By Angus Frazer
This story originally appeared in the July/August 2017 issue of Elite Traveler.
From the timeless to the technologically fantastic, we have selected the very best in automobile innovation. Highlighting the classic cars that created a legend, alongside the latest offerings on the road that will turn heads, our rundown of top cars is sure to inspire those in the market for a new ride.
Land Rover
ENGLAND, 1947
It all began with a sketch made on the sand of a Welsh beach in 1947, when Maurice Wilks, technical director of the British car company Rover, and his brother Spencer, managing director of the same company, saw a market for a rugged 4×4 vehicle. The first Land Rover was launched in 1948 and by the end of that year it was being exported to more than 70 countries. Land Rover has come a long way since that beach. In 2008 it was sold to Tata Motors and today offers six models boasting materials and technology previously the preserve of luxury sedans. landrover.com
Defender
CLASSIC
It has been said that for more than half of the people on the planet, the first motor vehicle they ever saw was a Land Rover Defender; such was its ability to go where no other car had gone before. Britain’s SAS regiment painted their vehicles pink to create a desert camouflage effect, while Her Majesty the Queen, who has owned around 30 examples, prefers hers in more subtle hues. During seven decades, more than two million examples were built, but in the end the vehicle that crossed inhospitable terrain with ease was defeated by high emissions, and production ended in 2016.
Range Rover Velar
MODERN
Launched at the 2017 Geneva Motor Show, Land Rover’s new elegantly styled Range Rover Velar is positioned between the Evoque and Range Rover Sport models. Naturally, the vehicle is equipped with four-wheel drive and should prove capable of dealing with muddy tracks and wading shallow rivers. However, the Velar is more of an SUV crossover than a hard-core off roader, and the emphasis is placed firmly on uptown as opposed to up-country living. Easily capable of accommodating a family of five, the lavish interior features advanced multi-function rotary controls and state-of-the-art screen technology.
THE RANGE ROVER VELAR IN NUMBERS
Price from $58,000
Number of seats 5
Power 380hp (3.0-liter engine)
Maximum towing capacity 5,511lb
Maximum speed 155mph