Revealed: the new Range Rover
which continues the tradition of combining on-road
luxury with off-road performance.
Land Rover has revealed the first images of its new
Range Rover, which will make its public debut at the
Paris motor show at the end of September.
The biggest change for the all-new model is the use
of an all-aluminium monocoque body structure,
making the Range Rover the first SUV to use such
technology, which borrows techniques developed by
Jaguar for the XJ saloon. The result is that the luxury
SUV is up to 420kg lighter than the model it replaces,
suggesting a kerb weight of about 2.4 tons and what
Land Rover describes as a "transformation" in fuel
economy and CO2 emissions, as well as enhanced
performance and agility.
The new model will be the fourth all-new Range
Rover since it was introduced in 1970, and features a
sleeker treatment of the nose, with the headlights
and grille reminiscent of the Range Rover Evoque. At
the rear the Range Rover retains its split tailgate.
"Designing the next generation Range Rover,
following over forty years of success, came with a
huge responsibility to protect the DNA of such an
icon," said Gerry McGovern, Land Rover Design
Director and Chief Creative Officer.
"Our design team worked incredibly hard to capture
the elegant proportions and pure surfaces which have
been a feature of the best Range Rover designs."
The latest Range Rover features aluminium front and
rear subframes as well as "completely re-engineered"
air suspension, which is said to retain the car's
excellent ride quality while removing some of the
body roll in cornering and improving steering feel.
John Edwards, Land Rover Global Brand Director, said:
"The new Range Rover preserves the essential,
unique character of the vehicle – that special blend of
luxury, performance and unmatched all-terrain
capability. However, its clean sheet design and
revolutionary lightweight construction have enabled
us to transform the experience for luxury vehicle
customers, with a step change in comfort, refinement
and handling."
As ever, the Range Rover promises to be a capable
off-roader, and features Land Rover's Terrain
Response System, which analyses driving conditions
and sets up the vehicle accordingly. It will also
maintain its position as a luxury vehicle, with
features such as "acoustic lamination" of the glass to
reduce noise levels, as well as an extensive list of
options. Those in the back will also find that legroom
has improved (by 118mm). As standard the back
seats take the form of a three-seater bench, although
customers can upgrade to a two-seater "Executive
Class" option.
Engine options consist of a supercharged V8 petrol or
V6 and V8 turbocharged diesels. Land Rover is yet to
release any details of fuel economy, emissions or
prices, but expect the range to start from about
£70,000 when order books open at the beginning of
September. The first cars are expected to be
delivered to customers early next year.:
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