Land Rover’s refreshed Range Rover has been spied testing near Pune, indicating that an India launch can be expected in the coming months. The for-2018 facelift of the premium luxury SUV was unveiled before the 2017 LA motor show in October and made its public debut at the event.
While the test mule wears a significant amount of camouflage, the square LED tail-lamps are identical to the model showcased at the motor show, as is the rake of the windscreen and the rear bumper design that has rectangular dual exhaust pipes. At the reveal, the cosmetic touches added to the exterior of the Range Rover were considered minor and included a revised grille with gloss black surround (chrome inserts on the top-spec model) and a new front bumper. The spy shots do not reveal whether it is a long-wheelbase model or not.
However, it is on the inside that the most changes are seen. A large part of the interiors and equipment are shared with the Velar, and the Touch Pro Duo infotainment system features two 10-inch touchscreens on the centre console. There are new front seats and heated armrests included now. Up to 17 connection points are on offer, including domestic plug sockets and USB, as well as 4G Wi-Fi hotspots for up to eight devices.
At the motor show, Land Rover had also showcased the new P400e plug-in hybrid variant, which is powered by a 300hp, 2.0-litre, four-cylinder Ingenium petrol unit, along with a 116hp electric motor. The total available output of 403hp is sent to all four wheels and it also claims an all-electric range of 50km. While there is no confirmation from the British brand, this model is unlikely to come to India.
For the Indian market, expect lower trims of the Range Rover to share the Velar’s 3.0-litre diesel engine making 300hp and 700Nm of torque. The range-topper with the SVAutobiography badge will have the 5.0-litre supercharged petrol V8 that develops 565hp and 700Nm of peak torque.
The pre-facelift Range Rover retails in India with prices starting at Rs 1.66 crore and going up to Rs 3.61 crore (ex-showroom, India). When it arrives, the new model will rival the likes of the Mercedes-Benz GLS, BMW X5 and Audi Q7 in the market.
Image courtesy Autocar India reader Madhur Deoolkar
Viraaj Bhatnagar
Dipan Sur
Glenn Noronha
Dhruv Dhaka
