigar smokers. Mostly they were mature, well to-do males that enjoyed an exclusive pleasure most will never share nor understand. Yet those who invent artificial status symbols chose to glorify cigar smoking a few years back. Soon every poser and wanna-be was seen puffing away on cigars without appreciation or understanding. Sport Utility Vehicles are the same. There has always been a limited market for luxury off-road utility vehicles. Historically dominated by the Toyota Land Cruiser, Jeep Wagoneer and Range Rover, these aristocratic vehicles were primarily the possession of gentlemen farmers, hunters, and other mature men of money. Sure they were luxurious in their own way but above all they were capable workhorses that often got down and dirty. Due to unfortunate unintended consequences of the government encouraging fuel-efficient cars, four-wheel drive sport utility vehicles became the suburban housewife's vehicle of choice for grocery shopping and picking junior up at day care. Luxury offerings from Cadillac, Lincoln, Lexus, BMW and Porsche emerged as urban status symbols with no expectation of ever seeing a gravel road, let alone "off-road". As with cigars, the fad will fade and a remaining limited number of connoisseurs and aficionados will still demand a truly useful luxury sport utility vehicle. Enduring at the very pinnacle for the demanding enthusiast will remain the Range Rover. Land Rover, with a storied past, remains the off-road standard in much of the world. A reputation outside of Europe was solidified by presence in Africa and the Middle East. To the former colonies of the Crown Range Rover is as well known as Jeep is to Americans. For 2006, Land Rover offers four models in the United States, Freelander, LR3, Range Rover Sport and the Range Rover. While the very well appointed Range Rover HSE has an entry MSRP of $74,950 my test drive vehicle was the ultimate flagship, Range Rover Supercharged, topping $92,000. The 2006 Land Rover Range Rover Supercharged is the ultimate luxury off-road experience. Nothing I have driven comes close to the capability and feeling that this vehicle produces. Diamond mesh grill and corresponding power vents on both sides of the supercharged version are the exterior cues that you are driving the ultimate experience. Adaptive front lighting system automatically moves the bi-Xenon headlights up, down, left and right in reaction to speed, pitch and steering direction. Reverse activated rear view camera helps the parking assist detectors to enhance safety. The Jaguar sourced supercharged 4.2 liter engine produces 400 horsepower and 420 lb. ft of torque and is managed by the electronically controlled six-speed transmission. Permanent four-wheel drive sports both a high and low range for true off road capabilities. Automatic air suspension adjusts for load leveling and three height levels can be manually selected offering an impressive 10.8 inches of ground clearance. Creature comforts abound with rich heated leather seats both in front and rear passenger areas. Navigation, Bluetooth compatibility, Rear-seat entertainment packages, satellite radio, and dynamic stability control are just a few of the technological features making this an ultimate off-road luxury vehicle. Laminated exterior glass helps to shut out exterior noise making the 2006 Range Rover a perfect studio for the 710-Watt, 14 speaker Harman/kardon audio system. The fad will soon fade for many of the luxury sport utility vehicles just as the cigar craze is now a memory. But for those who need and appreciate luxury in a vehicle with true off-road capabilities, one cannot find a better vehicle.
2006 Land Rover Range Rover Supercharged
4.2 Liter Supercharged V8
$92,850 MSRP as tested Additional Web only Information and Resources For Additional Reviews: |
©2005 - Stan Risener