You have probably already seen the spy shots, but this time, our intrepid scoopsters managed to snag the next generation of Land Rover’s luxurious Range Rover SUV on film while testing in and out of the Nurburgring race track.
The Range Rover is long overdue for replacement as the current model has its roots back in the period when Land Rover was owned by the BMW Group. Planned and developed by the Bavarian company, the third generation was introduced in 2002 and was subsequently revised under the ownership of Ford and more recently, Tata Motors.
The fourth iteration of the British firm’s top offering promises to bring the SUV into the 21st century with the use of a lighter aluminium chassis and an alloy body shell that are expected to shave close to 1,000 pounds (450kg) off the current model’s weight.
Equally important, Land Rover plans to revise the engine lineup and introduce a more fuel-efficient and CO2 friendlier plug-in hybrid model featuring a similar setup to the Range_e concept earlier this year. It is believed that the British company may develop both diesel and gasoline versions of the hybrid model.
The crafty camouflage work on the prototype hides most details but it is expected that the Range Rover will borrow select styling cues from the smaller Evoque while keeping its distinct looks.
The top-end Range Rover will also form the base for the new Range Rover Sport.
Look for new 2013 Range Rover making its world premiere late next year.
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