The Ultimate Range Rover… literally

The current-generation (L322) Range Rover is now in its twilight years -- it dates back to 2002 -- and although it's had a few updates along the way, the big luxo SUV is expected to make way for an all-new replacement over the next 12 to 18 months.

It's believed the newbie will cut around 450kg from the existing model's girth, thanks to a riveted aluminium chassis similar in construction to the Jaguar XJ.

Meanwhile, here's the latest Rangie special edition to help prop up buyer interest in the current model. It's dubbed the Autobiography Ultimate Edition, and its UK pricing is expected to be around the £130,000 mark -- a premium of almost 60 per cent over the 4.4 TDV8 flagship.

If we were to extrapolate an Australian price from this, it wouldn't be far short of $350k, which would make it easily the priciest SUV on the market. Just 500 examples of the Ultimate will be built, and it will be offered in only 20 countries around the world (whether we'll get it here is yet to be confirmed).

Each vehicle will be built to order, and buyers will be able to specify either the 4.4-litre turbodiesel V8 or the 5.0-litre Supercharged V8.

The extravagant price brings a revamped cabin that features individual rear bucket seats, a new centre console design and lashings of the finest semi-aniline leather and 'Kalahari' wood veneers and milled aluminium throughout the interior.

Among the surprise-and-delight features are a drinks chiller and laptop table built into the rear centre console, and the backs of the front seats have also been modified to accommodate Apple iPads.

Taking a leaf out of the Rolls-Royce Phantom Drophead's design manual, the Ultimate Edition's rear luggage bay features a yacht-style teak floor with aluminium and leather detailing.

The exterior tweaks are relatively subtle, with the most distinctive element being the Ultimate's bespoke 20-inch alloy wheels.

Read the latest Carsales Network news and reviews on your mobile, iPhone or PDA at the carsales mobile site