Excited customers get up close to new Range Rover at Al Tayer Motors

Dubai: Back in the 1960s, the UAE had very few roads connecting the emirates, so the best way to get around was in a sturdy 4×4 vehicle. Land Rover became a popular choice because it could handle the toughest terrain, but it was rather austere. The British automaker’s solution was to offer a more luxurious but similarly capable model, and in 1970 the Range Rover debuted. Touted as the world’s first luxury SUV, it’s popularity has soared in the region thanks to its big V8 engine, comfortable interior and sand-washing ability.

“There are few cars in the world that capture the imagination of generations of customers – the Range Rover is such a remarkable vehicle,” said Mr Ashok Khanna, CEO of Al Tayer Motors.

Incredibly, it’s been around for over 50 years, but ensuring it remains around for many more years to come is the all-new fifth-generation model, which was unveiled at Al Tayer Motors yesterday after its world premiere. In true Emirati fashion, fans of the iconic model are among the first in the world to get up close and personal with it.

“We’ve partnered with Land Rover’s Middle East office to create opportunities for our customers to be among the first in the world to see the new Range Rover,” continued Khanna. Judging by all the commotion at the Sheikh Zayed Road showroom, they liked what they saw.

The elegant new Range Rover seamlessly blends modern aesthetics and advanced technology with impressive on- and off-road performance and capability. Available in SE, HSE and Autobiography variants, standard and long-wheelbase body designs will offer seating for five, while the third row, available in extended trim, will, for the first time ever, accommodate seven adults.

It’s based on Jaguar Land Rover’s new MLA ‘Flex’ architecture, which promises 50 per cent higher torsional stiffness than the outgoing model.

Visually, it looks like a treat; the dropped roofline, muscular waistline and raised sill lines are all nice touches, but the biggest changes are around the rear where you’ll find a unique New stern aft with split tailgate. The large gloss black panel at the rear has vertical brake lights on each side (they are said to use the most powerful LEDs available) and a light strip on top.

Power for the new flagship comes from a twin-turbocharged 5.0-litre V8 that propels the Range Rover from 0-100km/h in just 4.6 seconds. A suite of mild-hybrid and plug-in hybrid powertrains will also be offered, with pure-electric versions joining the fleet in 2024.

It features standard all-wheel steering, while the chassis has been reworked; it has 295mm of ground clearance, which can be further raised by 145mm on the highest of the model’s four suspension settings, while a dedicated ford mode Allows it to travel in water up to 900mm deep.

The interior boasts a new 13.1-inch infotainment screen with haptic feedback, which runs the latest generation of Land Rover’s Pivi Pro operating system, while at the rear is a center-mounted table that rises from the center console, with dual rear touchscreens upgraded to 13.1-inch, The 1,600W Meridian Signature Sound System is also said to create one of the quietest vehicle interiors on the road.

The third-generation Active Noise Cancellation system monitors wheel vibration, tire noise and engine sound transmitted to the cabin and generates a canceling signal that is played through the system’s 35 speakers.

“As we expected, our Land Rover showrooms were filled with enthusiastic customers eager to see the car in person and expressing their interest in this elegant and luxurious vehicle – a modern icon,” concluded Khanna.

I think we can all agree that we’re looking forward to seeing the beautiful new Range Rover on the road when deliveries start in the second half of next year. Prices start at around Dh579,000.