LIGHT & LUXURIOUS; If Land Rover survives beyond Ford selling it, this might be its flagship.(News)

Byline: JULIAN RENDELL

Land Rover is putting the finishing touches on the design and engineering of an all-new Range Rover, a milestone that marks the company's next phase of new-model launches.

Scheduled for sale in 2012, the next Range Rover takes on the role of replacement for the vehicle that launched Ford's Land Rover ownership in 2001. By the time a new Range Rover arrives, assuming one does, either as this all-new model or merely a refreshening, Land Rover probably will be far removed from Ford ownership once again.

Regardless of who or what company is at the helm, any new Range Rover would be crucial, starting the replacement cycle for the next-generation Range Rover Sport, LR3, LR2 and Defender, plus possible additional models.

With this in mind, the future Range Rover will feature a development aimed at maintaining the flagship model as the world's most luxurious 4x4 sport/utility vehicle: an aluminum unibody.

Although Ford has yet to give final approval, insiders expect the green light in the next few months to begin development of the aluminum body shell, using the same rivet-bonding technology proven on Jaguar's XJ sedan. "We're just waiting to hear go,'' says one official.

Together with sharper styling, a superluxury interior, new engines, modified running gear and a possible hybrid powertrain, insiders are speculating that top-end models of the new Range Rover might even nudge into Bentley territory with a price the equivalent of $200,000 today. Of course, Ford's "final approval'' might be worthless if the Brit marque is sold and the buyer thinks a $200,000 Range Rover is not a good idea.