Land Rover has unveiled the 2014 Range Rover Long Wheelbase (LWB) and the Autobiography Black variant which are set to debut at the Los Angeles Motor Show and the Guangzhou Motor Show in November. The Long Wheelbase Range Rover will be available with the range topping Supercharged and Autobiography trim levels and will be made available on the hybrid variant next year. The Autobiography Black variant will be the new top of the line Range Rover trim.
The 2014 Range Rover LWB models will carry an extra 5.5 inches of legroom courtesy of the added 8 inches in the wheelbase. The rear seats are customisable as a standard bench or the optional executive seating package with individual seats. The individual seats recline to 17 degrees, 8 degrees more than the standard variants adding more comfort and space for the passengers.
On the exterior front, the long wheelbase models have lengthened unibody in front of the rear wheels, making the rear door wider than the standard variants. This has also contributed to easy ingress and egress of the passengers. However, the overall Range Rover silhouette has been retained and does not look out of proportion. The Range Rover LWB will be equipped with standard power blinds and a panoramic sunroof. It will be carrying an “L” badge that will be displayed on the lower front door vent.
The 2014 Range Rover Autobiography Black variant is the new flagship model in the Land Rover lineup. The Black edition comes from Land Rover’s new ‘Engineered to Order’ division and is on par with the ultra luxurious offerings from Bentley and Rolls-Royce in terms of power and equipment levels on offer. The Black variant offers bespoke leather seats covers on the front and the rear, with memory and climate control availability. The seats also offer massage function and bolsters with 18-way adjustable front seats.
The major changes are seen on the rear seats. The bench seats are replaced by two individual seats with a new centre console. 10.2-inch rear seat entertainment screens have been mounted on the front seat headrests. Other features available are electrically deployable tables integrated with USB and cup holders. A chiller compartment has also been provided. The passengers can also change the mood lighting with up to 10 colours to choose from with varying intensities. The whole interior compartment has been finished with the best quality leather and veneer materials.
The Range Rover Black variant can be distinguished on the exterior with the subtle change in the front grille and side vents along with the badges in black and chrome. An optional 21-inch and 22-inch 7-spoke wheels are also on offer. The Black variant will be available with exclusive colour combinations – Ebony/Lunar, Espresso/Tan and Dark Cheery/Ivory. Land Rover says that the major market for both the variants is the U.S. and China, with an Indian launch not on the cards. 100 units have been planned for the U.S. market. Deliveries for both the models will commence in March 2014.
