Wednesday 15th August 2012

New Range Rover - official pics

All-new fourth-gen Range Rover breaks cover ahead of official Paris debut

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Off the back of news that Evoque-inspired demand has now got the Halewood plant working 24-hour shifts to keep up with demand official pictures of the all-new Range Rover have been released. This, at least, should put an end to all those 'cripes, just seen a disguised new Range Rover!' tweets. You and the rest of Warwickshire, my man.

Proportions are familiar, if stretched

With sales soaring and nearly 80 per cent of production exported overseas the folks at Land Rover must be feeling pretty pleased with themselves already. Will their grins be even bigger now the disguises can come off and, as of early next year, this new beast goes on sale?

Well, it's certainly supersized. And suitably imposing, an Evoque-esque front end treatment melding into more traditional Range Rover proportions, albeit stretched and teased in seemingly every direction. The trademark floating roof, a prominent belt-line and even more prominent side gills complete the look, the new fourth-gen Rangie making a decided move to new-money bling distinct from the outgoing L322's more stolid, blocky conservatism.

Choice of terrain for this picture speaks volumes

Signs of what was coming were obvious in the last facelift for the long-running L322, now more than a decade old but still going strong and pulling in the sales. A 'Sport style grille treatment gave the old stager a bit of a freshen up but it's clear the all-new Range Rover was going to move the game on considerably and so it does.

Biggest news is a wholesale adoption of aluminium and corresponding 420kg weight saving over the outgoing car. There's no information in the initial teaser release about the overall dimensions but even so it's obvious from these pictures that the new Rangie is much longer. Indeed, we'd take a punt on the boast of an additional 118mm of legroom corresponding with an equivalent stretch in wheelbase, this extra length freeing up space for a variety of different rear seating arrangements ranging from a confirmed two-seat 'Executive Class' configuration to, we'd assume, school run friendly seven-seater set-up. If you're going to use it as a school bus it may as well be as big as one...

Evoque inspired front end the biggest departure

Familiar JLR engines - supercharged V8 petrol and V6 and V8 diesels driving through, you'd assume, the latest eight-speed auto - aside it's an all-new platform. Which you'd have to expect, given how long they've had to come up with it. There's new suspension architecture front and back, air sprung again, delivering what Land Rover describes as "flatter, more confident cornering, with natural and intuitive steering feel" and combining improved comfort with increased agility. It'll do the off-road thing too of course, assisted by a new Terrain Response 2 Auto.

Who are they trying to kid though. With prices likely to be knocking on the door of six figures for higher-spec models it's clear the Range Rover has taken a decided move upmarket, with aspirations to mix it more in the Bentley Flying Spur and Rolls-Royce Ghost circles rather than the hoi polloi of Q7s, Cayennes and fancier X-series BMWs. Only the refreshed Mercedes GL really threatens on size and stature but, even then, the Range Rover appears to be staking a claim on a new class of uber SUV, ahead of Bentley's arrival in the not too distant.

Big step up in space and quality inside

No surprise there either. British designed and British built it may be but the Range Rover is clearly less suited to our roads than it is those of cash-rich markets with an appetite for British-built luxury motors and unabashed bigger/blingier is better sensibilities. In short, if you're offended just think of the balance of payments, jobs for the boys in Solihull at the new aluminium production plant and other positives. And pray you don't meet one coming the other way on a crowded suburban street.

Orders open next month, deliveries start in early 2013 and further details will follow closer to the official debut at Paris at the end of September.

[tinkertaylor]

erm...looks a bit naff IMO. don't like the vents in the doors either...

[m44kts]

I like it, the interior is particularly nice. Agree that the vents on the doors looks a bit odd, but overall, it's nice and still looks like a Range Rover which is the main thing.

[Burbleboy]

Front end looks smart but the rear lights are naff!

'Hip hop' rappers everywhere will be getting their cheque books out

[billzeebub]

FFS, judging by that monstrosity I will never sell my 2008 TDV8! Those lights!?..I am sure Wayne Rooney and the cast of TOWIE will love it though

[Lotusevoraboy]

Ugly. Looks like a cut and shut of about four different Land Rover models. Age old roof line and angle on boot is a nod to the past, front end looks Free lander ish, boot too shallow and overhangs the rear wheel too much.

[Genelec]

I predict that wood effect will date very badly. Generally looks.... odd....

[Stu R]

I think it's stunning, a lovely progression on the old design without being too garish or OTT. Still unmistakably a Rangie, and that interior is about the only thing I'd take in preference to a designo-festooned Merc one. The only thing I don't like is the vents on the front bumper corners, but I think I'll be able to live with that.

[Cyberprog]

billzeebub said:

FFS, judging by that monstrosity I will never sell my 2008 TDV8! Those lights!?..I am sure Wayne Rooney and the cast of TOWIE will love it though

I dunno, the TDV8 is the best engine, you shouldn't have too many problems shifting that, especially if yours is a sport and one of the few TDV8's they made in that configuration...
I like the look of it, can't wait to see one in person when I'm next in the Stealers.

[philmots]

I like it. Looks fresh and modern.

Huge weight loss is good to hear. Nearly half a ton!

[Agoogy]

looks like they've struggled to improve on what went before...tinkkering where none was needed IMO..

[greggy50]

Gills and the rear lights ruin it for me prefer the old one styling wise

[JTJ]

Why ruin a classic look that worked for 42 years, just because a total new design worked for the XJ doesn't mean it will work for the range rover.

is it still capable off road? Looks too low, the tyre profile very low as well.

Looks too much like the ford explorer.

[Reardy Mister]

I like it a lot.

The floating roof line is a RR trademark. The gills are also a retro design cue from the early range rovers which had similar. That wheel and tyre combo will be good for fk all but still excellent ground clearance and front & rear departure angles. It was high time the nose was slightly less brick-like anyway. I notice the lack of a gear shift of any sort....? The bonnet design hs been retained which is a favourite feature of mine but a front end incident looks like it will be expensive, that looks like one panel all the way back to the doors. Nope, just spotted the shut line over the front wheels.

Excellent evolution of the Range Rover design. Relieved.

Edited by Reardy Mister on Wednesday 15th August 01:38

Edited by Reardy Mister on Wednesday 15th August 01:40

[DanB7290]

I believe it has the gear selector from the Jaguar XF, that rises up when you start it up.

[dtrump]

Shoulder now looks too thin and weak

Stupid extra bits on the lightcluster look out of place and the light graphic doesnt even try to follow it

The bottom seems to kick up at the back too much

Vents on the door.....not so sure..., think it messes with the proportions which were so good

Chrome trim going back to the rear light?....not so sure either.....unnecessary

Dropping the roofline to the back does appear more sporty.....but isn't that kind of thing for the Range Rover Sport

It may look better over time, but I'd take the old one

[The Nur]

I want a Range Rover just for the interior. I respect it for it's capabilities but I only want one for the interior.

[Egg Chaser]

I don't really like that at all. It's a bit too blingy and over-styled, especially the lights. The interior, on the other hand, looks great as usual.

Perhaps I'll grow to like it, or perhaps it will look better in the flesh, but my first impression is that it looks awful. I suppose it's hard to improve on the design of the first L322 shape, though.

[DrRazzle]

I suspect we are going to get a lot of 'I don't like it' here, but I am interested in comments from anyone here who:

1. Has the requisite funds
2. Is intending to buy something in this segment soon.

I don't qualify on the above criteria, but I quite like it, and I reckon those that do qualify will as well.

[Wadeski]

JLR dont give a monkeys what UK buyers think. They are about as relevant as Swiss people are to Rolex / Omega sales.

Range Rover sells to wealth. Wealth is now in the USA, Middle East, and China.

I'm sure they have a laughable diesel option for the UK market, which won't even be offered in markets that matter.

[JulianHJ]

I like it.