Global launch nears for Range Rover’s new answer to the BMW X5 and Mercedes-Benz GLE
The next-generation Range Rover Sport has been spotted undergoing real-world testing again in Germany ahead of its world debut, this time wearing significantly less camouflage.
More a case of evolution rather than revolution, the new Range Rover Sport looks largely familiar from the front, with a multi-layered fascia consisting of plenty of slim but wide features, headlights included.
Resembling a scaled-down version of the new Range Rover, which was revealed in October 2021, the new Rangie Sport will again serve as Jaguar Land Rover’s answer to large German luxury SUVs including the Audi Q7/Q8, BMW X5/X6 and Mercedes-Benz GLE Coupe and wagon.
Again expected to be smaller, cheaper and more athletic than the full-size Range Rover, the new Sport will replace a model that’s currently priced from about $120,000 and was outsold last year by its most direct rivals but proved more popular than the Jaguar F-PACE, Maserati Levante, Porsche Cayenne, Volkswagen Touareg and Volvo XC90.
Apart from shorter overhangs, the biggest difference between the Sport and its bigger stablemate will likely be at the rear, where the Sport appears to don a softer, more rounded design compared to the squarer edges of the flagship Range Rover.
At this stage there’s little else to report on the new model other than that it will also be making the move across to JLR’s new ‘modular longitudinal’ architecture (MLA) as per its pricier relatives, while the flagship SVR will adopt a version of the fearsome twin-turbo 4.4-litre V8 currently powering the frighteningly fast flagship BMW M cars.
The new platform will help JLR trim production costs across its range but also open the floodgates to various forms of electrification – mild and plug-in hybrid – across both petrol and diesel powertrains.
While an official global reveal is yet to be announced, we understand the new Range Rover Sport will debut sometime next month ahead of a 2023 model year market introduction.
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Keyword: New Range Rover Sport ready for launch