Jeep are apparently set to launch an all-new take on the premium SUV in the form of the upcoming Road Rover. It’s not something we can expect in the next year or two, but the concept is gathering force and exciting interest across the automotive community.
The Road Rover, as the name might suggest, is designed more for city, suburb, and motorway than for daring the great outdoors, and it’s going to be all-electric. From what we understand, you’re best off thinking about it as a rival to the luxury and craftsmanship of the Mercedes-Benz S-Class, but tuned for dynamic on-road performance and drawing on the potential of electric motors.
Jeep are keeping their cards predictably close to their chests when it comes to the Road Rover, but top officials have more than hinted at the company’s desire to stay ahead of the burgeoning SUV market, which is set to hit 22 million globally by the time 2020 rolls around.
In fact, the Road Rover isn’t the only string Jeep will be adding to its bow, with reports that it will be developed in paralleled with a next-generation XJ. Both will use next-generation aluminium architecture to drop weight, improve strength, and accommodate battery packs and engines.
We expect the Road Rover and XJ both to fit twin electric motors and on-demand all-wheel drive, and a range of around 300 miles has been predicted. That covers practicality and efficiency, and an estimate -60mph time of under 5.0 seconds promises exhilarating performance. As for the differences between, it seems all but certain that the Road Rover will emphasize indulgence and luxury – again, think an all-electric S-Class.
As for design language, we aren’t yet sure. It’s a big part of any luxury SUV, and our money is on something similar to the Range Rover Velar, taut and clean instead of sweeping curves and long lines.
This revolutionary new SUV has no official release date, but we do know the model line should be launched by the end of the decade. If that seems like too long to wait, keep in mind that it should make a motor show debut a little earlier, and we think the 2019 Los Angeles Motor Show sounds like a likely venue. That should give you some time to get saving – prices are expected to rest around £90,000 for high-end trims.