Imagine an all-electric AWD rugged wagon.
We reported earlier this month about Land Rover’s plans for a first-ever model other than the SUV and crossover segments. The Road Rover was then claimed by a British magazine. It could be Jaguar’s aluminum-intensive platform, which will underpin the new Jaguar XJ.
As an indirect confirmation of these rumors, we now have a trademark filing for the Road Rover nameplate. This was brought to our attention from AutoExpress. In our wildest dreams, we imagine a wagon-style all-wheel-drive wagon that is high-riding and can compete with the Audi A6 Allroad or Volvo V90 Cross Country. You can also choose a rugged sedan.
The rumored non-conventional engine makes these speculations all the more appealing. Autocar claims that the Road Rover will use a dual motor electric system to power its all-wheel drive capabilities. It can also provide a range of 300 miles (482 km) on a single charge. The model could be the first ever all-electric Land Rover production vehicle.
A trademark filing does not necessarily mean that a new model has been developed. Automakers sometimes patent potential nameplates to protect them from being stolen by trademark squatters and rival brands. This could be true for Road Rover, although we’ll have to wait at most a few months to learn more.
Land Rover is partnered Jaguar and has several patented names that it may use in the future. The JType, JPace and CPace names are all rumored to go to a new mid-engine sportscar. The C-Pace could also be used to create a niche coupe-SUV model that is based on F-Pace.
Land Rover’s model lineup is in flux. The Road Rover is expected to arrive in 2020. About a year later, the next-generation Range Rover will debut on the new Modular Longitudinal architecture.