Range Rover answers the question: "What if we built a not-SUV?" - Ars Technica

What the report says

Ars Technica reports that Range Rover is preparing a major departure from its SUV-centered lineup with the Range Rover GT, a four-door grand tourer that will launch first as a fully electric vehicle. The vehicle was shown in camouflaged form in Wolverhampton, England, after earlier spy photos from testing at sites including the Nürburgring and the Arctic Circle had been interpreted as a possible electric successor to the Velar.

According to Ars, the GT will be the first Jaguar Land Rover model built on the company’s new EMA flexible architecture. The platform is designed to accommodate different electrified powertrains, and Range Rover plans to add a hybrid EV version after the battery-electric launch model. The company is positioning the GT as a more car-like Range Rover while retaining the brand’s emphasis on long-distance comfort and all-terrain capability.

Ars was shown the interior, which it described as a notable shift from Range Rover’s SUV cabins. The cabin takes a minimalist approach but keeps required physical controls, uses OLED screens for the driver display and infotainment, and includes a standard head-up display. Rear seating can be configured either with two individual seats or a three-seat bench.

The move matters because Range Rover has been closely associated with luxury SUVs since the original model arrived in 1970. A GT would place the brand closer to high-end electric grand tourers and performance sedans, while Jaguar Land Rover also prepares a separate Jaguar grand tourer on its JEA platform. More exterior and technical details are expected later this year.