New Range Rover SVO Astronaut Edition Can Be Yours As Long As You Go To Space

Land Rover’s Special Vehicle Operations (SVO) unit has just unveiled a special edition Range Rover, available exclusively to Future Astronauts signed up to leave our atmosphere with Virgin Galactic.

The Range Rover Astronaut Edition boasts distinctive exterior and interior design elements, honoring Virgin Galactic’s community of Future Astronauts and marking another milestone in this ongoing partnership between two companies that have worked together since 2014.

Space Rover

The exterior of the luxury SUV is drenched in a unique Zero Gravity Blue paint finish, inspired by the “depth and intensity” of the night sky. Meanwhile, a bespoke puddle lamp illumination design projects the silhouette of Virgin Galactic’s SpaceShipTwo, whereas Astronaut Edition badging can be found on the tailgate and the side profile finishers.

Inside, there’s a crafted piece of the spaceship’s front landing skid that actually served on the Unity’s first space flight in December of 2018 – part of that skid has been re-purposed to form two discs within the cup holders. One references a quote that Richard Branson often makes to his fellow Future Astronauts, saying ‘See you up there’, whereas the other features the details of the space flight.

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Other features include a ‘DNA of Flight’ graphic on the carbon fiber front console drawer lid (a motif also found on the leather rear armrest), while the door handles are engraved with Virgin Galactic’s Future Astronaut community constellation pattern. This design can also be found on the back of the front headrests and metal letterbox panel design above the glove compartment.

Buyers can also choose to have Future Astronaut’s initials stitched into the headrests.

Down to earth performance

Based on the Autobiography spec, the Range Rover Astronaut Edition comes with the P400e PHEV’s power unit, good for a combined 404 PS (395 HP), an all-electric range of 42 km (26 miles) and CO2 emissions of just 72g/km. A 5.0-liter V8 supercharged petrol unit is also available.

“Land Rover vehicles have been part of daily life for the Virgin Galactic team since the launch of the partnership in 2014. The Astronaut Edition Range Rover is the next step on this journey and the chance for the Future Astronaut Community to celebrate our two brands’ shared values of pioneering spirit and true sense of adventure. This vehicle really will take them Above and Beyond,” said LR design boss, Gerry McGovern.