It’s not cheap, but the new Range Rover sets the standard in luxury

LAND Rover’s new Range Rover has arrived in South Africa in pre-production guise for homologation and technical purposes.

Due to be launched officially around June with 19 individual models starting at R2.86 million, the media had a sneak peek opportunity at the Jaguar Land Rover Experience in Joburg this week. And it’s everything a Range Rover should be, carrying on the tradition of a luxury SUV that this time round takes it to the next level both in terms of technology and design.

Locally there will be a choice of HSE and Autobiography models as well as a unique First Edition during the first year of production that’s based on the Autobiography and will be available exclusively in a Sunset Gold satin finish.

Both the Standard (SWB) and Long Wheelbase (LWB) body designs will be available with five seats and the LWB with an option of a third row of seats.

Debuting in the Range Rover is the new BMW-sourced P530 4.4-litre V8 engine with two parallel twin-scroll turbos – one for each cylinder bank. It produces 390kW and 750Nm of torque and with Dynamic Launch engaged will get to 100km/h in 4.6 seconds with a top speed of 250km/h. There’s also the D350 3.0-litre straight six turbo diesel with 257kW and 700Nm of torque that will get you to 100km/h

in 6.1 seconds.

The third option is the new Extended Range P510e plug-in hybrid that combines Land Rover’s 375kW straight six petrol engine with a

38.2kWh lithium-ion battery and a 105kW electric motor with a range of 113km. Because of the instant torque it moves from standstill to 100km/h in 5.6 seconds.

All are driven through an eightspeed ZF automatic gearbox powering all four wheels via Intelligent AllWheel Drive (iAWD) hardware with a twin-speed transmission, giving it a selection of low-range gears for use when towing and driving off-road.

The Intelligent Driveline Dynamics (IDD) uses Torque-on-Demand technology to optimise the torque split between front and rear axles, using a network of sensors to determine the best torque split for elevated traction in all conditions.

In 2024 a full EV will be launched as part of Land Rover’s Reimagine strategy of bringing full-time zero tailpipe emissions to the Range Rover.

NINETEEN individual models, starting at R2.86 million, are due to be launched officially around June.