Gerry McGovern, Jaguar Land Rover’s acclaimed chief creative officer, sits down with Modern Luxury to talk about the intersection of fashion and automobiles.
Short front overhangs, an upright windscreen and its distinctive boat tail rear are key elements of the Range Rover’s signature proportions.
For Gerry McGovern, chief creative officer of Jaguar Land Rover, fashion is more than just a style of dress—it is art and an inspiration in his daily life. As a young schoolboy growing up in the U.K., McGovern would secretly sketch cars in class, but he also had a keen desire for luxury and fashion. McGovern vividly remembers when he got his first bespoke tailored suit; he was just 13 years old. Ever since, McGovern has become known for his strong sense of style in the relatively staid automotive industry. From his tailored Saville Row suits to his collection of Hermès sneakers and Birkin bags, McGovern is not afraid to blaze a path forward in a sea of pinstriped suits and black Oxfords.
McGovern’s interest in the fashion industry influences his design philosophy and has contributed to making Range Rover arguably the most desirable luxury SUV brand. Of luxury, McGovern describes it as “deeply human because it sparks desire, creates emotions and nurtures the essential quest for better. … Like art, luxury elevates us beyond the everyday; it helps us be human.” This philosophy has clearly informed his design of the stunning new 2022 Range Rover.
Range Rover’s signature command seating position gives you a clear view of the road ahead.
Defined by its falling roofline, strong waistline and rising sill line, the Range Rover’s modernist, reductive design is also functional, helping it achieve a drag coefficient of 0.3, making it the most aerodynamically efficient luxury SUV in the world. McGovern sums up the new Range Rover’s design: “It is quite simply the most desirable Range Rover ever created.” To achieve its clean design, McGovern’s team leaned on new technologies including laser-welded roof joints, flush glazing and distinctive hidden-until-lit rear LED lights.
Inside, the new Range Rover is a showcase for exquisite material finishes and innovative new materials like sustainable Ultrafabrics and real metal trim. An architectural lightness is achieved inside by a floating glass 13.1-inch touch screen along with a giant panoramic roof that bathes the interior in natural light. For the first time ever, the 2022 Range Rover will offer buyers their choice of seating for five or seven, opening up the Range Rover to a whole new set of potential owners. Equally exciting? The new vehicle also takes sustainability to new heights, offering a fully electric powertrain for the 2024 model year. Range Rover will also offer a plugin hybrid model for 2023, which promises a battery-only range of 48 miles. Look for the 2022 Range Rover to arrive at Land Rover dealers by the beginning of summer.
Mark your calendar—the first fully electric, plug-in Range Rover launches in 2024.
Fast Facts
• The fifth-generation Range Rover will be built in Solihull, England, the historic home of Range Rover.
• The Range Rover’s chief designer, Gerry McGovern, was recognized as an Officer of the Order of the British Empire by Queen Elizabeth II in 2020.
• It is the first Range Rover ever produced with three rows of seats and room for seven.
• Active noise cancellation creates one of the quietest interiors of any SUV.
• Advanced nanoe X technology filtration reduces the presence of viruses and bacteria in the cabin.
• It will be the basis for the first fully electric Range Rover set to debut in 2024.
• The top-of-the-line model will be the Range Rover SV, which will allow buyers unprecedented levels of customization and handcrafted luxury.
Photography by: PHOTOS COURTESY OF BRAND
