Will Skinnier 2013 Range Rover Do Better Than 12 MPG?

Just the Facts:

• The 2013 Range Rover gets a new, lightweight aluminum chassis and sheds about 700 pounds, but the fuel-economy numbers on the redesigned SUV are still up in the air.
• The 2013 Range Rover will be officially unveiled at the 2012 Paris Auto Show.
• It is expected to go on sale in the U.S. in December.

MAHWAH, New Jersey ? The 2013 Range Rover gets a new, lightweight aluminum chassis and sheds about 700 pounds, but the fuel-economy numbers on the redesigned SUV are still up in the air. The 2013 Range Rover will be officially unveiled at the 2012 Paris Auto Show.

It is expected to go on sale in the U.S. in December. Pricing has not been announced. The base 2012 Range Rover starts at $80,275, including an $850 destination charge.

The EPA has not yet posted official fuel-economy numbers on the 2013 Range Rover. The 2012 Range Rover with the 5.0-liter V8 engine returns 12 mpg in city driving and 18 mpg on the highway. Fuel economy continues to be a major concern, even for buyers of high-end SUVs. The AAA Daily Fuel Gauge Report on Friday pegged the average price of a gallon of unleaded gasoline in the U.S. at $3.82 versus $3.64 a year ago.

Parent Jaguar Land Rover would only say that the fuel consumption in the 2013 Range Rover is "TBD."

"The all-aluminum unibody structure is 39 percent lighter than the steel body in the outgoing model," said Land Rover in a statement. "This enables a total vehicle weight savings of up to 926 pounds, depending on market and specifications. The U.S. specification vehicle with the naturally aspirated 5.0-liter V8 will be approximately 700 pounds lighter than the outgoing equivalent."

The Range Rover targets the Mercedes-Benz G-Class, with both occupying a unique corner of the SUV market. The EPA says the 2013 Mercedes-Benz G550 returns 12 mpg in city driving and 15 mpg on the highway. If the redesigned Range Rover gets a bump in fuel economy courtesy of its diet, it would be a major coup.

The redesign of the Range Rover is conservative, maintaining such cues as the clamshell hood and floating roof. The automaker calls it evolutionary and "the most aerodynamic Range Rover ever." The corners are now more sculpted and the air intake has been relocated higher into the hood.

The SUV will continue with two different versions of its current V8 engine, but they will be mated to a ZF eight-speed automatic transmission instead of the current six-speed transmission. The standard 5.0-liter V8 delivers 375 horsepower while the supercharged version of the engine makes 510 hp.

A common complaint about the outgoing model was too much body roll when turning. The automaker has addressed that by offering a new optional Dynamic Response active lean control system. The system reduces the degree of body lean during cornering. It is standard on supercharged V8 models.

The SUV also gets an optional new Intelligent Emergency Braking system designed to cut the chances of a crash by automatically applying the brakes in certain situations.

There are lots of goodies as well, including an audio system with 29 speakers, 20-way adjustable front seats with five-mode massage on some models, optional LED ambient mood lighting and a heated windshield.

Land Rover said that the Range Rover in certain European and Asian markets will have a diesel hybrid powertrain. It will not be available in North America, however.

Edmunds say: The 2013 Range Rover seeks to be the biggest loser ? in the dieting sense ? in its tiny corner of the SUV market. We'll be watching for the release of the SUV's official EPA fuel-economy numbers.

Source: http://www.insideline.com/land-rover/range-rover/2013/will-skinnier-2013-range-rover-do-better-than-12-mpg.html

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