For over fifty years the Range Rover has been seen as the pinnacle of luxury travel, even when driving across very rough terrain. Nothing’s changed with the new Range Rover other than it is better than ever before and that this will be the last model to feature a petrol or diesel engine in any form, apparently.
The Looks
See for yourself in our images. Some features endure; the falling roofline, strong waistline and rising sill line. This new car also has a characteristically short front overhang, all the better to drive off-road. Plus, now there’s a distinctive new ‘boat tail’ rear-end. Conveniently, this big SUV also comes with a split rear tailgate; electrically operated, of course. It’s streamlined too: The clean and contemporary looks contribute to a drag coefficient of just 0.30, making this the most aerodynamically efficient luxury SUV in the world.
There’s some subtle and clever detailing where the rounded edge of the door meets the glass in a simple, clean finish thanks to a specially engineered hidden waist finisher. The design-enabling technology combines with flush glazing, hidden-until-lit lighting and precise detailing which creates the idea that the vehicle has hewn from a solid block.
On The Inside
The new Range Rover comes in two sizes, normal and long-wheelbase. Both versions can be specified from new with a three-person rear bench or two individually adjustable rear seats. The long-wheelbase version can add two more seats if required, big enough for full-sized adults. This may be of interest to buyers wishing to import from the UK to Kenya or New Zealand.
Otherwise, the interior is underpinned by modern, intuitive technologies, designed to work harmoniously with the finest materials and upholstery. New ‘well-being’ innovations like air-purification, help create a calm environment for all occupants, also including a third-generation ‘Active Noise Cancellation’ system that monitors wheel vibrations, tyre noise and engine sounds transmitted into the cabin, generating a cancelling signal, all the better to hear the 35 speakers (count them) of the 1,600W Meridian Signature Sound System.
The British brand’s excellent ‘Pivi Pro’ infotainment array works in harmony with an elegant semi-floating 13.7” ‘Interactive Driver Display’, which features new high-definition graphics based around a three-panel layout that intuitively reflects the design of the configurable ‘Pivi Pro’ home-screen. For the first time the central display will provide haptic feedback when customers touch and press the screen, reducing the need to look away from the road. Rear seat passengers get their own screens too.
Expect, obviously, the best of materials and the very, very latest in technology. Android Auto and Apple CarPlay of course but now with added voice-controlled Amazon Alexa 2, making a first appearance: Now it is possible to say, ‘Alexa, let’s get going’. Fine when on your own or not easily embarrassed presumably.
On The Road
Fully independent air suspension isolates the cabin from surface imperfections for serene Range Rover composure at all times, all managed by in-house developed ‘Adaptive Dynamics’ control software. The intelligent All-Wheel-Drive transmission is controlled by Land Rover’s absolutely brilliant ‘Intelligent Driveline Dynamics’ system, which monitors grip levels and driver inputs 100 times a second to predictively distribute torque between the front and rear axles, and across the rear axle, for optimum traction on and off-road. Rough riding really doesn’t get any better than this.
Needless to say, electrification has arrived on the latest Range Rover. There’s a choice of new Extended Range Plug-in Hybrid Electric Vehicle (PHEV) power-trains, the P440e and P510e, and the latest mild-hybrid (MHEV) P400 Ingenium petrol and D300 and D350 diesel engines. The flagship version, a petrol engine, offers a Twin Turbo V8; vastly more efficient than the previous V8.
The new Extended-Range PHEV models combine the inherent refinement of Land Rover’s in-line six-cylinder Ingenium petrol engine with a 38.2kWh lithium-ion battery – with usable capacity of 31.8kWh – and a 105kW electric motor integrated with the transmission. Together, the power-train provides up to 62 miles (100km) of near-silent pure-electric driving.
In conclusion
There’s a host of information regarding this car. First opinions are that Land Rover have done it again, producing the finest all-round SUV money can buy. To find out more about this great car, get in touch with us here at MHH International.
