New Range Rover has familiar shape

The crown jewel. The franchise. That is what the Range Rover is to the Land Rover brand. And never in the 51-year history of the vehicle — the first luxury SUV — has the debut of a new generation been so important.

Pictures of the SUV undergoing road tests give the clearest look of how the fifth-generation will look.

The shape is familiar, the lines are cleaner and the iconic design cues, such as the clamshell hood and sloping roof, remain. The headlights and grille appear to be smaller.

Under the skin, the new Range Rover rides on Jaguar Land Rover's aluminum-intensive MLA platform, which can accommodate internal combustion, hybrid and battery-electric powertrains.

The varying gaps between the wheels and body in the series of spy photos appear to show the Range Rover will retain its adjustable suspension system.

The new Range Rover will go into production late this year or in early 2022. It is expected to go far upmarket to take on the Bentley Bentayga, Aston Martin DBX and others.

Jaguar Land Rover design chief Gerry McGovern promised the fifth-generation version would be instantly recognizable as a Range Rover.

While the exterior shape looks like it will be familiar, it's the interior design and choice of materials — which have not yet been seen — that may be the most important as the Range Rover defends its vaunted turf.