Upward trend: Orange County, already a popular...

Upward trend: Orange County, already a popular choice among smaller Japanese car makers for a U.S. headquarters, is also favored by the few European car companies that still see a viable market in the United States. Mercedes-Benz established its North American advanced design center in Irvine early last year, and Jaguar Cars Inc. opened a regional service training center there in November, 1989.

Now comes Range Rover, manufacturer of those pricey four-wheel-drive vehicles. Eschewing the relatively tame flatlands of Irvine, Range Rover of North America decided to open its Western Regional Headquarters and Technical Training Center in the rugged hills of Aliso Viejo.