SPIED! 2012 Range Rover spy pics

^I hope this is nearer reality because this looks more like a Range Rover and a lot less like a Freelander.

Holy crap does that front end look meek, weak, frail, and low-rent/generic. Seriously I hope they put something more strong and rugged up there as it is a RANGE ROVER.

That rendering looks like a step backwards in design.

The front and side are quite good, but the front should be made look more intimidating. Still can't get over how they dumped the wooden "pillars." IMO, it was rather unique, iconic and timeless, and could very well become part of the signature look for future RR's to come. It just looked perfectly substantial.

Now, regarding the PLA aluminum structure, how effective would an aluminum structure be when it comes to towing? Granted the follks over at JLR have yet to release any info with regards to it, so this is all arm-chair car enthusiast speculation. But I ask this because aluminum does have a weaker tensile strength than steel. Also, I don't know how many RR folks use their fancy-schancy shiny SUV for towing so it may be of little consequence. But if the terrain gets tough, I am curious to see how an aluminum chassis would withstand that kind of force. To me sports cars and sedans in Al makes sense because 99.9999% of their journey are much smoother terrain whereas an SUV with the potential traversing much more rugged terrain and towing heavy equipment will experience more bending and torquing of the chassis. I'm sure JLR will have done the necessary extensive testing and due diligence, but nonetheless, I am curious.

The interior is a high step above a GL in terms of design and materials used.

Which wooden pillars? For the interior I assume?

yup, the interior. It just gives this illusion of looking-pillar like. At least to me. Whereas most wood trim in most cars look like it's there for the sake of ornamentation. It doesn't give off this sense of structural support that wood trim back in the was used for. In the current Range Rover, to me, it gives off that sense. It also gave off this very upright, formal setting that seemed befitting to a car that was like the S-class of SUVs. It was very much on the spot.

But this is just me being picky. The interior in spypics is nice, but, IMO, not as special looking especially when so much seems lifted from the Evoque.

Where can I buy your X ray vision? I want it too!

Looks a little generic for me. Hopefully the next RR sport will exact a little more character. I'm sure it'll be stunning to drive.

That looks horrible. I mean, the sides are okay, RR worthy, fine, nothing to write home about....

But that is the worst front end fail I've seen since the 1er. At least the 1ers looks like it's trying to look ugly.... This just looks like it's trying to look completely generic, not memorable, and cheap?

^ +1

+2

The front hints of Ford Explorer.

Horrible.

It's obvious, this is what happens when BMW designs the last one...this new one looks like a Chinese or Russian clone.[/quote]