SPIED: 2018 Range Rover Sport Coupe
Facing an onslaught of four-door ‘coupe-style’ SUVs from its German competitors, Jaguar Land Rover is firing a return shot across the Channel.
A new model photographed while testing shows an addition to the Range Rover lineup, expected to bow in 2018. The model, which shares a lightweight aluminum alloy frame with the Jaguar F-Pace, could be called the Sport Coupe, though company insiders still refer to it as the Evoque Plus or Evoque XL.
The Sport Coupe is designed to fill the gap between the Evoque and Range Rover Sport, as well as give BMW and Mercedes-Benz something to be worried about. Slightly shorter than an X6 or GLE Coupe, the Sport Coupe should boast good handling characteristics, thanks to the F-Pace’s suspension and aluminum body.
The sloping roofline and short rear overhang can be seen in the photos, along with an abbreviated rear door. (Sporty cars are supposed to have a lot up front, and little in the back.) Inside, expect a luxurious, cockpit-style layout and a 2+2 seating configuration.
There’s not much known about the Sport Coupe’s powertrain, but JLR has an extensive lineup of six-and eight-cylinder gas and diesel engines available for use. It’s possible Range Rover could source the four-cylinder engines found in the F-Pace, and one day adopt the electric powertrain being developed for that model.
[Images: @ 2016 Spiedbilde/The Truth About Cars]
More by Steph Willems
Comments
Join the conversation
Ooh, a shooting brake.
Coupes have two doors.