The “Land Rover” was originally the name of the off-road model sold by automaker Rover. Built in Series I, II and III models, these Jeep-inspired utility vehicles gained popularity all over the anglophone world and beyond thanks to their ability to tackle tough terrain and their versatility in doing everything from farm work to safaris. Land Rover became a distinct brand in 1978 while the more upscale Range Rover, first introduced in 1969, was a pioneer of the luxury SUV market and is currently one of the most popular models in that segment. The Defender series, meanwhile, picked up where the Series III left off with rugged, capable off-roaders, and the Discovery continues to offer Land Rover luxury at a lower price point than the more glitzy Range Rover. The company has gone through several ownership changes over the years, moving from British Leyland to BMW and then Ford, but since 2008 it has been part of the Jaguar Land Rover subsidiary owned by Indian conglomerate the Tata Group.