UPDATED: For Land Rover globally the Range Rover is its hero vehicle so the reveal of the fifth-generation luxury SUV today is significant.

It has taken five years and seven million hours by Land Rover to create its pinnacle vehicle that is driven by royal and rock stars alike.

Launched at London’s Royal Opera House, the Range Rover sits on the new MLA-Flex body architecture that provides standard- and long-wheelbase body styles with luxurious four, five or seven-seat interiors and a range of electrified powertrains. 

The first vehicles to arrive in New Zealand from May will be the Range Rover D350 D350 HSE standard-wheel-base, the seven-seater P530 Autobiography long-wheel-base and the P530 First Edition short-wheel-based. Prices will be announced at a later date.

There will be plug-in hybrid (PHEV) powertrains available later in 2022, the ​​P440e and P510e, and a pure-electric Range Rover set to join the line-up in 2024.

The PHEV has a pure electric range of 100km and it is expected that these models will make up 35 percent of Land Rover NZ's future sales.

There is also the chauffeur style SV four-seater model that has increased legroom, a fold-out table and a mini-fridge. 

Land Rover NZ’s CEO Steve Kenchington said before the globally YouTube reveal that the Range Rover “is massively important to us because it's our hero vehicle, it defines what Range Rover is”.

“There is no doubt that the level of interest we have seen in this vehicle prior to anyone even seeing it has been remarkable. And so we're really excited to see, you know, the feedback from customers and alike after this morning.”

And Kenchington saw that feedback almost immediately after the global reveal with the preorders increasing from one to 10 during the live stream, and by the end of business today 64 orders have been received by Land Rover NZ.

So what makes the all-new Range Rover luxury SUV so special? The design is simplistic with minimal lines but according to Land Rover’s Chief Creative Officer, Professor Gerry McGovern, there was complex engineering behind creating the simple look.

He said the brand embraced a design aesthetic called modernism.

“That defines the way our vehicles look. What is modernism? What does it mean? Well, for us, it means designs that are clean, reductive, free from over ornamentation, free from excessive detail and lines. They have a level of restraint, but they're not cold, and they're not clinical. They are emotionally engaging,” said McGovern.

The unbroken waistline showcases Land Rover’s attention to detail as the rounded edge of the door meets the glass in a simple, clean finish thanks to a specially engineered hidden waist finisher. The design-enabling technology combines with flush glazing, hidden-until-lit lighting and precise detailing to create the impression that the vehicle has been milled from solid. 

The sophisticated surfaces provide a clean and contemporary appearance – and contribute to a drag coefficient of 0.30, making this the most aerodynamically efficient luxury SUV in the world.

“I could describe the car in three to four lines; the gently falling roofline, the continuous waistline that runs the whole length of the body and gives the body its tension. Starting the clamshell bonnet and running all the way through and ending in that beautiful ingot at the back. And that reductive nature continues. Flush glazing, removal of door finishes, flush door handles, and beautifully integrated door panel insert.”

The rear of the Range Rover was the design factor that galvanized the online global audience due to its simplicity but once the indicators and brake lights were applied, it gave the Range Rover a futuristic look.

“The beauty is in its simplicity, which belies the very complex engineering that had to go into making this thing look so simple,” said McGovern.

Inside, the interior carries on the luxurious simplicity with an up notch with Range Rover’s largest-ever touchscreen. The 13.1-inch curved, floating screen embodies the architectural lightness of the interior with a minimalist frame design. It provides intuitive control of all the major vehicle functions, using the latest consumer technology to deliver a smartphone-inspired interface, allied to convenient hard switches for climate control.

Advanced speaker technology builds on the fundamental refinement provided by the MLA-Flex body architecture to deliver serene cabin calmness – ensuring passengers enjoy a first-class experience. It uses the 1600W Meridian Signature Sound System to create one of the quietest vehicle interiors on the road, with additional 20W speakers in the four main headrests for the most immersive sound experience.

The third-generation Active Noise Cancellation system monitors wheel vibrations, tyre noise and engine sounds transmitted into the cabin and generates a cancelling signal, which is played through the system’s 35 speakers. These include a pair of 60mm diameter speakers in the headrests for each of the four main cabin occupants, which create personal quiet zones similar to the effect when using high-end headphones.

The new Range Rover revolutionises the in-car experience with seamlessly integrated Amazon Alexa rather than the Siri-like systems used by BMW and Mercedes.

The new Tailgate Event Suite takes the Versatile Loadspace Floor backrest concept to new heights, combining additional lighting, audio features and tailored cushions to create the perfect vantage point for outdoor relaxation.

Range Rover features All-Wheel Steering for an effortless drive with heightened high-speed stability and improved manoeuvrability at low speeds, ensuring it is equally at home on the open road and negotiating tight urban streets.

The electrically operated rear axle provides up to seven degrees of steering angle and, at low speeds, turns out-of-phase of the front wheels, giving the new Range Rover a turning circle of less than 11m, that’s the same as a Mercedes-Benz A-Class.

When it comes to size, the new Range Rover is 52mm longer than generation four at 4999mm. 

And to sum up the all-new Range Rover, McGovern said this: ​​”It’s a vehicle that doesn't follow fashion, it doesn't follow trends. It's born from a creative desire for perfection. And it is the most desirable Range Rover ever created. But it's also the most technically capable Range Rover ever created.”

Now to see how many Kiwis agree with him and preorder the luxury SUV. We’ll keep you updated.