The latest version of Britain’s world-beating SUV, the fourth-generation Land Rover Range Rover, is revealed here: sleeker, more sophisticated and a little longer and lower than before.
The 2013 Range Rover 4 is set to make its public debut at the Paris motor show in a month’s time before going on sale early next year.
For the first time in 42 years, however, styling and dynamic ability are not the most important parts of the new Range Rover story. The bombshell news — perhaps the most significant change in the model’s 42-year history — is the adoption of a new all-aluminium monocoque body/chassis that carves up to 420kg off the current Range Rover’s kerb weight. This will bring unprecedented benefits in fuel economy, CO2 output, performance and agility.
The new model becomes the world’s first aluminium monocoque SUV, utilising techniques already developed for the aluminium XK and Jaguar XJ of sister brand Jaguar. In future, almost all of Jaguar Land Rover’s higher-value models are likely to be made this way.
According to Land Rover, the new model’s performance improvement is much more than merely incremental. Global brand director John Edwards says that while it preserves the Range Rover’s “essential, unique character”, the new car’s clean-sheet design and lightweight construction will “transform the experience for luxury vehicle customers, with a step change in comfort, refinement and handling”.
Edwards says the new Range Rover bodyshell is not only 39 per cent lighter than the outgoing steel structure but also stiffer in both torsion and bending, with new aluminium subframes front and rear that support newly designed, all-independent air suspension systems. The chassis has the latest generation of electronic ride and stability control equipment, and there’s a new, more responsive Terrain Response 2 Auto system that reads on-road and off-road conditions more quickly and configures the car better for the prevailing conditions.
The first official pictures of the new Range Rover show a wheelbase increase of about 100mm, and Autocar understands that there are similar increases in front and rear tracks. Together, these changes promise increased natural stability. Engineers talk of “transformed handling and agility” for the 2013 model, an impressive claim indeed given the high standards set by existing models.
Every surface of the new model is new, but the team led by design chief Gerry McGovern has nevertheless been entirely true to the Range Rover ethos. McGovern speaks of “a fresh interpretation of Range Rover design cues” and the 2013 edition definitely displays a sleekness and sophistication that makes the outgoing ‘L322’ version seem old and rather upright.
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Spied undisguised in Edinburgh
A black Range Rover mk4 has been parked on George Street in Edinburgh several days overother last week and I havspotted it several times around the city. Unfortunately been driving a bus at the time of sighting but will try to get a photo if I get a long enough break.
Registered VX12 ---
JLRcar magazine?
"Updated gallery" headline seems like a lame excuse to feature the car on the home page again for even more exposure. Or am I being cynical?
What with the new RR and the updated Freelander featured this morning on the site - with it's push "upmarket" - I really can't bring myself to like any Land Rover products anymore. I was a huge fan of the brand for many years but their stewardship under Tata is just about screwing customers for as much profit as possible and to hell with the heritage (i.e. 2wd, unchecked bling). Very sad.
I have similar sentiments
I cant help but feel JLR products are getting the silly side of expensive now and too blingy by far. That is what is loved by the emerging economies nouveau riche so if there is a market niche exploit it .
I do hope that when they get around to replacing the X type they will dial down the bling and make a good tasteful compact exec saloon and estate for a sensible price .
It wont happen though will it as there is too much money to be made out of wealthy idiots with no taste .
Oh and as for testing the car in the hottest and coldest parts of the world I have my doubts . The hottest place is in deepest Iran and the coldest in Siberia +70c and -70c and I doubt either have hotels to stay in . Typical of the marketing guys blurb thesedays .
Looks better in the metal
Actually saw one yesterday on the M5 south of Bristol, looks bigger than the current car but very impressive.