Make no mistake about it, the Range Rover is the magnum opus of what Land Rover stands for. In its fourth generation since 2012, the flagship SUV manufactured in Solihull, UK, will soon usher in a mid-cycle refresh that will keep the Range Rover relevant in this ocean of luxed-up sport utility vehicles.
Spied in various forms for more than a year and a half, the 2018 Range Rover will be officially revealed in the coming weeks. It will follow in the footsteps of the Range Rover Sport, which was facelifted only recently with Velar-influenced interior features and exterior design. All we have on the refreshed flagship at the present moment is a promo video.
Trying to run a check with the DVLA for the I55 UYP plate doesn’t return any result, but we all know what the 2018 Range Rover brings forth when it comes to powertrain options. Arriving in the form of a plug-in hybrid model, the eco-friendly variant will combine the 2.0L Ingenium engine with an electric motor.
The turbocharged four-cylinder develops 221 kW (300 PS; 296 hp) on its own, with combined system output standing at 297 kW (404 PS; 398 hp) and 640 Nm (472 lb-ft) of torque. The 13.1 kWh battery, which is of the lithium-ion variety, offers up to 51 kilometers (31 miles) of pure-electric driving in the case of the Sport. The 2018 Range Rover is bigger and heavier than the Sport, which is why customers should look forward to a slightly lower electric range.
From a design standpoint, the biggest change comes in the form of headlights. Now offering full-LED technology as standard, the 2018 Range Rover will be made available with optional adaptive LED headlights arranged in a matrix. A different mesh pattern for the grille and reshaped bumper are also on the menu.
At the rear, nothing much changed, but the interior is a different story. Everywhere you look, the influences from the Velar are more than apparent, with the cabin now dominated by two centrally-mounted touchscreens. Last, but not least, the 2018 Range Rover featured in the leaked promo video features a two-seat arrangement in the rear.
After a 1:43 scale model of a Ferrari 250 GTO sparked Mircea's interest for cars when he was a kid, an early internship at Top Gear sealed his career path. He's most interested in muscle cars and American trucks, but he takes a passing interest in quirky kei cars as well. Full profile
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