By Staff Reporter

The new Range Rover has touched down in Mzansi and we had a sneak preview at an event hosted by the brand at the impressive Jaguar Land Rover Experience Johannesburg centre this week.

Due for official launch around mid-year, the new Range Rover will be available with a suite of engine options plus a choice of four, five or seven-seat interiors together with standard and long Wheelbase body designs.

 South African line-up

The new luxury SUV will be available in South Africa in a choice of HSE and Autobiography models, while a unique First Edition will be sold throughout the first year of production. The First Edition is based on the Autobiography and will be available exclusively in a Sunset Gold Satin finish, among a choice of five other exterior colours. Both Standard (SWB) or Long Wheelbase (LWB) body designs are available with five seats, while the New Range Rover LWB model is available with an optional third row for extended comfort for up to seven adults. 

Powertrains

Powertrain options will include advanced six- and eight-cylinder engines, including a new Extended Range Plug-in Hybrid Electric Vehicle (PHEV). Spearheading Land Rover’s Reimagine strategy, a pure-electric model will join the family in 2024, bringing full-time zero tailpipe emissions driving to the Range Rover for the first time.  

The New Range Rover is the first Land Rover to be powered by a new 4.4-litre V8 engine, which deploys two parallel twin-scroll turbos – one for each cylinder bank – to minimise turbo lag and optimise efficiency. The new P530 engine produces 390kW and 750Nm of torque, and powers the New Range Rover from 0-100km/h in 4.6 seconds with Dynamic Launch engaged, and to a top speed of 250km/h.

A powerful D350 3.0-litre straight-six turbodiesel produces 257kW and 700Nm of torque, and powers New Range Rover from 0-100km/h in 6.1s. 

The new Extended Range P510e PHEV combines the inherent refinement of Land Rover’s 375kW in-line six-cylinder Ingenium petrol engine, with a 38.2kWh lithium-ion battery and a 105kW electric motor integrated with the transmission. Together, the powertrain provides up to 113km of near-silent pure-electric driving. With instantaneous electric torque the new P510e accelerates from 0-100km/h in 5.6s.

The state-of-the-art PHEV can reach up to 140km/h allowing customers to enjoy the New Range Rover as an EV-only model for most journeys in town and country, with overall CO2 emissions as low as 18g/km. Typical Range Rover customers will be able to complete up to 75 percent of trips using electric power only if they begin each journey with a full charge.

All powertrains are driven through an eight-speed ZF automatic gearbox. 

SV model

This hand-crafted model will be the first vehicle to carry a new white ceramic SV roundel (badge) and simplified naming strategy – known simply as SV. The SV roundel will identify all new Land Rover vehicles launched by Special Vehicle Operations in future. 

Both Standard and Long Wheelbase body designs – including a five-seat LWB configuration for the first time – are available with specially curated SV Serenity and SV Intrepid design themes, which introduce two-tone front-to-rear contrasting colourways to Range Rover. Exclusive materials include lustrous plated metals, smooth ceramics, intricate mosaic marquetry and soft near-aniline leather, as well as sustainable non-leather Ultrafabrics.

The new SV Signature Suite option on LWB incorporates seats that feature 24-way adjustment with massage functionality while an electrically deployable Club Table rises from the fixed full-length centre console to provide a convenient workspace when required.

 Technology

1,600W Meridian Signature Sound System

Advanced speaker technology uses the 1,600W Meridian Signature Sound System to create one of the quietest vehicle interiors on the road, with additional 20W speakers in the four main headrests. The third-generation Active Noise Cancellation system monitors wheel vibrations, tyre noise and engine sounds transmitted into the cabin and generates a cancelling signal, which is played through the system’s 35 speakers.

Cabin Air Purification Pro 

Wellbeing is enhanced with Cabin Air Purification Pro which combines dual-nanoeTM X technology for allergen reduction and pathogen removal, to help significantly reduce odours and viruses, while CO2 Management and PM2.5 Cabin Air Filtration enhance air quality. Advanced nanoeTM X technology is scientifically proven to significantly reduce viruses and bacteria including SARS-CoV-2 viruses. The innovative technology is active in the air, so particles don’t have to pass through a filter to be trapped and neutralised. A second nanoeTM X device in Row 2 optimises its effectiveness for all occupants.

Dynamic Response Pro

The Range Rover was the first luxury SUV to feature Electronic Air Suspension, in 1992, and the New Range Rover continues this approach with Dynamic Response Pro and pre-emptive suspension that uses eHorizon Navigation data to read the road ahead and prime the suspension to provide perfect responses. The intelligent technology also works in conjunction with the Adaptive Cruise Control with Steering Assist to smooth out body movements resulting from sudden changes in speed. Fully independent suspension underpins the luxurious ride and features Land Rover’s first ever five-link rear axle, which isolates the cabin from surface imperfections more effectively than ever using advanced air springs.

Power Assisted Doors

The New Range Rover is also the first Land Rover to feature Power Assisted Doors with integrated hazard detection and anti-pinch safety features, which enhance its Soft Door Close capability. All four passenger doors are power assisted – also controlled via the Pivi Pro screen at angles of up to 10 degrees while off-road.

Advanced hazard detection means the doors can automatically pause until the sweep of the door is cleared. The practical two-piece split tailgate that has been a Range Rover hallmark since 1970 is updated for 2021, with a series of new technologies providing greater versatility and convenience.

Auto-Folding Loadspace Cover

Five-seat models debut a new Auto-Folding Loadspace Cover. Combining the practicality of a rigid cover with the convenience of a retractable design, it retreats when the upper tailgate is opened to provide unrestricted access to the load area, without opening the lower tailgate. 

Electrical Vehicle Architecture (EVA 2.0)

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 evolve, improve and remain up to date as it matures. 

Improved Pivi Pro Infotainment

The New Range Rover improves and Rover’s award-winning Pivi Pro infotainment technology with its largest ever touchscreen. The 13.1-inch curved, floating screen embodies the architectural lightness of the interior with a minimalist frame design. It provides intuitive control of all the major vehicle functions, using the latest consumer technology to deliver a smartphone-inspired interface, allied to convenient hard switches for the climate control.

Pivi Pro works in harmony with a new semi-floating 13.7-inch Interactive Driver Display. Customers can choose from a variety of configurations, including a conventional analogue layout, using the steering wheel controls. 

For the first time in a Land Rover, the central display will provide haptic feedback when customers touch and press the screen.

New Rear Seat Entertainment

Rear passengers can enjoy a new Rear Seat Entertainment (RSE) system, which provides adjustable 11.4-inch HD touchscreens mounted on the rear of the front seatbacks. They can be operated independently and support the connection of most devices with an HDMI port, while using Wi-Fi hotspot capability means rear-seat passengers can enjoy smart TV entertainment on the move. The eight-inch Rear Seat Touchscreen Controller mounted in the centre armrest of Executive Class Rear Seats provides quick and intuitive control for the perfect seating position, elevating the luxurious rear-seat experience.  

New LED Light Technology

Efficient and powerful all-LED lighting is provided on every new Range Rover, with the new high-definition Digital LED Headlights providing a beam range of up to 500m. They create a new design detail and feature Signature daytime running lights, animated indicators, Adaptive Front Lighting and Image Projection technology on start-up, making them the most advanced headlights ever fitted to a Land Rover. Adaptive Front Lighting is capable of shadowing up to 16 objects in New Range Rover’s path, ensuring other road users are not dazzled while maintaining optimum lighting for the driver. Predictive Dynamic Bending Light technology uses navigation information to actively adjust the light beam for approaching corners in the road.

New Manoeuvring Lights help drivers complete low-speed manoeuvres in dimly lit surroundings with complete confidence, by creating a carpet of light around the perimeter of the vehicle, working with the 3D Surround Camera system to provide effortless manoeuvrability. 

Remote Park Assist

Drivers can even control the new Range Rover from outside the vehicle using Remote Park Assist, which is operated using a smartphone app. It allows the luxury SUV to manoeuvre into and out of parking spaces while the driver monitors progress nearby. This is perfect for entering or leaving narrow city spaces or negotiating rural gates.

 Local Line-up

The full South African line-up in 2022 comprises:

• D350 HSE Standard Wheelbase;
• P530 HSE Standard Wheelbase;
• D350 Autobiography Standard Wheelbase;
• P530 Autobiography Standard Wheelbase;
• P510e Autobiography Standard Wheelbase;
• D350 First Edition Standard Wheelbase;
• P530 First Edition Standard Wheelbase;
• P510e First Edition Standard Wheelbase;
• D350 Autobiography Long Wheelbase;
• P530 Autobiography Long Wheelbase;
• D350 First Edition Long Wheelbase;
• P530 First Edition Long Wheelbase;
• D350 Autobiography Long Wheelbase 7-seats;
• P530 Autobiography Long Wheelbase 7-seats;
• D350 SV Standard Wheelbase;
• P530 SV Standard Wheelbase;
• P510e SV Standard Wheelbase;
• D350 SV Long Wheelbase; and
• P530 SV Long Wheelbase.

Pricing

The New Range Rover will be launched in South Africa toward the middle of 2022 with a starting price of R2,86million. All Land Rover vehicles come with standard 5-year/100,000km Land Rover Care Warranty and Maintenance Plans.