The all-new Range Rover is coming
IN OCTOBER last year, the fifth generation of the Range Rover debuted in great glitz and pageantry – set in nothing less than London’s Royal Opera House and shown to the rest of the world. Speaking at the event, Jaguar Land Rover CEO Thierry Bolloré said: “The new Range Rover is a superb manifestation of our vision to create the world’s most desirable luxury vehicles for the most discerning customers. demanding. It writes the next chapter in the unique story of pioneering innovation that has been a hallmark of Range Rover for over 50 years. »
“Velocity” spoke exclusively with Jaguar Land Rover Philippines President Chris Ward after the local unveiling at Whitespace Manila in Makati City, asking him about the essence of the all-new iteration. “I think from an outside perspective, yes, we’ve paid a lot of attention to maintaining the Range Rover core and DNA. It’s still very present, but really, really modernized.
He added: “It’s all new bodywork but still unmistakably Range Rover.”
One would assume it’s difficult to evolve what is already, in truth, an icon – with the first Range Rover which burst onto the scene in June 1970 and was hailed as “a car for all reasons”, due to its over- and off-road capability which was considered to have improved “every other four-wheel-drive vehicle of its day”. Interestingly, the first generation Range Rover was a two-door model for 11 years until its first four-door iteration in 1981.
Even then, the Range Rover was no stranger to venues for the arts. According to Jaguar Land Rover Philippines, in 1971 the Range Rover Classic became the first car to be exhibited at the Louvre in Paris “for its exemplary work of industrial design”.
Perhaps it’s for the renowned aesthetic that the designers of the current Range Rover have treated the original template with such respect. “I think a lot of our customers like evolution, not revolution, when it comes to Range Rover design. This generation just takes us on that journey quite naturally,” Ward said. signature remain: “the sloping roofline, the strong waistline – with its horizontal accent – and the rising lower sill.” Add to these familiar design elements the short front overhang, the “formal” front fascia, the vertical windshield and the back of the boat tail.
Great attention to detail also remains the order of the day. The Range Rover is marked by “flush elements and tight tolerances” for a “look refined from solids”.
The Range Rover is a convergence of high technology, luxury and the aforementioned respect for heritage. Land Rover is also giving it the first dibs on the brand’s new flexible modular longitudinal architecture.
It is also a master piece of addition by subtraction. Mr Ward used the word ‘gearbox’ to describe the philosophy employed to benefit the Range Rover. The executive explained to this writer: “Reductive effectively means less is more. What we did was really clean the car and get rid of any excess, any noise around the interior. There are far fewer buttons now. It has become more predictive, more responsive, and we have moved to a larger PIVI Pro entertainment screen, and many features are now built into it.
This is to imbue the vehicle with a “charming, clean and simple interior design”, he continued. “It’s the same on the outside, so ‘reducer’ means simple things. We’ve reduced the gaps between the panels… We’ve gotten rid of some of the embellishments… The star of this design is on the back because we have what’s called “hide-till-the-way” taillights. turned on”. So we even removed the usual red and amber lights. They’re completely black – until you need to use them. It’s very, very smart; really Range Rover.
The all-new Range Rover also seeks to offer comfort, even sound. “It’s the same noise canceling technology you find in headphones we might buy in the (gadget) store. But it’s now inside the Range Rover and it’s listening for road noise and suspension noise ; the noise we all hear in our cars. Now we have microphones in each of the wheel arches. They listen, pick it up. It then determines the corresponding opposite sound, then plays it through the 35-speaker audio system , which includes two speakers in each of the headrests for all four passengers, so the noise cancellation is where it needs to be, so you have that nice quiet environment.
Well-appointed, adjustable seats provide added sensory comfort, in addition to the increased sense of well-being and well-being provided by Cabin Air Purification Pro which uses dual Nanoe X technology to help remove allergens and pathogens, significantly reducing odors and viruses. CO2 management and PM2.5 cabin air filtration further improve air quality. Advanced Nanoe X technology is scientifically proven to dramatically reduce viruses and bacteria – yes, including SARS-CoV-2 viruses.
The Range Rover is available in HSE and Autobiography trim; two body design options (standard and long wheelbase) and different engine sizes and types. A pure electric Range Rover is expected to join the portfolio in 2024. It will be the first electric Land Rover, with the company pledging to make pure electric vehicles available by the end of the decade, with the ultimate goal of making the net zero business. carbon status by 2039.
When asked who the Range Rover was for, Mr Ward replied: “You know, it’s interesting. We have a wide range of customers: mainly men and women who want to drive or be driven in a Range Rover. And there is an interesting point here because many of our customers prefer to be driven. And that’s why we paid great attention to the rear cabin, not just the seats, but the entertainment system, the noise cancellation, to make it a truly special place, regardless of age group. We don’t seem to have a barrier, to be honest. It is therefore aimed at all ages and all sexes. It’s a broad spectrum. We just seem to have everyone.
For a closer look visit the All British Cars showroom at EDSA Greenhills and the BGC Boutique showroom at 5e Avenue cor. 24e Street. Customers are asked to make an appointment before visiting the showroom or book a virtual appointment by contacting (02) 8784-5003 or 0919-083-6397 (Greenhills), or (02) 8424-4200 or 0919-083-6726 (BGC). — Cape Maceda Aguila
