Range Rover upping posh stake?

It appears the Bentley Bentayga may have ruffled luxuriant plumage over at JLR. Head crayon- wielder Gerry McGovern has indicated to a European media outlet that a new ultra- luxurious Range Rover could find its way to the top of the polished pack.

Really? Is there room? After all, something like the $ 352,000 Range Rover SV Autobiography — especially in long- wheelbase format — is the dictionary definition of luxury- liner motoring. What on earth can JLR do to add to the ambience? Onboard chandeliers? Speaking to Automotive News

Europe, McGovern indicated that overlapping Range Rover models aren’t an issue for him however, and that two similarly- sized Range Rovers could have two different personalities and audiences.

“We’ve realised that the Range Rover has this big expanse across its price range, so it’s not a very big step to get into Bentayga country,” he said.

Okay, but a Bentley Bentayga is about $ 390,000, which doesn’t leave a lot of breathing space between the two. Unless Land Rover decides to pitch a superluxurious Rangey above the Bentley and take on what promises to be the daddy of all luxury SUVs, the Rolls- Royce Cullinan ( which Rolls- Royce insists isn’t an SUV but rather a “high- riding vehicle”).

He’s right about variety, however. A few years ago, monocles were dropped in outrage when the lairy Range Rover Sport dared join Vogue’s exclusive champers- and- canape soiree. Now we have the Evoque and the forthcoming Velar, too. There’s a Range Rover for every tycoon, it would seem.

With the Cullinan on the horizon, as well as new XL- sized precious metal from Lamborghini and BMWimminent, it will be interesting to see just how lofty JLR’s ambitions prove.