Range Rover proves a paper great

Driving a Range Rover across a bridge made of paper – sounds like an illusion from Dynamo or David Blaine.

But that’s exactly what Land Rover has done with its flagship luxury SUV model.

The company commissioned a free-standing bridge, without glue or bolts to hold it in place, at Suzhou, China, to mark the 45th anniversary of its Range Rover family.

The hand-built paper structure took three days to construct in the ancient water city of Suzhou, which is famous for its bridges and nicknamed Venice of the East.

Land Rover has a background for leftfield adventures, starting with becoming the first vehicle to drive across the Darien Gap in Panama.

Land Rover Experience chief instructor Chris Zhou was entrusted with negotiating the paper bridge, using a variety of all-terrain technologies to preserve the delicate fabric of the structure.

Jaguar Land Rover’s engineering chief Nick Rogers said: “China is an important market for Range Rover, so we have picked the perfect place to celebrate 45 years of our luxury SUV family.

“Range Rover’s advanced lightweight body and peerless all-terrain capability were crucial factors in making this unique drive possible.”

Artist and paper bridge designer Steve Messam added: “Paper structures capable of supporting people have been built before but nothing on this scale has ever been attempted.

“It’s pushing engineering boundaries and the ease and composure with which the vehicle negotiated the arch was genuinely breathtaking.”

Click here to see Land Rover’s film of the unique bridge crossing and further details of this bespoke building project: https://youtu.be/KksImg6rCtk