Range Rover takes a surprise short cut, 2014 Evoque vs. 1985 Range Rover
International version of Build Your Own Range Rover has the new MY2014.5 options, shows Hybrid & mentions LWB
The International version of landrover.com usually has interesting options that you don’t see everywhere else. This time it’s scooped the UK site with 2014.5 details, including the Range Rover Hybrid and mention of the Long Wheel Base (LWB).
In no particular order:
I immediately went to interior options of an Autobiography to see if there was any mention of the new front seat design and there it was:
Semi Aniline Leather Seat Style 24
• 18 Way Drivers / 18 Way Passenger Front Seats
• Front and Rear Climate Seats
• Massage Front Seats with Adjustable Seat Bolsters
• Driver and Passenger Memory
• Rear Bench Seat with Load Through Facility with Rear Power Recline
• 4 Way Rear Seat Power Lumbar
• Passenger Seat Away
• Driver and Front Passenger Upper Seat Articulation
Driver and Front Passenger Upper Seat Articulation is a new feature that allows the driver and front passenger to adjust the upper part of their seats, providing an extra level of comfort and functionality.
The Upper Seat Articulation isn’t available on the non-Autobiography models shown there – hopefully it won’t be Autobiography only.
The next find was within the same section, just incremented to the Style 25 seats, they include the Executive Seating but add this note:
• Rear Executive Class Seating with Rear Power Recline (Long Wheelbase is Extended power recline)
First official mention of the LWB I think!?
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Another option that I haven’t seen before but it could be an international quirk, there are now two types of wood trim packages, the standard one and one labeled as “Extended Veneer Pack” As the car was for 2013, there was wood on the doors, serving as the outside of the small build in cubby. On this site, if you choose a non-Autobiography and don’t choose the Extended Veneer Pack, you don’t get that slab of horizontal wood. It’s similar to how the new Range Rover Sport is. I really hope this is a quirk. They should add more wood for the Autobiography, not remove it from the lesser models.
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We also learn that the Range Rover Hybrid gets the 21 inch Six Spoke ‘Style 10’ wheels, described as such:
Designed specifically for a Hybrid engine. These directional wheels enhance the exterior of the vehicle and provide improved performance.
They come in Diamond Turned too, known as Style 11.
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So that’s it for now, go explore and see what else we can find:
Land Rover Announces 2014 U.S. Model Lineup
LR2 gets infotainment upgrades and Evoque’s two-liter in-line 4.
LR4, keeps LR4 name, gets V6 and loses standard two-speed transfer case (Really?)
Evoque gets the 9-speed transmission, new tech and Active Driveline
All-New Sport is just that.
Range Rover got the V6, Stop-Start and all the same parking/lane departure tech that the Sport has BUT it’s planned for a mid-year introduction. No mention of the upgraded front seats.
Official PR:
Land Rover Announces 2014 U.S. Model Lineup
(MAHWAH, N.J.) – September 12, 2013 – The 2014 model year continues the most dynamic product development and introduction period in the brand’s history. An all-new Range Rover Sport is introduced, based on the all-new aluminum-intensive Range Rover that debuted for 2013. The Range Rover itself sees a significant increase in fuel efficiency for 2014 with the introduction of a new supercharged 3-liter V6 engine, for up to EPA-estimated 23 mpg in highway driving1, replacing the naturally aspirated 5-liter V8.
The Range Rover Evoque debuts one of the first nine-speed automatic transmissions in a passenger vehicle. The sporty Range Rover Evoque, the smallest and lightest Range Rover model, has become its worldwide best seller, with more than 170,000 sold in its’ first 18 months.
The Land Rover LR4 also replaces the 5-liter V8 with the 340hp supercharged V6, teamed to an 8-speed automatic. The Land Rover LR2, which received the 240hp turbocharged engine from the Range Rover Evoque for 2013, delivers pure Land Rover style in a compact model and adds infotainment upgrades for 2014.
UK Updates for the MY2014.5 Range Rover & Range Rover Sport
This looks like some fun news – the first round of updates for the new Range Rover. For the most part it seems they’re matching the tech already shown in the new Range Rover Sport – including the additional parking help, Lane Departure Warning and Traffic Sign Recognition. It’s also getting the Land Rover InControl app option. For the exterior a new Black Design Pack is available for the Range Rover and the list of items it includes goes right down to the wheel bolts.
Most exciting new feature for me:
Inside Range Rover, powered upper seat articulation (for the driver and front passenger) has been added to the options
These sound like the seats they had from BMW, pre-2007 and there were really nothing like them.
Can’t wait to see how much of this will make it over to the US. Also, take note of the green Land Rover badge on the Range Rover in the official picture, it’s back.
Official PR:
NEW TECHNOLOGY AND ENHANCED CUSTOMER CHOICE FOR
RANGE ROVER AND RANGE ROVER SPORT
· Powerful 339PS SDV8 diesel engine added to Range Rover Sport powertrains
· Two new diesel-hybrid models deliver 169g/km CO2 and 44.1mpg (combined)
· New ‘Black Design Pack’ and new 22-inch alloy wheels for Range Rover
· New driver aids and InControl™ connectivity features enhance ownership experience
· On sale from September 10, with first deliveries in early 2014
No compromise Range Rover Hybrid (for the rest of the world)
Not sure when the US with get it; the Range Rover Hybrid looks great but that Warn winch is the coolest!
Click through for the full gallery
LAND ROVER LAUNCHES ITS FIRST HYBRID RANGE ROVER MODELS
· World’s first premium diesel SUV hybrids introduced by Land Rover
· Hybrid powertrain for Range Rover and Range Rover Sport models
· 26 per cent lower CO2 emissions (169g/km) and 44.1mpg (combined)
· Outstanding performance with 340PS and class-leading 700Nm torque
· Uncompromised cabin comfort and load space, with enhanced refinement
· Hybrid capability to be demonstrated on 16,000km Silk Trail expedition to India
· Order books open from September 10, with first deliveries in early 2014