First real shots of an uncovered 2013/2014 L405 Range Rover, it’s been a long time coming.  Funny how it really is just an evolution of the current design.  It looks like Terrain Response has gone back to a round dial.  I guess they decided having two dials is okay.  The previous spy shots did show the Terrain Response knob lowered and more even with the surrounding area, I’m assuming it’s like it was in the original Range Rover Sport.  And while seat height is adjustable, that passenger seat does look very low for a Range Rover.

http://www.chinacartimes.com/2012/05/30/generation-range-rover-road-testing-china/

We’re getting closer to actual release and the pictures are starting to show up all over.  It’s clearly still a Range Rover even with the finishing details still under cover.  The fast-back look with the rear spoiler is something I’m still getting used to – along with that odd boxy-ness at the rear glass.  Pictures link to original articles.

Autoblog

Autocar

Car Magazine

Automobile

Autoevolution

For anyone that missed it, Land Rover did a digital magazine showcasing their past 64 years in pictures.  Great stuff from the original Center Steer to the 2011 Range Rover.

Got to love the drop shadow on the cover!!  Click below to check it out.

Some nice tweaks for the Sport in 2013, let’s hope the next 2013MY announcement is a bit more exciting though. 

Just a few inconsistencies in the official PR released.  The tech documents, although named 2013 are titled 2012 within the document.  And the last line of the press release says:

“Gears are selected by the rotary gear shifter and steering wheel paddle shift.”

On the Range Rover Sport with a gasoline engine and the six speed transmission, it’s always been the standard gear selector, the pictures showing the 2013 interior also show the standard gear selector.

Details, details.

.

NEW DESIGN FEATURES REDEFINE THE CLASS-LEADING APPEAL OF THE RANGE ROVER SPORT FOR 2013

· Five new paint finishes offer greater customer choice

· Striking new alloy wheel design

· Red Brembo™ brake callipers for Supercharged model

· Wider choice of interior colour combinations

· New carbon fibre veneer pack

Whitley, UK, May 16 2012 – For 2013, the Range Rover Sport consolidates its position as the most dynamic and luxurious sports tourer in its class with fresh new colours and a greater choice of interior trim and alloy wheel designs.

(more…)

When a Range Rover Sport is ordered with the Luxury package, it gets a unique badge indicating the upgrade:

And I say why stop there!! There are plenty of option packages for the Range Rover Sport that could also get the coveted badging spotlight.

Here are some great examples:

And finally, what if you’ve checked more then one option on your order form:

So as far as the HSE Luxury thing goes, why not just bring back an actual Range Rover badge from the past – Range Rover Sport LSE!

One thing that stuck out for me in the Range Rover Evoque Special Edition with Victoria Beckham press release was the mention of Land Rover’s Engineering to Order (ETO) program.  I hadn’t heard of this prior and had to do a little searching around.  This appears to be a replacement/subset/superset of the Land Rover Special Vehicles.

The always interesting Jaguar Land Rover Careers site had this to say:

Engineered to Order (Special Vehicles Division)

Engineered to Order (ETO) is responsible for designing and developing personalised vehicles. Their philosophy is to provide unique customer features in a nimble and responsive manner. The following categories outline the department’s key work streams:

• Luxury & Sports Brand Development – focussed on increasing the luxury and exclusivity of our premium products and enhancing Jaguar Land Rover’s performance attributes. (e.g. Jaguar XKR-S and Range Rover Ultimate )
• New Vehicle Personalisation – develops unique design themes that enhance the core vehicle attributes (e.g. Jaguar XJ Supersport and Range Rover Sport body styling kit).
• Accessories – designs and develops a versatile and comprehensive range of accessories that tailors a vehicle’s attributes and appearance to each customer’s requirements.
• Specialised Products & Limited Editions – develops unique products in-line with customer and market requirements. This ranges from armoured vehicles that enhance customer security through to colour and material changes that differentiate the customer offering.

Not sure if Special Vehicles still exists but either way, that seems like a very cool job to have.

*****

And here’s the official PR they released on 4/23, I guess they had to fill everyone in:

Jaguar Land Rover Introduces Bespoke Engineering Division

Today at the Beijing Auto Show, Jaguar Land Rover (JLR) showcased the Jaguar XJ Ultimate, a car developed by the company’s specialist ETO division. The division is responsible for extending the Jaguar and Land Rover brands with a series of ‘special edition’ models as well as a range of personalisation options allowing owners to tailor their cars.

Dr Ralf Speth, CEO, Jaguar Land Rover explained: "The specialist ETO division is the next step in the evolution of JLR as a fully-integrated premium automotive business. It is an extension to JLR’s world class engineering capability and further proof of JLR’s passion to meet customers’ demands."

Following the recent success of two earlier ETO-built cars – the limited edition Range Rover Autobiography Ultimate and the 300km/h (186mph) XKR-S, the fastest and most powerful production sports car Jaguar has ever built – the ETO division is now focussing on further expanding the company’s product offering.

Initially, as well as handcrafting the ultra-luxurious Jaguar XJ Ultimate, ETO will also be responsible for the Range Rover Evoque Special Edition, a collaboration between Land Rover and the British fashion designer Victoria Beckham. This hand-finished, bespoke vehicle with unique matt finish paint and rose gold accents is limited to a maximum of 200 examples worldwide.

The designers and engineers in ETO will work alongside the JLR Product Development teams on future products with a focus on offering additional luxury, performance and capability, exploring different facets of the brands’ personalities.

Jaguar XKR-S

The Jaguar XKR-S is a very different animal, engineered by ETO to push the outer edges of the performance envelope and explore the capabilities of the company’s lightweight aluminium architecture. The engineering involved went far deeper than simply liberating more power from the company’s renowned supercharged V8.

ETO worked with the Jaguar Design team to create the specific exterior changes – informed by Computational Fluid Dynamics – that allowed the car to cut the air cleanly and solidly at very high speed and developed bespoke machined aluminium suspension components to give the car even greater levels of agility and driver involvement, refining the entire package at Jaguar’s Nürburgring testing facility.

Range Rover Autobiography Ultimate (2011)

The Range Rover Autobiography Ultimate took the already luxurious Land Rover flagship model and added a level of craftsmanship and unique exterior and interior appointments to create a truly first-class experience.

ETO was responsible for the handcrafted interior that used the finest soft-feel leathers and unique veneers for the four individually tailored seats as well as the seamless integration of the iPads, machined aluminium laptop table and drinks chiller.

ETO also created the bespoke paint colours and alloy wheels individual to this model and, as a final unique touch, a teak-floored rear loadspace to evoke the decking of luxury yachts.

ETO will support the Jaguar and Land Rover brands by offering specialist products ranging from design and performance enhancements, to the development of a wider portfolio for customers to personalise their vehicles, and an extended capability in engineering armoured and specialist vehicles.