Meaner, bolder & better

Tata Motors-owned British luxury car maker Land Rover is getting stronger day by day since the Indian soap-to-hotel diversified group bought it from its past owners. The company, which is now working on to update all its current models, recently unveiled its all-new Range Rover ahead of the 2012 Paris Motor Show. An out and out new model, this new successor is one to watch out for. Ammar Alvi has more.

The third generation iconic Range Rover SUV had been around for around 10 years and the development team in England had been working hard to prepare the grounds for the fourth generation of the iconic Range Rover line and the result has been phenomenal.

The new model is also the world’s first SUV with a lightweight all-aluminium body and takes the capabilities of the marque’s flagship to a new level, with even greater luxury and refinement, enhanced performance and handling on all terrains, and significant advances in sustainability.

According to John Edwards, Land Rover Global Brand Director: “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.”

With sales scheduled to start in late 2012, the all-new Range Rover will be introduced in 170 markets worldwide. Designed and engineered at Land Rover’s development centres in the UK, the new Range Rover will be produced in a state-of-the-art new low-energy manufacturing facility at Solihull, UK.

The all-new Range Rover has a clean and elegant shape which is derived from a fresh new interpretation of Range Rover design cues. At just under 5m long, the new Range Rover has a very similar footprint to the outgoing model, but with a smoother and more streamline profile.

With its highly acclaimed line-up of torque-rich engines, the new Range Rover delivers swift and effortless performance. Customers have a choice of two petrol a 5.0-litre 375 PS LR-V8 and 510PS LR-V8 Supercharged and two diesel a 3.0-litre 258PS TDV6 and 4.4-litre 339PS SDV8 engines, all of which are now paired with a smooth and responsive eight-speed automatic transmission.

To top it all the all-new Range Rover features a revolutionary all-aluminium monocoque body structure which is 39 per cent lighter than the steel body in the outgoing model. Combined with weight savings throughout the chassis and driveline, the lightweight structure contributes to a model-for-model weight saving of up to 420kg compared to the outgoing vehicle.

The new model no doubt will elevate the position of Land Rover in the SUV market and India which is now gearing up to be a big market for the brand will soon find a place. We also expect that there wont be any steep price revisions and Land Rover will be keen to bank in on the sales and build up good volumes.