There’s a lot to talk about with the latest L460 Range Rover. A hell of a lot, actually. Although it looks like a mild facelift of the L405, underneath it’s an all-new car. There’s a new chassis for a start. The MLA-Flex architecture was needed to accommodate the latest electric power options, including bigger-battery PHEVs, with greater range, and the full BEV that’s coming in 2024. It also bumps up the torsional stiffness of the car (by 50 per cent) and reduces the NVH levels (by 24 per cent) compared with its predecessor. It's also required to support the ever-increasing raft of gadgets that a top-end luxury SUV like the Range Rover needs these days. In theory, then, it’s a future-proofing exercise, too.
One of the L460’s gadgets is rear-wheel steering. It’s the first time we’ve seen this on a Range Rover. The new model is over five-metres long, but, because the back wheels can turn up to seven degrees, it’s now a lot more wieldy in town. The turning circle is a Volkswagen Golf-matching 10.95 metres. There’s also 48-volt anti-roll tech, too. With over 1,000lb ft of counter-twist it’s far better able to resist the tall body leaning over on country roads. Not that this car is designed to be sporty. Range Rover is happy to leave that sort of stuff to the new boys – Aston, with its DBX 707, and Lamborghini’s in-ya-face Urus. The Range Rover is designed to deliver appropriate levels of on-road dynamism for a wafty, luxury SUV, while being able to out-do its rivals on green lanes.
There’s a sentence on the Land Rover website that describes the new Range Rover as: ‘True to its roots, and ready for the future.’ Is it? Well, Mike drove one in in America, and last month Nic drove one in Scotland. But we thought, as it is such an important new car, it demanded a longer look closer to home. That’s why we’ve made a video as well; to really help you get under the new model’s new skin. We’re driving a mid-spec short-wheelbase Autobiography with a diesel. Yes, a mucky old oil burner. Except it isn’t. The 3.0-litre straight-six D350 is one of the few carryovers from the old car, but also one of its best features. It is exceptionally gifted and well-suited to this car. Is the Range Rover still exceptionally gifted in other respects, though? Dive in to find out.