Ahead of its full reveal at the Paris Motor Show, Range Rover has given us a preview of its all-new L405 model. At first glance there’s no mistaking the fourth-generation of the famous SUV for anything else, but on closer inspection… those lights! A bit too fancy aren’t they? Although, we’re sure they’ll look just right in no time at all.
Most of the technical detail is being saved for Paris, but Range Rover has shared an impressive statistic regarding the car’s weight. The new Rangie uses an all-aluminium monocoque body, the first time ever in an SUV they boast, and this technology has brought weight savings of 39% compared to the old model’s steel body. Combined with other dietary measures and specification the total weight loss can be as much as 420kg compared the L322 Range Rover.
You’ll be able to choose form three engines, a supercharged V8 or a pair of turbo diesels in V6 and V8 layouts. No word on final spec just yet, but a quick glance at the Jaguar engine range will probably give you a good starting point.
Regarding the design of the latest model Gerry McGovern, Chief Creative Officer, acknowledged there was a standard that had to be achieved, “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.
“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.â€
On balance, we reckon they’ve done a pretty good job too. Let’s hope the engineers have pulled their weight and the new Rangie is still up there as one of the industry’s best fair dinkum four-wheel drives.
The all-new Range Rover
THE WORLD’S MOST REFINED AND CAPABLE LUXURY SUV
- Lighter, stronger and more refined, the world’s finest luxury SUV
- Unmistakeably a Range Rover, a modern interpretation of iconic design cues
- World’s first SUV with a lightweight all-aluminium monocoque body structure
- 420kg weight saving over outgoing model delivering improved fuel economy and CO2 emissions
- An unrivalled breadth of capability with transformed handling and agility
- State-of-the-art adaptive dynamics to further improve peerless ride quality
- Enhanced all-terrain performance with introduction of Land Rover’s Terrain Response 2 Auto®
- The pinnacle of SUV refinement, with a more spacious and luxurious interior and a truly composed driving experience
- British designed and engineered at Land Rover’s development centres in the UK
- Manufactured in a new, state-of-the-art aluminium manufacturing facility, Solihull, UK
Whitley, UK, August 15, 2012 – The all-new Range Rover is the most capable and most luxurious Land Rover yet. Lighter, stronger and with new levels of refinement, the Range Rover reinforces its position as the world’s finest luxury SUV.
The fourth generation of the unique Range Rover line, the all-new model has been developed from the ground up, capturing the innovative spirit and iconic design of the original model which changed the world of motoring when it was launched over 40 years ago.
The world’s first SUV with a revolutionary lightweight all-aluminium monocoque body structure is 39 per cent 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 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 – 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.â€
The all-new Range Rover has a clean and elegant shape which is derived from a fresh new interpretation of Range Rover design cues. 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.â€
With Land Rover strength at its heart, the new model has been engineered from the ground up to be the most capable, most refined Range Rover ever.
Amongst the industry-leading innovations is a ground-breaking next-generation version of Land Rover’s Terrain Response® system, which analyses the current driving conditions and automatically selects the most suitable vehicle settings for the terrain.
To ensure exceptional 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 miles over 18 months of arduous tests in more than 20 countries with extremes of climate and road surfaces.
Within the cabin, the all-new Range Rover provides occupants with a sensation of serene isolation, meeting the highest luxury car standards for refinement.
Measures like the rigorously optimised body structure and acoustic lamination of the windscreen and side door glass have significantly reduced noise levels, while the new suspension architecture has enabled engineers to achieve even more luxurious ride comfort and refinement.
The sumptuous interior incorporates distinctive Range Rover design cues, but executed with a very contemporary treatment, and clean, elegant surfaces which are 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 a refined supercharged V8 petrol engine, TDV6 and TDV8 diesel engines combining responsive performance with outstanding CO2 emissions.
The all-new Range Rover has been engineered with the latest developments in vehicle technologies, from interior luxury features such as exclusive Meridian surround sound music systems and upper and lower tailgates, to advanced chassis and driver assistance technologies.
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 – employing the latest low-energy aluminium body construction technologies.
Available to order from September 2012 with customer deliveries scheduled to start from early 2013, the all-new Range Rover will be a truly global car, available in over 160 markets worldwide.
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Notes to Editors:
1) Full Technical Specification and Pricing will be released early September ahead of the Paris Motor Show 2012