DAVID DONDE REVIEW the Range by David Donde O ne has to ask, what is the point of the full size Range Rover? In the world of neatly categorized vehicles, the Range Rover is a bit of an anachronism. SUV? too big and too capable for that? 4x4? hardly the rugged muddy type. Grand Tourer? a little large and lacking rapier like handling finesse. No, it is the world's big, luxurious, pampering and very fast bus. The Kombi for the affluent if you will. Big, grand, big, powerful, big, luxurious and well, did I mention it? Big. SPECS As for the luxury, this was the beast that started it all. Range Rover was the upmarket option that presented when 4x4's were exclusively for the military farmers and adventurers. Then the Queen of some island bought one and the iconic design went mainstream. For several years there it developed into an ungainly, big, opulent and expensive 4x4 that guzzled huge amounts of fuel but didn't go particularly quickly. Then things changed with the current model, it took on the design cues of its ancestors and taught the automotive world how good an interior could be. And all was well in the world. • Displacement (cc): • Power (kW) at RPM: • Torque (Nm) at RPM: • Fuel Consumption: • Top Speed: 4999cc 375kW @ 6000pm 625nm@ 2500pm 14.9 Litres per 100km 208km/h As for the subject of our test, the big one. The one with the big Supercharged V8 petrol engine and so many standard items that there are absolutely no options available… It is big. It does use vast amounts of fuel, it does go quickly, achieving the ton in 6,2 seconds without fuss, and it is very opulent. It even handles remarkably well for a car this big and tall. Road imperfections are smoothed away by an extensively developed and well resolved air suspension. This is the Oligarchs choice of transport for good reason. If you have to ask how much fuel it uses or how much it costs, you certainly are not the target market. It is a triumph, what with its extensive infotainment systems, safety systems, convenience features, engine outputs and lashings of luxury, but there are some quirks. For instance the keyless start. As with