Revealed: First official pictures of the new Range Rover

Land Rover has released the first official pictures of the new fourth-generation Range Rover in undisguised form.

The new car leans heavily on its successful predecessors for its external design, but the familiar looks hide a radical change – a big weight saving of 420kg compared with the outgoing model.

The reduction in weight is partly the result of the adoption of the world's first lightweight aluminium alloy monocoque bodyshell on an SUV, and should help the new Range Rover make badly needed improvements in fuel economy and emissions.

The new car has a second generation version of Land Rover's Terrain Response system, which alters several parameters of the car's behaviour such as ride height and throttle response according to conditions. Engines include a supercharged petrol V8 and V6 and V8 turbo diesels.

Land Rover will be taking orders for the new car from next month, with the first deliveries to customers taking place in early 2013.