We wrote about the new Range Rover a few weeks ago, but after the official launch party last night at a ballet school in London, Land Rover has released a few more juicy details and a ton of new images. Order books are now open and the vehicle is being made at a brand new £370 million (US$590 million) aluminum body plant in Solihull England – the largest in the world.
To recap, the new vehicle is slightly larger in all directions but with a much more rounded and tapered body shape. The extensive use of aluminum has enabled the creation of a vehicle an astonishing 900 lbs (400 kg) lighter than the outgoing vehicle, with a commensurate reduction in fuel consumption and emissions.
The interior remains as luxurious as ever with leather, wood and aluminum finishes vying for your attention while legroom has been increased in the rear by nearly five inches. There will be a greater range of interior and exterior color options available to allow customers to er, customize.
New and improved interior features include:
- Keyless entry, soft door close with power latching, power upper and lower tailgates, cooler compartments, and electrically deployable towbar
- High-end audio from British specialists Meridian – surround sound music systems with "audiophile-quality sound"
- Displays – high-resolution displays, including a full digital instrument cluster and the central 8-inch touch-screen with Dual-View functionality
- Voice control and connectivity – a connectivity package for mobile devicesClimate control – all-new climate control systems, including the new four-zone system and Park Heater timer facility
- Upgraded seating – includes new features such as multi-mode massage, and the exclusive new Executive Class rear seating package
- Interior illumination – LED illumination for subtle ambient lighting, including the ability to change the color scheme to suit the driver’s mood
Off road performance has been enhanced because of the lighter but stiffer shell combined with an improved 4WD and electronic traction system. Wading depth (the depth of water you can safely drive through) has been increased to 900 mm (three ft).
Among the new driver handling aids are:
- Two-channel Dynamic Response active lean control, and Adaptive Dynamics with continuously variable damping
- Electric Power Assisted Steering, which enables Park Assist – the automated technology to help drivers parallel park their car in tight urban parking spots
- Adaptive Cruise Control – with new Queue Assist feature which allows the system to continue functioning at low speeds and down to a complete stop
- Intelligent Emergency Braking (including Advanced Emergency Brake Assist) – to help drivers avoid a collision if the traffic ahead slows quickly or another vehicle suddenly moves into their lane
- Blind Spot Monitoring – with new Closing Vehicle Sensing feature to detect vehicles which are closing quickly from a further distance behind
- Reverse Traffic Detection – to warn drivers of potential collisions during reversing manoeuvres
- Surround Camera System – with T Junction view, Trailer reverse park guidance, and Trailer hitch guidance.
Customers have a choice of a petrol 510hp LR-V8 Supercharged and two diesel (3.0-litre 258hp TDV6 and 4.4-litre 339hp SDV8) engines, all of which are now paired with a eight-speed automatic transmission. US customers will only get the petrol V8 for now but there are hints that the diesels might come to the US later.
The weight saving helps the 510hp LR-V8 Supercharged model to accelerate from 0—60mph in just 5.1 seconds, a reduction of 0.8 seconds over the outgoing model. At the same time, fuel consumption is cut by nine per cent.
The new Range Rover’s environmental credentials will be further enhanced by the introduction of a high-efficiency diesel hybrid model later in 2013 (target CO2 169g/km).
Pricing in the UK starts from £71,295 (US$114,146) for the Range Rover Vogue 3.0L TDV6 rising to £98,395 ($132,000 excluding taxes) for the Range Rover Autobiography 5.0L Supercharged.
Source: All New Range Rover mini-site
