The latest prototype, scooped testing yesterday in the Midlands, reveals the evolutionary looks of the new car. Land Rover has opted against a significant styling overhaul of its most luxurious model, given the longevity and popularity of the current design.

The front-end styling has been modernised and softened slightly from before; the biggest change is to the front headlights, which wrap around slightly into the sides of the car.

The boxy profile of the third-generation Range Rover has been softened slightly for the new car, although Land Rover has decided against giving the new model a more Evoque-style sloping roofline that earlier prototypes featured. One big change is rear cabin access; the rear doorlines are raked further backwards to create a wider opening.

The changes have also been kept to a minimum at the rear, the biggest news being slimmed down light clusters.

The real changes to the new car will be under the skin and in the cabin. The new Range Rover will be first Jaguar Land Rover model to adopt the all-new modular aluminium monocoque platform that will be used beneath the firm’s next generation of mid-full size cars.

The new architecture should result in a significant weight saving – as much as 400kg – over today’s heavyweight Range Rover. The new platform is also said to offer a significant increase in rear legroom, one of the chief criticisms of today’s car.

Inside, a greater emphasis than ever will be placed on luxury as Land Rover looks to beat the likes of Bentley, Maserati and Aston Martin to the super-luxury SUV market. Expect features from last year’s £125,000 Autobiography Ultimate Edition – such as individual rear seats and a bespoke rear centre console milled from a single piece of aluminium – to carry over into top-end £120,000 versions of the new car.

The entry-level model is expected to cost from around £65,000, and is likely to be revealed at the Paris motor show in September before going on sale early next year.