Not only farmers had appreciated the practicality of the new SUV. First generation Land Rover was used as military light utility vehicle in several countries. Military experts have recognized the reliability and versatility of Land Rover. Delivery of these vehicles to the armed forces of foreign countries had become an important part of the company’s business.
In the mid-80s Land Rover engineers and designers were working on vehicle, intended for a family car market segment. It was decided to use a Range Rover wheel base with a simpler and less expensive body. The result of hard work on the project was the Land Rover Discovery, presented on 16 September 1989 at the Frankfurt Motor Show. Discovery was for Land Rover’s pioneer project for a new market segment of all-wheel drive cars.
In 1992 Range Rover got yet another upgrade. Swept-volume capacity of V8 engine was enhanced to 4.2 litres, vehicle got electronic traction control and, most notably, air suspension. Prior to that, suspension which supports the load on air-filled rubber bags, rather than steel springs was used only on buses, auto trucks and few luxury cars. This upgrade turned Range Rover into not only most comfortable, but most complex and technologically advanced SUV of its time.