Land Rover News: And Now, The 2013 Range Rover

[William Maley]

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William Maley

Staff Writer - CheersandGears.com

August 14, 2012

Earlier this morning, two pictures of what was allegedly the new 2013 Range Rover leaked on the web. Well, those two pictures were the real deal as Land Rover has released the details of the next Range Rover.

The forth-generation Range Rover looks a lot like the outgoing model, especially in profile. There is also a lot of design influence from the Evoque in the new Range Rover; the sloped front end and roofline, and streamlined door handles.

Inside, the Range Rover is a study on the art of minimalism. A few physical knobs, many controls as possible recessed into the surface, and a large screen make up much the front. Range Rover has also increased rear legroom by 4.7 inches.

The big news of course is what the new Range Rover rides on. Underneath the body is an all-aluminum unibody structure with aluminum chassis structures. The move to aluminum helps drop almost 700 lbs of the new Range Rover.

Land Rover has also fitted a a re-engineered adaptive air suspension, which is claimed to inspire more driver confidence.

For the time being, Land Rover is being quiet on powertrains for the Range Rover. Its expected the natural-aspirated and supercharged V8s will carryover, and a supercharged V6 and diesel are under consideration.

The new Range Rover arrives at your local Land Rover Dealer in December.

William Maley is a staff writer for Cheers & Gears. He can be reached at [email protected] or you can follow him on twitter at @realmudmonster.

Press Release is on Page 2

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THE ALL-NEW 2013 RANGE ROVER

Land Rover Introduces the Next Generation of the World’s Most Iconic Luxury SUV

• Unmistakably a Range Rover, a modern interpretation of iconic design cues
  
• Legendary Land Rover off-road capability with transformedon-road handling and agility
  
• Lighter, stronger and more refined. The world’s first SUV with an all-aluminum unibody structure
  
• Weight savings of up to 926lbs (420kg) when compared to the outgoing model delivers improved fuel economy and reduced CO₂ emissions. A US specification V8 model is approximately 700lbs lighter than similarly equipped outgoing model
  
• A more spacious and luxurious interior provides a truly composed motoring experience for all occupants. Rear legroom increases 4.7 inches
  
• Adaptive dynamics suspension system further refines ride quality
  
• Enhanced all-terrain performance with the introduction of a new fully automatic Land Rover “Terrain Response 2 Auto®” system
  
• Designed and engineered in Britain at Land Rover’s development centers throughout the UK
  
• Manufactured in a new aluminum production facility at Land Rover’s Home in Solihull, United Kingdom
  

Mahwah, New Jersey, USA, August 15, 2012 – The new 2013 Land Rover Range Rover has been engineered from the ground up to be the most capable, most refined Range Rover ever. Lighter, stronger, and with new levels of refinement, the next Range Rover reinforces its position among the finest luxury vehicles.

As the fourth generation of the Range Rover line, this all-new model was 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.

Designed and engineered at Land Rover’s development centers in the United Kingdom, the next Range Rover will be produced at a new manufacturing facility at Solihull, United Kingdom which employs the latest low-energy aluminum body construction technologies.

The all-aluminum unibody structure is 39 percent lighter than the steel body in the outgoing model. This enables a total vehicle weight savings of up to 926lbs, depending on market and specifications. The US specification vehicle with the naturally-aspirated 5-liter V8 will be approximately 700lbs lighter than the outgoing equivalent. This new aluminum platform delivers significant enhancements in performance and agility, along with an improvement in fuel economy and reduction in CO₂ emissions.

In addition to the strong and rigid aluminum body, an all-new aluminum front and rear chassis architecture has been developed and paired with a with completely re-engineered four-corner air suspension. The luxurious ride has been retained, while the vehicle’s handling and agility have been sharpened. The new suspension architecture delivers flatter, more confident cornering abilities, with a 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.”

Within the cabin, the all-new Range Rover provides occupants with a sensation of serene isolation, meeting the highest standards for Range Rover refinement. Measures like the rigorously optimized body structure and acoustic lamination of the windshield and side door glass have significantly reduced noise levels, while the new suspension architecture has enabled engineers to achieve heightened levels of ride comfort, refinement, and control.

With over 4.7 inches more legroom than the outgoing model, the rear occupants benefit from vastly increased space and comfort. The option of a two place rear seating package provides for the ultimate in personalized rear-seat luxury.

To deliver the characteristic effortless performance expected by customers, the Range Rover will continue to offer a choice of V8 engines in the North American market, enhanced by new eight-speed ZF automatic transmissions.

Each new Land Rover model is extensively tested for durability and reliability. The new Range Rover has been subjected to Land Rover’s punishing on-and off-road test and development regime. A fleet of development vehicles covered millions of miles over 18 months, with arduous tests in more than 20 countries through extremes of climate and road surfaces.

The all-new Land Rover Range Rover has a clean and elegant shape which is inspired by a fresh new interpretation of classic Range Rover design cues. While instantly recognizable as a Range Rover, the new vehicle takes a step forward with a bold evolution of the model’s iconic design language.

The sumptuous interior incorporates distinctive Range Rover design cues, but executed with a very contemporary treatment. Clean, elegant surfaces are flawlessly presented using the finest leathers and veneers.

“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.”

The all-new Range Rover has been engineered with the latest developments in vehicle technologies. Exclusive sound systems by renowned British audio specialists Meridian™ are standard. A thoughtfully designed split power folding upper and lower tailgate setup offers ease of access and versatility. Advanced chassis and driver assistance technologies are abundant. Amongst the innovations featured in the new Range Rover is the next-generation of Land Rover’s Terrain Response® system, which analyses the current driving conditions and road surfaces through on-board sensors, and automatically selects the most suitable vehicle settings program for the terrain.

The all-new Range Rover will be available in over 160 markets worldwide, with North American customer deliveries scheduled to start in December 2012.

These driver assistance features supplement safe driving habits. The performance of described vehicle technologies are influenced by a multitude of intervening factors and driving conditions and cannot defy the laws of physics. These features are not a substitute for the exercise of due care and sound judgment. Please consult your owner’s manual or your local authorized retailer for more details. Always remember to buckle up.

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[G. David Felt]

I do like the minimalist interior, but the outside just does nothing for me. While it is nice that they connected the front headlight design with the rear tail light design, I just get a total FORD vibe from this and for the money Land Rover charges, I should not be getting this cheap vibe.