The new Range Rover is well on its way, and Land Rover is also getting the smaller version of the off-roading icon, the Range Rover Sport, ready for its debut. Rumor has it that a modified Jaguar XJ platform will underpin not only the next Range Rover Sport, but the regular Range Rover and LR4 (known in the UK and other markets as the Discovery) as well. These shots of a Range Rover Sport test mule were snapped by our hard-working spy photographer, who channeled his inner ninja to get these close-up shots from behind the bushes.
The front end is the only part of the vehicle wearing any form of camouflage, using armor-like body cladding to cover up the fenders, front bumper, and headlights. The outline of the grille is more exposed here than on the regular Range Rover we caught in August, helping us to better visualize what the final product might look like. The shape of the grille resembles an inverted trapezoid, and looks taller and wider than the one employed on the current model. We saw a similar grille design on a Range Rover variant we caught winter testing earlier this year.
The body work aft of the A-pillar doesn't look much different from the model currently sold, although test mules aren't always an accurate indicator of the production model's final styling. A feature present on this mule that likely won't make it to production are the comically oversized, and conspicuously exposed, dual mufflers hanging off the rear bumper. Likely installed for testing purposes, the dual pipes could hint at a V-8 powerplant, or another engine large enough to warrant a dual exhaust setup. The Jaguar-sourced 5.0-liter V-8 - both in naturally-aspirated 375-hp spec and 510-hp supercharged guise - is expected to carry over for the year or two, but hybrid and fully electric drivetrains are currently in development.
The next-gen Range Rover Sport will likely be unveiled alongside its sister vehicle, the full-sized Range Rover, which could arrive as early as fall of next year.