It's remarkable how fresh and contemporary the Mk4 Range Rover still felt on a recent extended drive. Indeed, the nine-year-old model toppled the much newer – and more expensive – Bentley Bentayga in a Range Rover versus Bentley twin test as recently as April.
More remarkable still is just how dated the current Range Rover now looks parked next to the all-new fifth-generation car, revealed today.
Such is progress. The Range Rover has reached that ‘mature’ stage of its existence after more than five decades on sale, where design conventions are so well established that it can confidently pursue an evolutionary process, refining a proven and much- imitated successful recipe rather than seeking an unnecessary reinvention.
Yet this is a Range Rover with more riding on it than ever. It is the first in a new era of Land Rover models this decade to be underpinned by an all-new architecture that will bring electric vehicles to the brand for the first time. It must be right straight out of the box, not only to keep the sales and profits coming in for what is Land Rover’s cash cow, but also to build confidence in the models that will follow.
The luxury SUV class that the Range Rover established and has long sat atop is now as hard fought as it’s ever been, but already this new model looks like being yet another big leap forward.
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On Tuesday, I watched one of these new ones come out of the heritage motor museum at Gaydon next to the factory. It must have been on the off-road course or something.
Two roundabouts later just past JLR, I came across it again. Either the wheel had come off, or the suspension had collapsed! I've got it on video as I am a saddo with a dashcam. Not a happy flagship.
First, if you want to see it in the metal, with a Motoring journo talking you round it, then go on YouTube and you'll find at least two doing a video walking round, much better than judging the vehicle from a series of images, this is a tidy not overdone make over for the Range Rover, and yes, some of the interior stuff is a bit Jerry Anderson, the Table between the rear seats is a why? thing, but, if your paying a six figure sum?
Way too expensive! Makes the Defender look reasonable!