Land Rover announces long-wheelbase Range Rover, Autobiography Black edition

Land Rover is launching a long-wheelbase version of the redesigned Range Rover, recognizing that many customers are now buying the SUV as an alternative to a luxury sedan. The concept of a long-wheelbase Range Rover is not as foreign as it might seem at first blush. It was only 20 years ago that Range Rover offered the Range Rover County LWB, as it was known in the U.S. market; that vehicle was eight inches longer than the standard wheelbase model. Even though several coachbuilders have offered stretched and armored versions of the modern Range Rover, this will be the first time that a factory version based on the current model will be available.

The long-wheelbase 2014 Range Rover L, as it will be called, will debut at the 2013 Los Angeles auto show, alongside a new range-topping trim called the Range Rover Autobiography Black.

The Range Rover L has been stretched by approximately eight inches, lengthening the body shell in front of the rear wheels, which increases the rear seat legroom by 5.5 inches. The long-wheelbase model will now offer standard bench seats or individual Executive Class rear seats, which will be able to recline by an additional 17 degrees, eight degrees more than the standard wheelbase model. A function called "passenger seat away" will slide the front seat forward to give the rear seat passenger even more legroom. The long-wheelbase version will be available on the Range Rover Vogue, Vogue SE, Autobiography, and Autobiography Black trim levels, with the Hybrid model expected to offer the same layout later in 2014.

Alongside the long-wheelbase model, the company will be debuting the Range Rover Autobiography Black, a new range-topping trim level that will be available on standard wheelbase and long-wheelbase models. Created by Jaguar Land Rover's "Engineered To Order" (ETO) division, Autobiography Black will offer unique seat cover designs along with the Executive Class seating package, but it'll be the fully adjustable, extended center console with electrically powered folding tables that is likely to dazzle customers. The electrically deployable tables will be finished with black leather and will feature integrated USB charging sockets, along with more traditional functions like cupholders. The Autobiography Black edition will also feature a chiller compartment with space for glasses and bottles, and it will be available only in the long-wheelbase version. The rear seats in the Autobiography Black edition will also offer lumbar massage, and the whole interior will also feature LED mood lighting, featuring a range of 10 colors. Black enamel and chrome accents throughout the exterior will complete the look.

Range Rover Autobiography Black will be limited to around 100 examples for the 2014 model year and is expected to retail north of the $130,000 Autobiography edition currently offered.

The long-wheelbase Range Rover will debut at the Los Angeles and Guangzhou motor shows, while the Autobiography Black will debut at the Dubai motor show. Pricing has yet to be announced for the long-wheelbase version or the Autobiography Black version. Please note that Land Rover has not yet released photos of the long-wheelbase model, so the exterior photos above are of the standard-wheelbase Range Rover.

About the LA Auto Show

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By Jay Ramey