Like the challenging terrain its vehicles are designed to conquer, Land Rover, the revered British motor industry marque, has faced plenty of obstacles over the past 10 years. Its ownership has shifted from the little lamented Rover to first, BMW, then Ford, and now India’s Tata Motors, which has bought the company, along with Jaguar, for $2.3bn.

Some dealers may cavil about the latest change: it is true Tata is better known for trucks, steel and even tea than luxury vehicles. But the key to Land Rover’s – and Jaguar’s – success lies less in the nationality of its owner than the latter’s sensitivity towards its latest acquisitions.