- the fifty special edition is to celebrate fifty years of land rover’s range rover, which launched in 1970.
- the fifty comes in a limited run - only 1,970 units of the edition will be made.
- the range rover fifty will be based on the autobiography trim and will have plenty of special distinguishing features inside and out.
to become a status symbol is no easy feat, and to remain as one for a long time is even harder. we think that being an absolute icon for the past 50 years is certainly worth celebrating, and land rover would agree; it has put together a limited-run special edition of the range rover to celebrate 50 years since it first debuted. dubbed the range rover fifty, this special edition will be limited to just 1,970 units – 1970 was the year that the range rover was first introduced.
the fifty special edition is based on the already luxurious autobiography trim level and will be available in both standard and long-wheelbase body styles. in north america, the sole engine choice will be land rover’s muscular supercharged 5.0-liter v-8 making 518 horsepower and 461 lb-ft of torque. being a special edition and all, the range rover fifty has plenty of bespoke features, like exterior accents painted in auric atlas and two unique 22-inch wheel designs. further distinguishing the fact that the fifty is a special edition is the paint choices. the four standard colors are carpathian grey, rosello red, aruba, and santorini black. if you crave another level of exclusivity, land rover special vehicle operations (svo) will paint a very limited number of range rover fiftys’ in one of three colors – tuscan blue, bahama gold, or davos white, which were replicated from the color palette of the original range rover. the vehicle’s badging is unique as well, with a “fifty” script created by professor gerry mcgovern, who is land rover’s chief creative officer. in addition to being featured on the exterior badging, the special design will be visible on the headrests, dashboard, illuminated doorsills, and on the commissioning plaque on the center console that also denotes the vehicle as being “1 of 1970”.
over its illustrious 50-year lifespan, the range rover has accrued a notable list of firsts and achievements. when it first debuted in 1970, the range rover was the first suv to feature permanent four-wheel drive. in 1989, it became the first 4x4 to be fitted with abs anti-lock brakes. three years later in 1992, the range rover became the first 4x4 with electronic traction control and an automatic electronic air suspension. in 2012 it became the first suv to be constructed of aluminum. it was even the first vehicle to be displayed in the famous louvre museum in paris, france. in addition to that long list of firsts, the range rover crossed the impassable “darién gap” and has won the paris-dakar rally twice.
originally built to be a workhorse, the range rover has evolved into a status symbol for the wealthy. perhaps in years past, you’d find them tackling off-road terrain, but as of late you’re more likely to find them on rodeo drive in los angeles or in the pick-up line at a private school. despite the change in scenery, the range rover retains its rugged roots and all-terrain capability thanks to standard four-wheel drive that’s paired with selectable drive modes for all kinds of topographies. regardless of where you decide to go in a range rover, just know that it’ll be in the lap of luxury – the interior is swathed in soft leather and trimmed in wood, ensuring that the interior is just as nice as the exterior. since 1970, the range rover lineup has grown to include the range rover sport, range rover evoque, and range rover velar, but none of those cars are status symbols like the original range rover is.
pricing and specifications for the range rover fifty are yet to be released but expect a significant premium over the $131,595 that the standard wheelbase autobiography commands; it is a special edition of only 1,970 exclusive models, after all.