Range Rover P38
Range Rover P38 (1994-2001)
Known as either the P38 or P38A (after the vehicles code name, Pegasus, and the office in which the vehicle development team was based), the second-generation Range Rover launched 24 years after the Range Rover Classic, on 28th September 1994.
On its debut, the second gen Range Rover featured a Rover V8 engine or a 2.5 L BMW six-cylinder turbo diesel. In the Land Rover hierarchy, the Range Rover P38 was marketed as a higher spec vehicle to the Land Rover Discovery and, as such, featured more high-tech equipment and premium trims.
Design
The aspirations for the 38A’s styling was a vehicle that looked modern, yet still looked like a Range Rover. This challenge was handed to Land Rover’s Styling Director George Thomson.
In collaboration with Pininfarina, Italdesign, Bertone, John Hefferman and Ken Greenley, the team produced 5 different models. All of these models used the LSE chassis with the longer 108-inch wheelbase. These were then whittled down to two which went to market research and customer clinics: one created by Bertone, the other created by the in-house team.
Consensus fell upon the in-house design, which was nicknamed Pegasus. This design was deemed to be the one which filled the brief well enough.
Engine & Transmission
The upgraded V8 engine for the second gen Range Rover featured a new Bosch engine management system taken from the BMW 7 Series. For diesel models, the engines featured an EGR system with plastic inlet manifold.
Both the 4.0 L V8 petrol and the 2.5 L I6 diesel engines were mated to either a R380 manual gearbox or ZF 4HP22 transmission.
Chassis & Suspension
The chassis of the new iteration of the Range Rover was remarkably similar to the original. However, it was made stronger, and its safety specifications improved, thanks to the implementation of new welding techniques. For the flagship model in this range released in 1994, the vehicle included an anti-lock braking system and two-wheel traction control which was extended to four-wheel traction control on later models.
The fuel tank in the P38 was moved to a location beneath the rear seat, and side impact bars were added to all the doors. The second-generation Range Rover also featured a vastly improved electronic air suspension which offered five suspension types: Access, Motorway, Standard, Off-Road and Off-Road Extended. The suspension height could also be manually adjusted between the first four settings. While the fifth, Off Road Extended, could only be accessed automatically by the electronic air suspension.
Interior
The interior of the new Range Rover was, by and large, overhauled. The dashboard of the 1970’s was completely replaced and controls, such as the heating and ride height controls, were made to be simpler and more intuitive for users.
Evolution of the Range Rover P38
On its launch in September 1994, the Range Rover P38 was generally well received. In a review by Autocar magazine it was claimed that this newest iteration of the Range Rover was ‘not a generation ahead of its time like its predecessor, but merely a thorough evolution of a familiar theme…’
Range Rover Autobiography Programme
At the London Motor Show in 1995, the Land Rover Autobiography programme was launched and was extended to the Range Rover P38A. This allowed for the addition of bespoke luxury features such as leather seats and non-standard exterior colours to either the 4.0 SE automatic or 4.6 HSE models.
In 1996, the Autobiography programme was extended and for the first time Range Rovers could be purchased with a TV and video system, complete with VHS. Navigation systems were also integrated from Spring 1997.
Range Rover Vogue
The Range Rover Vogue made its debut in September 1998 – 4 years after the P38’s launch. Designed to further enhance the vehicles luxury appeal, the 4.6 Vogue SE took inspiration from the Autobiography personalisation programme.
A further Vogue SE edition was released in December 1998 and only eight months later, a third edition of the 4.6 Vogue SE was released.
The Vogue SE stood firm for the rest of the P38A’s production run. Each new model saw more high-tech and luxurious additions, including TV and DVD systems eventually.
