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Range Rover is preparing for one of the biggest transformations in its history.
The British manufacturer has unveiled the first prototype of the all-new Range Rover GT, an electric grand tourer that will become the fifth member of the Range Rover family and, at first glance, has little in common with the traditional SUVs for which the brand is best known.
A lower silhouette, elongated proportions and a 2+2 seating configuration make it look more like a luxury sports estate or grand tourer than a conventional off-roader. And that is precisely the idea – Range Rover wants to translate its signature combination of luxury and capability into an entirely new format.
The Most Car-Like Range Rover Yet
Although the prototype is still covered in camouflage, it is already clear that the new GT has a considerably lower center of gravity and a sleeker silhouette than models such as the Evoque or Velar.
A long hood, lowered roofline and pronounced width give the car an entirely different stance, while the cabin will feature a 2+2 configuration focused on comfort and the driving experience.
According to Martin Limpert, Managing Director of Range Rover, the objective was to reinterpret the classic grand tourer formula in a way that remains unmistakably Range Rover.
The First Model on the New EMA Platform
The Range Rover GT will be the brand’s first fully electric model developed on JLR’s new EMA architecture.
Production is planned for the Halewood plant in Merseyside, England, and the car will initially be available exclusively as an electric model.
However, the platform is flexible enough to accommodate a hybrid version in the future should market conditions and customer demand move in that direction.
An Electric Range Rover Without the Traditional SUV Shape
The fact that the GT is not trying to become yet another electric SUV is precisely what makes it particularly interesting.
While many manufacturers place their first electric models into familiar crossover formats, Range Rover is taking a radically different approach. The new model is intended to offer a lower, more elegant and more driver-focused alternative to the existing lineup, without sacrificing the characteristic sense of luxury and capability associated with the Range Rover name.
In other words, it will be a grand tourer that aims to look and behave like a genuine luxury car while retaining some of the DNA for which the brand has been known for decades.
Final Testing Is Already Underway
Unlike many electric concepts that remain years away from production, the Range Rover GT is already undergoing final testing on public roads.
JLR has announced that more details will be revealed before the end of the year, while the final production version is expected to make its debut early next year.
That means the new GT is no longer simply a design study, but a model approaching actual production.
Electrification Is No Longer a Straightforward Path
Interestingly, the Range Rover GT is arriving at a time when parts of the luxury automotive industry are reconsidering the path toward complete electrification.
Some manufacturers have already revised their plans and brought hybrid solutions back into focus, while others continue to push forward with fully electric models despite challenging market conditions.
JLR is therefore leaving the door open to additional powertrain options in the future, but the GT will nevertheless begin its career as a fully electric car.
If the production version retains the proportions and character of the prototype, the Range Rover GT could become one of the most interesting new luxury electric cars – not because it copies an existing formula, but because it attempts to create something the brand has never offered before.
