THE RUNDOWN An expert look at the newest and most important vehicles this month. Page 72: A degree from Toyota University may be required to decode the bZ4X.
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Sleek and Chic The new Range Rover’s singularly smooth exterior hides substantial changes within.
There’s a simple elegance to the new Range Rover’s design
that stands in direct opposition to some of the more gimmicky new vehicles we’ve seen of late. Its proportions and roofline are unmistakably Range Rover, but precise execution makes the vehicle appear to be a design study brought to life. Smooth lines flow along the flanks with barely an interruption from gentle curves and subtle creases. It’s as
pleasing to the air as it is to the eye, with a remarkable (for an SUV) 0.30 coefficient of drag. Wheelbases have been stretched 3.0 inches on both standard- and long-wheelbase versions, from 115.0 to 118.0 inches in the case of the former and from 122.9 to 125.9 inches for the latter. Their overall lengths increase by a similar amount, as the overhangs are largely unchanged. Inside, the result is about an inch more legroom in the standard three-across back row, which can be classified as the middle row in the first-ever seven-passenger long-wheelbase version. Cargo space increases dramatically no matter how you flip or fold the seats. The extra length also comes into play underneath, where there’s room for a substantially enlarged 31.8-kWh battery for a forthcoming plug-in-hybrid variant. A redesign of the rear suspension is equally significant. Land Rover changes the former “integral link” arrange-
Looking like a used bar of Irish Spring helps the Range Rover achieve a low (for an SUV) 0.30 drag coefficient.
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J UNE 2022 ~ CAR AN D DRIV ER
