When it comes to luxury vehicles that can also handle tough off-road conditions, one name stands unchallenged and has done so for 40 years: Range Rover.

Effectively the first ever SUV, although it was to be a couple of decades before the name came into use, Range Rover has continued to set the pace in features and performance against a growing number of competitors. Since 2005 the flagship luxury Range Rover has been called Vogue, with the new Discovery-based Range Rover Sport model being added to the range.

Range Rover has been given an upgrade for 2011 with a new twin-turbo diesel engine mated with eight-speed automatic transmission, enhancements to its off-road system, and various other design tweaks.

Turbo-diesel power was first used in Australian Range Rovers with the 2002 (and still current) third generation model. That 2.9-litre BMW-sourced in-line six engine was replaced in the 2005 Vogue with a 3.6-litre Ford V8 unit, which in turn has now been upped to 4.4 litres for the 2011 Vogue.

Dubbed a ‘super diesel’ by Land Rover, the new TDV8 twin-turbo generates 230 kW of power (up from 200 kW) and a whopping 700 Nm of torque (from 640 Nm). Having sat behind the wheel of the new powerplant for the best part of a day, in a variety of conditions, it’s hard to argue with that description of ‘super’.

The 2011 Range Rover Vogue has increased engine power and torque, yet boasts a reduction in fuel consumption, down to 9.4 litres per 100 km - the first time that any Range Rover Vogue has consumed less than 10.0 L/100 km. Add a 14 per cent reduction in CO2 emissions, to 263 gram per kg and it’s hard for even the staunchest 4WD critic not to be impressed.

On the open road the big diesel just purrs along, pulling the hefty, 2700 kg vehicle with effortless ease. Just a caress of the throttle is needed for instant acceleration when required, and with the two turbos working together, there’s no turbo lag at all.

On the latter section of our launch road test we used just 6.9 L/100 km over a distance of around 80 km, admittedly on flat motorway conditions but still cruising at around 110 km/h for much of the way. That official figure of 9.4 L/100 km looks within reach of many drivers.

The TDV8 engine is mated to a new ZF eight-speed automatic transmission, a first for any vehicle in the Land Rover range. It’s a superb ‘box that provides seamless changes. The petrol Vogue models continue with the previous six-speed ZF auto.

Other enhancements to the 2011 Range Rover include the addition of Gradient Acceleration Control and Hill Start Assist to the Terrain Response system.

To demonstrate its product Land Rover took us from Mollymook on the NSW South Coast to Sydney including a rugged off-road section to demonstrate the various components of the Terrain Response system. At one stage we encountered a steep rocky slope that would have daunted all but the toughest 4WDs. Such was the torque from the big V8 diesel that we actually had to rein it in as it sought to bound up the hill, to make sure that we didn’t smash into some of the larger rocks.

Off-road driving is further assisted by Range Rover’s electronic cross-linked air suspension that allows a level ride height over undulating terrain.

The 2011 Range Rover comes in three equipment levels. The entry level V8, available with either petrol or diesel engines; Luxury (diesel only); and the flagship Autobiography, either with diesel or a supercharged version of the V8 petrol.

The list of available features is amazing, not only in quantity but also in imagination. Apart from the standard catalogue of safety features (multiple airbags, ABS brakes, stability and traction control, and more) there is a host of enhancements such as Understeer Control Logic to help to slow the car and restore grip to the front wheels if the driver understeers; Electronic Brake Pre-Fill that instantly applies the brakes if the driver suddenly lifts his foot from the accelerator; and Trailer Stability Assist works with the existing ESP and Terrain Response systems and corrects trailer sway movements through the various braking systems. Your Land Rover dealer can further explain these and other advanced safety features.

Then there are the Gee Whiz features: All models come with a rear view camera but there’s also a Surround Camera System (standard in the Autobiography and an $1810 option in other models) that show views from a variety of cameras positioned on the outside of the vehicle that can be viewed as a group or individually on the full screen. There’s even an optional portable camera (Venture Cam) that can be mounted anywhere on the vehicle, including underneath or inside a towed trailer such as a horse float.

The 8-inch dash-mounted information screen, called Dual View, also includes the fascinating option of allowing the front passenger to watch a video or television while the driver views other options such as satellite navigation or the external cameras - both on the same screen, and at the same time. This really does seem like magic.

Other options include powered reclining rear seats with internal heating and cooling, airline-style winged head restraints and the ability for the left-side rear seat passenger to adjust the front passenger seat for increased legroom.

The complete 2011 Range Rover Vogue range, with prices (excluding government and dealer charges) is:
V8 Vogue 5.0-litre petrol: $158,100 (automatic)
TDV8 Vogue 4.4-litre turbo-diesel: $160,500 (automatic)
TDV8 Vogue Luxury 4.4-litre turbo-diesel: $184,200 (automatic)
TDV8 Autobiography 4.4-litre turbo-diesel: $212,500 (automatic)
V8 Supercharged Autobiography 5.0-litre petrol: $230,000 (automatic)

Contact your local Land Rover dealer for driveaway prices.