Design at the front has not been changed much.
It’s highly awaited unveiling spoiled somewhat by a series of leaked images of last week, Jaguar-Land Rover (JLR) officially unveiled the all-new Range Rover last night ahead of its market debut next year.
Billed as the most luxurious and capable model in the Range Rover’s now 51 year history, the all-new fifth generation arrives as the first completely new version in almost a decade with Land Rover describing it as the “most desirable yet”.
Riding on an adaptation of JLR’s Modular Longitudinal Architecture (MLA) platform called MLA Flex, the Range Rover will once again be offered as a five-seater, a long wheelbase five or seven-seater and an ultra-luxurious four-seater called the Signature Suite made by SV Bespoke.
As indicated by the mentioned leaks, Land Rover has taken an evolutionary approach with the front facia as it bears similarities with the outgoing model in the look of the grille, headlights and lower air intake.
Matters are completely different at the rear though where inspiration from the original Range Rover has resulted in the wraparound facia being characterised by thin vertical taillight clusters seemingly also taken from the Rolls-Royce Cullinan. As with previous generations, the tailgate remains split, albeit with electrical opening and closing.
In comparison to the exterior, the new platform has resulted in a raft of changes underneath. Dimensionally, the Range Rover measures 5 052 mm in overall length with its wheelbase rated at 2 997 mm, height at 1 870 mm and width at 2 209 mm.
The long wheelbase measures 200 mm longer overall with its wheelbase increasing by a similar amount.
Width and height remains unchanged though with wading depth for both coming to 900 mm. Ground clearance is rated at 295 mm for the short wheelbase and at 294 mm for the long wheelbase.
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It’s platform optimised to accommodate partial as well as full electrical assistance, the mostly aluminium structure is said to be 80% stiffer than that of the previous Range Rover and lighter, though no details regarding the actual weight drop prevailed.
Similarly, Land Rover didn’t divulge much specifics relating to the Range Rover’s dynamics, but did confirm the inclusion of a new rear-wheel steering system, a standard active locking rear differential and an updated Driveline Dynamics system that varies torque between the front and rear axles.
In addition, the air suspension now comes with electrical assistance in the form of a 48-volt system. Called Dynamic Response Pro, it is set to be more efficient than a conventional hydraulic system and uses anti roll bars and new twin-valve dampers to keep body roll down on the move.
Unsurprisingly, some of the biggest strides have taken place inside. Aside from a new steering wheel, the Range Rover debuts JLR’s new freestanding 13.7-inch Pivi Pro infotainment system that features over-the-air-updates, wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, as well as satellite navigation.
Behind the mentioned wheel, the configurable digital instrument cluster now measures 13.7-inches with buyers having the added option of specifying the Rear Seat Entertainment system made-up of two 11.4-inch displays, an eight-inch central controller and Wi-Fi.
Equipped with JLR’s latest Active Noise Cancelling technology that has been expanded to the even the headrests, the Range Rover now features what Solihull calls power assisted doors whereby the rear doors can be opened without having to use the handles.
Further fitted with the PM2.5 filtration system for the climate control, it also comes with an updated ClearSight ground view front camera as part of the surround-view system, Remote Park Assist, an automatically folding loadbay cover on five-seat models and an up to 35-speaker Meridian sound system delivering 1 600-watts.
As big as the changes have been inside and underneath, so has the revisions up front where the initial choice of engines comprises five options, all mated to the ZF sourced eight-speed automatic gearbox, now operated by a toggle switch instead of a rotary dial. A low range transfer ‘box remains.
With mild-hybrid assistance starring on three, the range kicks-off with the D300, whose Ingenium 3.0-litre straight-six oil-burner produces 221kW/650Nm, and the similarly sized D350 that makes 257kW/700Nm.
Brandishing the P400 nomenclature, the only non-electrically assisted petrol also boats a 3.0-litre displacement with outputs of 294kW/550Nm.
In a reversal of the previous model, Land Rover has revised the plug-in hybrid model, now called the P440e. Compared to the old P400e, the P440e drops the 2.0-litre Ingenium petrol engine for the mentioned 3.0-litre, combining it with a 38.2 kWh lithium-ion battery pack that powers a 105 kW electric motor.
Combined, the unit produces 323 kW and allows for a range of up to 100 km. A more powerful model, the P510e, will also be offered with output from the same unit increasing to 375 kW.
Sitting as the top of the range is the all-new P530 that marks the return of BMW power for the first time since Munich’s ownership of Land Rover before the turn of the century.
Replacing the old P525 and P575 models that made use of the long serving, Ford made 5.0-litre supercharged Jaguar AJ-V8, the P530 derives motivation from the well vested 4.4-litre twin-turbo V8 used in the BMW 8 Series, the X5 and X7.
Producing 390kW/750Nm, it allows the P530 to get from 0-100 km/h in 4.6 seconds with launch control engaged and on to a limited top speed of 250 km/h.
Now available for ordering with pricing in the United Kingdom from £94 400 (R1 929 281), Jaguar-Land Rover South Africa has confirmed availability from the middle of next year with the line-up comprising both hybrid models, the D350 and later the P530. Pricing will only be announced closer to the launch date.
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