The fifth generation Range Rover’s official reveal is set to continue – despite it having already apparently been uncovered.

 BATTLING on no matter how insurmountable the odds is a trait that has become entwined into the Land Rover spirit – one that will doubtless fuel it in face of the latest challenge: A leak that seems set to spoil a big surprise. 

October 27 is the date of when the brand officially fully reveals the next generation of its most upmarket model, the full-scale Range Rover.

The marque has sent out invites; for New Zealand media, that means setting aside a full morning for a busy virtual event.

The day starts with interaction with the brand’s national distributor then patches into the global reveal, which starts 9am NZ time with a welcome from Thierry Bollare, Jaguar Land Rover global chief executive, then a design unwrap from Gerry McGovern, global design chief. There’s a question and answer session – this, for NZ media, again conducted with the local operation – then images of the new model are released. These following the blurred profile teaser image the brand sent out last week in hope of whetting appetites.

A big effort for a big reveal.

Except, um …

As you can see. The cat … or whatever animal better serves as an equivalent … is out of the bag.

Images of the all-new 2022 model have leaked online. These pictures are circulating on social media and have been picked up by major publications. 

They offer such a comprehensive look yet at the forthcoming fifth-generation model of the brand’s flagship sports utility it’s hard to imagine what’s left to reveal, apart from the powerplants. Which, for starters, seem set to be carry overs.

The new car is one of three JLR models that will be underpinned by the firm's new MLA platform, which will also be used for the forthcoming Range Rover Sport and a new crossover.

Prices are yet to be confirmed and assumption is these will be made public when the car launches. The outgoing model has represented in four forms, all with the 5.0-litre supercharged petrol V8, from the $221,900 Vogue through to the $270k SV Autobiography Dynamic, in which the power peps up from the standard 386kW to 416kW.

As has been well publicised, the outgoing model is a last stand for that engine. Land Rover won’t fully explain the powertrain play for the new model until Wednesday, but it’s generally understood the 5.0-litre won’t find a place due to its high CO2 outputs and poor economy.

There’s thought the new SV will have BMW’s 4.4-litre V8, while Ingenium straight-six petrol engines will also feature, with return to a diesel opportunity. Plug-in hybrid and mild-hybrid tech will also come along, though perhaps not immediately. As for a fully electric Range Rover? It’s on the cards, but until 2023 at the earliest.

The leaked images show the incoming car’s design is a subtle evolution of the current model, with features such as the iconic split tailgate and ‘floating’ roof carried over.

The nose has a very similar look to that of the outgoing model, with a sharper headlight and front grille design.

The vertical inserts on the front doors have also been restyled and the car sits on a fresh alloy wheel design. The rear features more substantial changes, with a new upright tail light design that appears to be joined by a full-width rear light bar and a new bumper.

The interior has a new four-spoke multifunction steering wheel, a fresh dashboard design and a new ‘floating’ infotainment touchscreen, plus a new gear shifter and rotary ventilation controls. 

Expect an array of personalisation options and tonnes of luxury. And, of course, expect it to be spacious. On that note, a long-wheelbase model is on the build plan, the latter with ability to configure in a four-seat layout that includes a pair of large rear seats with more adjustability.

Technology seems likely to include the Pivi Pro infotainment system, capable of over-the-air software updates and music streaming. It can be used as a secondary display, projecting the view from the front of the car via a series of cameras when off-roading. Yes, as per the new Defender.