Range Rover has gone big in more ways than one with the introduction of its new line-up for South Africa consisting of 19 variants with a fully electric version to be added later this year.
The luxury SUV is available as HSE, Autobiography or SV specification and can be either short or long wheelbase with a choice of four, five or seven seats.
Within that, the ‘big’ comes with the sheer size of the vehicle – long wheelbase variants some five metres long and more than two metres wide – as well as the masses of luxury specifications and technology that form part of the various packages.
However, despite the increased physical size, the new design styling of the car makes it perhaps the most elegant Range Rover yet, and the clean lines go a long way to reducing the intimidation factor of the actual vehicle size.
The combination of luxury and tech is also next level, with many of the actual functions of the car unobtrusively working in the background, never needing driver intervention. One worthy mention is that the wheel wells have microphones to pick up road and tyre noise that is then translated by computer into suitably noise-cancelling ‘white noise’ and fed to the occupants via speakers in the headrests.
On the practical side, there is a side-step underneath the car and slides into place only then the door is opened – this via a door handle that recedes to flush-fitting when not in use.
Engine choices for the new range are V8 petrol, straight six diesel or an Electric Hybrid. The first of the Land Rover family to be powered by a new 4,4-litre V8 petrol engine with two parallel twin-scroll turbos. This engine produces 390 kW and 750 Nm of torque.
The D350 3,0-litre straight-six turbodiesel produces 257 kW and 700 Nm of torque. The Extended Range P510e electric hybrid combines the 375 kW in-line six-cylinder Ingenium petrol engine with a 38,2-kWh lithium-ion battery and a 105-kW electric motor integrated with the transmission – for up to 113 km of pure-electric driving.
Although part of the inbuilt technology includes go-anywhere offroad capability, the Range Rover will spend most of its life in an urban environment. The new version has rear-wheel steering to help negotiate tight spots.
The rear wheels react automatically to steering input at low speed and offer seven degrees of turn.
Drivers can even control the new Range Rover from outside the vehicle using Remote Park Assist, which operates using a smartphone app. It allows the car to manoeuvre into and out of parking spaces while the driver monitors progress nearby – perfect for entering or leaving narrow city spaces or negotiating rural gates.
The new Range Rover is also fitted with Dynamic Response Pro and pre-emptive suspension that uses eHorizon Navigation data to read the road ahead and prime the suspension, working in conjunction with the Adaptive Cruise Control with Steering Assist to smooth out body movements resulting from sudden speed changes.
Land Rover’s latest Electrical Vehicle Architecture (EVA 2.0) includes Software-Over-The-Air (SOTA) updates for more than 70 electronic modules, meaning the New Range Rover will constantly remain up to date as it matures.
Inside, a 13,1-inch curved, floating screen provides control of all the primary vehicle functions, working in harmony with a semi-floating 13,7-inch Interactive Driver Display, which features new high-definition graphics.
Pricing:
D350 HSE Standard Wheelbase R2,947,000
P530 HSE Standard Wheelbase R3,117,000
D350 Autobiography Standard Wheelbase R3,409,000
P530 Autobiography Standard Wheelbase R3,579,000
P510e Autobiography Standard Wheelbase R3,633,000
D350 First Edition Standard Wheelbase R3,537,000
P530 First Edition Standard Wheelbase R3,688,000
P510e First Edition Standard Wheelbase R3,689,000
D350 Autobiography Long Wheelbase R3,494,000
P530 Autobiography Long Wheelbase R3,664,000
D350 First Edition Long Wheelbase R3,621,000
P530 First Edition Long Wheelbase R3,773,000
D350 Autobiography Long Wheelbase 7-seats R3,525,000
P530 Autobiography Long Wheelbase 7-seats R3,695,000
D350 SV Standard Wheelbase R3,973,000
P530 SV Standard Wheelbase R4,038,000
P510e SV Standard Wheelbase R4,081,000
D350 SV Long Wheelbase R4,407,000
P530 SV Long Wheelbase R4,473,000
* Including VAT, excluding CO2 tax
All Land Rover vehicles come with a standard 5-year/100 000 km Land Rover Care Warranty and Maintenance Plans.
