Spy shots of the 2022 Land Rover Range Rover: a familiar look despite the new platform

Land Rover was spotted testing a new prototype of its fifth-generation Range Rover.

The new mid-size luxury SUV is expected to debut along with a redesigned version of the stretched Range Rover Long Wheelbase later this year, most likely as a 2022 model. The new Range Rover Sport should also arrive a year after the Range Rover.

Land Rover updated the current Range Rover for 2020, and that update introduced a new inline-6 engine and mild hybrid system as the base powertrain. However, the current generation dates back to 2013, so it makes sense that a redesigned fifth-generation model will arrive soon.

Compared to the current Range Rover, Land Rover's design team seems to have kept the shape of the redesigned cabin slightly boxy. The wheel arches also appear to be slightly more pronounced, and the new grille design is clearly visible in the latest shots.

Underpinning the vehicle is Land Rover's new Modular Longitudinal Architecture (MLA) platform, which will debut on the new Range Rover. The platform was scheduled to debut on the battery-powered Jaguar XJ last year, but a new strategy announced in February will see Jaguar adopt its own brand-specific platform for future models. Future Jaguar models will also be battery-electric only under the new strategy.

The MLA platform is designed to be compatible with both internal combustion and electric powertrains and will eventually underpin most Land Rover models (a second platform, named EMA, will be available for Land Rover's small SUVs) The MLA platform is lighter than the aluminum-heavy D7 platform that underpins the current Range Rover.

As for powertrains, a mild hybrid will remain the base option, while a new plug-in hybrid, in which the engine is combined with an electric motor on the front axle and a second electric motor drives the rear axle, will be available in the current The new plug-in hybrid is expected to replace the single electric motor configuration of the current Range Rover Plug-in Hybrid. An electric powertrain will likely be offered at some point, targeting urban buyers.

It is not clear if the V-8 engine will continue to be offered, but Jaguar Land Rover moved production of its current 5.0-liter supercharged V-8 engine in-house last year. It is also possible that BMW will offer its latest V-8. Jaguar Land Rover and BMW are already poised to share some engines and electric powertrains, and we expect a V-8 to appear.