Land Rover fans will have noticed the somewhat strange divergence the 2013 Range Rover Sport has gone on in comparison to the big-daddy Range Rover. Previously the Range Rover was far-superior to its Sport underling, but nowadays for less money you can have an, arguably, equally luxurious Range Rover Sport that can seat seven people and perform like a hot hatch when tempted to. We’ve tested the new Range Rover and definitely noted the lack of space in the rear quarters as well. That doesn’t bode well for the R1.5-million plus Range Rover.
Sensing this perhaps, Land Rover has revealed a 2014 model they’re calling the Range Rover L. What it is, is a longer wheelbase version that gains an extra 20 cm to the Range Rover’s all-aluminium chassis and this results in 14 cm extra legroom in the rear of the car. This still isn’t enough to afford the Range Rover a third row of seats but it is arguably what the fourth-generation Range Rover should’ve always had when it debuted a year ago.
The long-wheelbase Range Rover will debut at the Los Angeles Motor Show and in China before the end of the year and will be Land Rover’s first return to a long-wheelbase Rangie since the LSE of the early 1990s. The Chinese market loves long-wheelbase cars so it’s no wonder the Range Rover L will take pride of place in the world’s fastest growing car market for the British manufacturer.
The Range Rover L’s overall length will be 5.2m, the rear is offered with a three abreast bench or individual executive class rear seats that can recline to 17-degress (8-degress more than the standard Range Rover). From the exterior it is hard to peg the added length to the already-vast body work but for subtle ‘L’ badges behind the front wheel arches. Executive class seating also gains unique seat covers, 10.2-inch screens in the front headrests and a Meridian sound system. A redesigned rear centre console incorporates electrically-deployable tray tables covered in black leather with integrated USB ports and cup-holders. There’s also a chilled-compartment for your champagne and the rear console can be illuminated according to the vehicle’s mood lighting settings.
Expect the Range Rover L to be available by next March and it expect it to cost around £140 000 (or R2.2 million in a direct currency conversion).
