The Range Rover first came into existence in 1970 as, what we now call, the Range Rover Classic. She styling was unique and classic. Land Rover created an entirely new market with the Range Rover. It offered the same off-road ability as the venerable Land Rover (Series 1, 2, 3, Defender) but with a luxury interior and ride.
The Range Rover was a massive hit and since then Land Rover hasn't stopped. We now have the Defender, Discovery, Range Rover Sport, Evoque and Range Rover.
In 1994 the Range Rover Classic was replaced by the P38 which offered much more in terms of luxury, engines, trim and general presence - but, sadly, not reliability. The P38 was a fickle beast with numerous problems including (but not restricted to) the air suspension, electronics and windows becoming stuck. Also, the detuned 2.5 litre BMW diesel engine was a lifeless, wheezy affair that didn't return as many mpg as it should. The V8 was really the only choice.
In 2002 Range Rover brought us the L322 - now a common sight on the road. The L322 brought about a massive upgrade. The interior was more plush, the engines much better, the handling improved. This really was the successor to the Classic.
For 2013 Range Rover hopes to reduce the weight of the new model by at least 250kg. In these days of economy and emissions it is not good enough to just stick a more powerful engine in the new model to counteract it's additional weight.
It is good to see from the spy shots that the 2013 model retains the classic Range Rover shape. The clamshell bonnet remains and generally the proportions look just right.
There have been numerous models seen testing in the UK, Germany, Sweden and Dubai. Recent examples have seen the prototype shed it's camouflage to the point where we can now see what the new car will look like, albeit with camp paint still intact.
The original Range Rover is a hard act to live up to. It's lines, it's noise, it's presence were revolutionary at the time and it has endured well. The new Range Rover seems, from what we have seen, to live up to it's forbears reputation.
Expect to see the 2013 model, devoid of it's camouflage at the Moscow Motor Show on 27 August. We'll bring you the press shots as soon as we can and look forward to driving the new model when it arrives in the UK.UPDATE - US website jalopnick.com has produced these images showing the finished car as it would look without the camouflage.
