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The new Range Rover combines luxury with performance and off-road ability—it takes the SUV to an all-new level
Shahpur Kotwal
The car is the world’s first all-aluminium monocoque SUV
We’re in a deep mountain ravine near Marrakesh, Morocco, and can hear the sound of river rapids crashing past us nearby. There’s no inflatable in sight and no oars either. Our boat of choice happens to be the new Range Rover, which launched in India last week.
The obstacle course starts from the word go. There’s a steep canyon wall on one side and a deep pool ahead of me. I glance down at the Range Rover’s Terrain Response 2 Auto system, just to make sure it’s in the right mode. Making sure that the SUV is still in “low range”, I dip the nose smoothly into the pool. The first steps down aren’t too bad. The traction is decent and the air suspension raises us 303mm off the ground and we make good progress—piece of cake, I say to myself. Then, just as I’m getting comfortable, we drop off another ledge, into the really deep stuff. Water comes rushing up to the base of the windscreen, our forward speed tails off and the rear of the car gets knocked sideways by the current. The instructor’s eyes go as wide as saucers—“Flat-out,” he gesticulates.
Four wheels claw at smooth river rocks; active differentials lock and unlock to help traction and the steering spins freely in my hands as the new Range Rover struggles on. I expect all forward motion to cease and there’s a whirlpool forming in the pit of my stomach, but Land Rover’s finest finally claws its way up the opposite bank. There’s a bass drum banging away in my chest.
It’s only later that I discover a small water-wading aid sitting under the bonnet. Known lovingly as the “Queen Mary”, this mini-snorkel consists of a pair of inlet funnels that resemble those on the famous British ship.
But what makes the Range Rover so capable? What’s it got under the skin? Time for a bit of a technical debrief. This is the world’s first all-aluminium monocoque SUV; lighter by approximately 250kg in comparison to the model it replaces. The huge 21-inch wheels are suspended independently on four massive columns of air, the suspension can be raised in stages and for off-road use, there’s a permanent four-wheel-drive system (the fixed system helps save the weight of an additional transfer case). A low range, an active electronic rear differential, an active central transfer box and a second-generation Terrain Response system take care of you when you are driving off-road. Eight-speed gearboxes and force-fed V8 petrol and diesels handle propulsion. And you get active anti-roll bars as well; so there’s a giant imaginary hand holding the SUV near upright every time you take a corner.
Swing a leg into the cabin, or clamber up, depending on the height the car has been set to, and you are greeted by a cabin Rolls-Royce would be proud of. Come to think of it, it does look like a cross between an Evoque and a Rolls-Royce. The same use of large flat surfaces, the same combination of wood, chrome and leather and, if you think about it, the same level of stylistic restraint as well. The oversized, sumptuous seats look and feel like they are draped in seven layers of double-stitched leather and there’s a mind-numbing 29-speaker, 1,700-watt Meridian sound system. The seating position is a bit more upright and natural, and you are seated much higher than in a traditional luxury car. Support for the thighs in the back seat is near perfect and outside visibility is also excellent. With the same comfort as the back seat, and a commanding view out, the seats up front are also something special.
Low-speed agility is surprisingly good too. The electric steering is well set up and has a good blend of effortlessness and feel. The Range Rover also rides well, especially for a high-set car like this one. There’s a bit of pitter-patter over some bumps and a hint of body movement. The new Range Rover deals with larger craters much better; power over rough roads and you’ll feel like you’re on a flying carpet.
Flick the gear selector dial from “D” (drive) to “S” (sport) and the suspension tightens up. The active anti-roll bars become even more active, the mass of the car is more in tune with the
direction of travel and it’s genuinely surprising how hard you can corner this car. Straight-line stability is also unimpeachable. The supercharged V8 has more than 500bhp and despite the weight of the chassis and its brick-like profile, speeds of over 200 kmph are reached in a flash. The eight-speed gearbox also allows for explosive acceleration from the supercharged V8, accompanied by a hint of very alluring supercharger whine. Even more impressive is the fact that the excellent super-saloon-like performance carries on at high speeds as well.
It’s the 334bhp diesel V8, however, that’s likely to be more popular here. Idle is a bit gravelly but vibe-free and you can tell it is a diesel when you start up. But spin the big diesel faster and refinement improves considerably. Above 2,000 rpm, it feels as refined as the petrol and the initial punch, derived from the overdose of torque, is just as strong as the big petrol at these medium-engine speeds. This engine is clearly special.
And frankly speaking so is the car. The new Range Rover takes this SUV to an all-new level. Its combination of luxury, performance and off-road ability are quite unique. The best things in life, however, cost an arm and a leg, and this is the case with this SUV too, which is priced from Rs.1.72 crore onwards. But on the flipside, a blend of limousine and off-roader may be just what our impossible roads and difficult driving conditions need.
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