(Correspondent) The all-new Range Rover has been touted as the most capable and most luxurious Land Rover yet – with the tag-lines ‘lighter, stronger and with new levels of refinement’.
The all-new model, which is the fourth generation of the unique Range Rover line, has been developed from the ground up, capturing the innovative spirit and iconic design of the original model that was launched over 40 years ago.
It is the world’s first SUV with a revolutionary lightweight all-aluminium monocoque body structure, 39 percent lighter than the steel body in the outgoing model, enabling total vehicle weight savings of up to 420kg.
The lightweight aluminium platform has delivered significant enhancements in performance and agility, along with a transformation in fuel economy and CO2 emissions.
In addition to the strong and rigid lightweight body, an all-new aluminium front and rear chassis architecture has been developed with completely re-engineered four-corner air suspension. While the luxurious ride has been retained, the vehicle’s handling and agility have been significantly improved.
The new suspension architecture delivers flatter, more confident cornering, with a natural and intuitive steering feel.
John Edwards, Land Rover Global Brand Director, said: “The new Range Rover preserves the essential, unique character of the vehicle. 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.”
While instantly recognisable as a Range Rover, the new vehicle takes a significant step forward with a bold evolution of the model’s iconic design language.
“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.”
Definitely sleeker, with Land Rover strength at its heart, the new model uses ground-breaking next-generation version of Land Rover’s Terrain Response-R system, which analyses the current driving conditions and automatically selects the most suitable vehicle settings for the terrain.
To ensure durability and reliability, the new model has been subjected to Land Rover’s punishing on- and off-road test and development regime, with a fleet of development vehicles covering millions of kilometres over 18 months of arduous tests in more than 20 countries with climate and road surface extremes.
Within the cabin, measures like the rigorously optimised body structure and acoustic lamination of the windscreen and side door glass, have significantly reduced noise levels.
The interior incorporates clean, elegant surfaces flawlessly presented using the finest leathers and veneers. With over 118mm more legroom, the rear occupants benefit from vastly increased space and comfort, with the option of a new two-seat Executive Class seating package for the ultimate in rear-seat luxury.
To deliver the model’s characteristic effortless performance, customers have the choice of refined V8 petrol engines and TDV6 and TDV8 diesel engines, combining performance with outstanding CO2 emissions.
Designed and engineered at Land Rover’s development centres in the UK, the new Range Rover will be produced in a new, state-of-the-art manufacturing facility at Solihull, UK.
On sale in South Africa from January 2013, the all-new Range Rover will be available in over 160 markets worldwide.
