New Range Rover Strips Down to the Metal

These are by far our best pictures yet of the all-new, fourth generation Range Rover, as our spies managed to snag a prototype model without all the plastic cladding of the previous test cars. 

Even though Land Rover engineers have covered select parts of the body with black and white decals that look like they came straight out of the Matrix, these new images afford us a clear view of the upcoming premium SUV's shape. 

While the British firm's designers have softened up the Range Rover's lines and added a slightly more rakish windshield and rear glass, the SUV's styling is purely evolutionary and unmistakably Range Rover. 

The front-end looks more rounded and cohesive compared to the current model, while both ends feature new lights, most likely with LED units. 

The styling may be evolutionary but the construction is revolutionary, as the next Range Rover will make use of an aluminium monocoque platform as well as aluminium body panels. Along with other weight saving measures, the new luxury SUV could be as much as 1,000 pounds (450kg) lighter than the current model with apparent benefits in handling and fuel economy and greenhouse emissions. 

For its motivation, the Range Rover will likely rely on V6 and V8 diesels along with V8 petrols for select markets, though the Jaguar Land Rover group's new 3.0-liter supercharged V6 with up to 375hp in the upcoming F-Type, could also make an appearance on the SUV. 

Land Rover is also working on more fuel-efficient and CO2 friendlier plug-in hybrid models featuring a similar setup to the Range_e concept.    

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