The Range Rover Sport is now in final development and will join its full-size brother later this year
As has been the case for the last three generations, when a new Range Rover appears, it’s only a matter of months until its smaller and more dynamic little brother follows. And so with the L460 generation now in pre-production, the corresponding Range Rover Sport has been spotted in its final phases of development, flaunting its new bodywork that already confirms that it will be more distinct from its imperious brother than ever before.
As was the case with the L405-generation, the new Range Rover Sport will once again share its underlying chassis with its big brother, utilising an aluminium-intensive mixed metal monocoque construction. It will almost certainly have reduced dimensions compared to the full-size Range Rover, something that will be most apparent in its wheelbase and overall length. Given the new long-wheelbase Range Rover is now offered with a seven-seat option, it’s unknown if the Sport will still feature this element, but we suspect the option will remain for those that want the increased versatility in combination with its smaller footprint.
Many of the new Range Rover’s chassis innovations are expected to be brought across, including the independent air suspension, rear-wheel steering and new active anti-roll systems. We also have a good sense of what powertrains to expect too, with a spread of JLR’s new Ingenium 6 petrol and diesels in both mild-hybrid and plug-in hybrid forms, plus BMW’s twin-turbocharged 4.4-litre V8 petrol. An even more potent variant of the BMW V8 will also form the basis of the next Range Rover Sport SVR, which will move on from its supercharged AJ-series V8. It’s construction also supports a future all-electric model, which will follow.
> 2022 Range Rover revealed
As we can see in these spy images, the two Range Rovers will diverge more than ever in their aesthetic, with the Sport featuring a completely distinct rear end that swaps out the vertical lighting clusters and their clever hidden elements in favour of a more familiar horizontal lighting structure that will emulate the Velar and Evoque. Over and above this change in orientation, all of the rear end’s surfacing and line work have changed to suit this more familiar look – there’s no chamfered edge to the rear aspect and the tapering boat-like aesthetic has been toned right down. There are also traditional sills, faux diffuser graphics and once again the rear tailgate will be a single piece design.
Up front, we’re expecting a design familiar to the previous Sport, with less ornate detailing on the lower bumpers and more obvious mesh openings channelling a more aggressive aesthetic. The headlights themselves look to have the most progressive element of the front-end’s aesthetic, with a sharp taper and point at their far edges.
The interior will share the same basic tech as the Range Rover, but it remains to be seen if it will once again feature a bespoke dashboard layout with its lower seating position and more heavily-raked dash. Regardless, Land Rover’s new Pivi Pro system will be accessed through a large touchscreen interface, but we do expect the interior’s use of materials to be taken down a notch in their plush-ness, perhaps only reappearing in the very highest trim levels.
Together, the Range Rover and Range Rover Sport make a compelling pair of luxury SUVs that do a very effective job of headlining the JLR range. Together with the Defender, these models have already proven to be critical models that bear the financial load of the whole group, and with big investment into digitalisation and electrification still to make, this next generation of SUVs will prove to be critical to ensure the brand’s next generation. The good news is that global demand for these iconic British nameplates is certainly there, the challenge for JLR right now is building enough to satisfy demand while it’s still there.
Keyword: New 2022 Range Rover Sport spied – Land Rover’s BMW X5 rival due later this year