Details of new Range Rover Sport Coupe emerge

Jaguar Land Rover is expected to launch its first-ever road-biased model, the Range Rover Sport Coupe, next year. The model will mark the brand’s entry into the SUV-coupé market and could also introduce JLR's upcoming electric drivetrain to the road. When it does go on sale in international markets, the model will rival the likes of the BMW X6 and Mercedes GLE Coupe.

The Sport Coupe will likely be powered by a range of six- and eight-cylinder diesel and petrol engines, taken from JLR’s extensive range. Although it is not yet clear if the new Range Rover will get the four-cylinder engines from the Jaguar F-Pace.

The all-electric powertrain that's being developed for the I-Pace EV could make its way into the new Sport Coupe. However, with many buyers living in Europe, the United States and Asia, Range Rover is expected to offer a hybrid powertrain, possibly based on the 344.71hp 3.0 SDV6 HEV in the Range Rover Sport.

The new Range Rover will sit on the same aluminium architecture as the Jaguar F-Pace. As a result, its lightweight alloy body could weigh as little as 1,800kg – 400kg lesser than the X6 and GLE Coupe. JLR is also rumoured to have earmarked its 549.51hp 5.0-litre V8 supercharged engine for the range-topping model of the Sport Coupe range and the F-Pace SVR as well.

At around 4.7m long, the new Range Rover will be a little smaller than the 4.9m-long X6 and the GLE Coupe. The model will be positioned between the Evoque and Range Rover Sport, and is said to 'set new standards for a Range Rover’s styling, interior and road-focused handling'.

Meanwhile, the interior is expected to be more intimate and is being designed around a luxurious four-seat layout. A 2+1 rear seat with fifth seatbelt will be on the option list as well. The cabin will be more like a ‘cockpit’ than any previous Range Rover, and will feature a dramatic sloping roofline with a tight rear overhang. The rear doors will be reduced to minimal openings, while the luxury-quality interior is understood to get new materials and finishes.