The 2012 Range Rover is going to be a lot lighter.  Tata Motors, which owns the Land Rover/Range Rover brand, found a way to slim down its fleet of luxury all-terrain vehicles.  What does this mean?

Before Tata Motors became owner of the Land Rover family, it was under the Ford name.  Ford tried for a long time to reduce the overall weight of the SUV’s but didn’t have a ton of luck.

There a few things being done that will reduce overall weight by about 992 pounds to be exact.  First off, the roof will be lower, which reduces both the frontal area size and “aerodynamic drag”.  The latter being a term that many companies are hoping to reduce by altering the exterior design.  Second, the chassis is going to be constructed differently, by using a riveted aluminum.  This chassis type is also found in Jaguar’s newest XJ models.  Lastly, some materials used in the paneling are going to be lighter weight and possibly more environmentally friendly.  The materials will weigh less, helping reduce the overall mass of the Range Rover.

The 2012 Range Rover will also have some tweaks to the engine, helping reduce CO2 emissions.  It seems like many cars companies are really working hard to make sure that this harmful gas’s devastating effects on the environment are reduced.  It will reduce CO2 emissions from more than 300 grams/kilometer to less than 200!  If that number holds, it is a great stat, especially for a large vehicle, like a Chicago Land Rover.

The 2012 Range Rover is going to be a great vehicle.  It will still keep the luxurious interior and features that owners rely on.  Stay tuned for more details!