JLR Plans New “Road Rover” Line of Crossover Vehicles

Jaguar Land Rover Ltd. plans to launch a new line of crossover vehicles in late 2019 called Road Rover, Autocar reports.

The first Road Rover likely will be an all-electric model that competes with the upcoming Audi E-tron Sportback and features “extreme luxury” appointments on par with a Mercedes-Benz S-Class, according to Autocar, which doesn’t cite its sources. The U.K. enthusiast magazine says the model will be built on a new aluminum platform that also will carry the next-generation XJ sedan, which also will have an electric powertrain.

Featuring twin electric motors and on-demand all-wheel drive, the Road Rover will be tuned for dynamic on-road performance with zero-to-60 mph acceleration estimated at less than five seconds. A 300-mile-plus driving range is expected, according to Autocar.

The sub-brand’s initial vehicles will have “some all-terrain capability”—thanks in part to a height-adjustable suspension, Autocar says. Subsequent models are expected to be more car-like and road-friendly.

Creating a separate sub-brand for the models will allow Land Rover to expand its lineup without diluting its off-road brand image, Autocar notes. The unique platform and body style also will make it easier to accommodate an electrified powertrain than to modify an existing Land Rover chassis. Autocar cites the difficulties in the latter case of achieving the necessary aerodynamics and waterproofing the battery for off-road operation.

Road Rover prices are expected to be start at as high as £90,000 ($122,000). Initial sales will focus on China and the U.S.

Land Rover used the Road Rover name in the 1950s for experimental vehicles designed to fit between the carmaker’s rugged SUVs and Rover cars. The concept resurfaced a decade later as a three-door wagon that provided the basis for the original Range Rover.