Is the "new" Range Rover really an X5?

[deutsch100]

Hey guys,

Just looked inside a friend's brand new Range Rover...and was really surprised to see that is looks so much like our 04 X5. I remember that BMW did something with Land Rover a bit back, but I thought that ended.

The Range Rover keeps advertising that is a 100% newly designed model, but the instrument panel, seats, power seat and memory controls and floorboards are EXACTLY the same as our X5. How can RR brag about a totally new model, if it just looks like a X5 inside (and hasn't the X5 been out for like 4 or 5 years)???

My friend was very annoyed when I showed him everythng in his "new model" was exactly the same in the X5.

 

[aNoodle]

My brother has one. Yeah, it's all BMW...complete with a BMW V-8, navigation, all the switches, even the same key fob as my car!! The garage door opener, the behavior of the door locks, the steering wheel controls, brake calipers, rotors...all is BMW, blah blah blah I can't go through everything because the similarities are more than the differences. It's a BMW. The comparison is really more to an X7 though, which BMW didn't build because it then had Rover. The Range Rover is a sweet ride. And not a cheap one...at something like $75,000. My brother got his BECAUSE it was completely redesigned by BMW. Who would pay that kind of money to have the old Land Rover reliability, or the new Jaguar engines they are talking about putting in there. The air suspension is not BMW, but it is way cool on that car.

 

[codex57]

Yeah, I thought the appeal of the current Range Rover was that it WAS just like a BMW and designed by BMW. But, it's got British interior styling.

 

[TheBry]

And... Range Rover isn't part of the BMW group anymore. Anyone know who bought it?

 

[aNoodle]

And... Range Rover isn't part of the BMW group anymore. Anyone know who bought it?

BMW sold the Rover group to a venture capitalist company. They split it up and sold it off in pieces. I think the French ended up with Rover (the cars). Ford bought Land Rover (the suvs) which is the maker of the Range Rover...and what's their new smaller one (which doesn't source parts and the engine from BMW)...the Discovery or something like that?

 

[BRC]

The new (smaller) Land Rover is the LR3. Too bad BMW doesn't still own them.

 

[codex57]

The LR3 is the Discovery's replacement. And yeah, I don't think the LR3 has any BMW parts. Since it's Ford designed, no thanks.

 

[MrElussive]

Okay, here's the deal. The new Range Rover was designed and built by BMW so it packs a lot of BMW shit inside. The whole navigation system is just like BMW as are a lot of other things. Unfortunately, when BMW was going to mass-produce them, the numbers weren't quite right so they basically put it on Ford to do the producing. Ford bought out Land Rover and produces the new Range Rover as wel as the other cars.
But I must say, there is NO mistaking a Range Rover for an X5. Although both luxury SUV's, they each have different purposes and the Range Rover is clearly far more luxuious but the X5 is far more sporty.

 

[theBMWenthusiast]

Okay, here's the deal. The new Range Rover was designed and built by BMW so it packs a lot of BMW shit inside. The whole navigation system is just like BMW as are a lot of other things. Unfortunately, when BMW was going to mass-produce them, the numbers weren't quite right so they basically put it on Ford to do the producing. Ford bought out Land Rover and produces the new Range Rover as wel as the other cars.
But I must say, there is NO mistaking a Range Rover for an X5. Although both luxury SUV's, they each have different purposes and the Range Rover is clearly far more luxuious but the X5 is far more sporty.

and doesn't BMW supply the engines to the Range Rover?

 

[codex57]

and doesn't BMW supply the engines to the Range Rover?

Yeah, but the suspension settings are likely VERY different.

 

[MrElussive]

Yeah, BMW does supply the engines as it is their 4.4L V8 (underpowered in the new Range Rover, IMO). And yes, the vehicles ride very differently. The X5 is very tight...smooth, but very tight and controlled for a very sporty drive. The Range Rover is much softer and more comfortable, especially over crappy roads. Obviously the vehicle doesn't handle anywhere near the X5's abilities, but the new Range Rover feels MUCH more nimble than the old one while still providing a much softer ride. The new Range is 100% a luxury SUV that makes no compromises and, as usual, it off-roads like a mountain goat.