JLR has begun putting the all-new 5th
generation Range Rover through its early development paces, as the luxury SUV
is scheduled to hit global showrooms sometime next year. According to Autocar,
work on the new Range Rover will not be delayed, despite the carmaker having to
close its production facilities and pause the launch of the all-new Land Rover
Defender. Prototypes for the former were spotted recently undergoing cold
weather testing.
Meanwhile, hot weather trials are expected
to take place in the coming weeks, and over the course of the year, the
camouflage on the prototypes will get thinner and thinner, revealing a familiar
yet updated design.
Even camouflaged, the prototypes appear to
feature wider front and rear tracks, as well as more prominent wheel arches, which
should help the new model look more imposing than its predecessor, which has
been on sale since 2012.
The new Range Rover will utilize the
carmaker’s MLA architecture, which should deliver a reduction in warranty and
reliability problems, while also allowing for over-the-air software updates.
The new model should also get a BMW-sourced 4.4-liter twin turbo V8 unit, aimed
at markets such as the Middle East or California. Other drivetrains will
include a plug-in hybrid system as well as all-electric variants, to go with
the usual assortment of gasoline and diesel options.
