2013 Land Rover Range Rover Is Lighter, Sleeker Than Previous Model

Land Rover has released details surrounding the next-generation edition of its bread-and-butter Range Rover full-size luxury SUV. The 2013 Land Rover Range Rover has been completely redesigned in order to help it remain competitive against recent efforts from BMW, Mercedes-Benz, and Audi.

From a visual perspective, the 2013 Land Rover Range Rover's styling doesn't stray too far from the mold set by the previous edition of the car. Smoother, more aerodynamic looks are coupled with exaggerated side slits just behind the fenders, while the grille and front fascia have been rounded in order to match the cues introduced on the Range Rover Evoque compact SUV.

Moving past its looks, however, reveals that the new Range Rover has seen some very significant changes made to its platform. An all-aluminum body is part of an extreme weight loss program introduced to help the sport-utility vehicle drop an astonishing 318 kilograms for the North American model. Interior room has been increased, with nearly five inches of extra space for the legs of rear passengers now available, and a revised version of the Terrain Response system (creatively dubbed 'Terrain Response 2 Auto') is also now available in order to further facilitate off-road adventures.

Under the hood, Canadian buyers will be treated to a 5.0-liter V-8 engine whose final power rating has yet to be released. An eight-speed automatic transmission handles the shifting duties for the 2013 Land Rover Range Rover, and four-wheel drive remains standard. Land Rover has updated the vehicle's adaptive air suspension system in order to make additional use of aluminum, and handling has been described as more planted than in the 2012 model.

The production version of the SUV is scheduled to debut on the world stage during September's Paris Motor Show.