It has been teased for well over a year, so does the new Range Rover live up to the hype?

Giant diamonds, speed boats, well-tailored suits, modern mansions and expensive leather handbags flashed up on giant flat screen TVs as the silk cover was pulled back to reveal the outrageously good-looking SUV.

Despite its €146k entry level asking price (yes, you read that right) and its obvious bulk and built-in technology it is genuinely retrained in its look. And what a welcome change to see.

Too many automotive facelifts and rebrands these days opt for flashy angles and revolutionary changes, but this new look beast is far more satisfying to look at in its simplicity.

The premium brand claim that over seven million hours of planning went into this SUV after 30,000 conversations with Range rover customers. The prototypes came through at least 125 separate patents and before it was ready to go to market it was tested over one million kilometres. When Land Rover decide to change one of the planet’s most iconic cars they don’t skimp and cut corners.

Speaking of cutting corners, the boffins have added ‘all-wheel steering’ which means driving and parking the gigantic vehicle will be so much easier. And such is their devotion to tech that they will allow you to park your car using the app.

With cameras strategically positioned around the car they are doing everything in their power to make the driving experience as user friendly as is possible and the latest version has included ‘night vision’ in their cameras too so driving after dark shouldn’t be an intimidating task.

There are two PHEV options (440PS and 510PS) and there will even be a full electric version landing in 2024, which will be the company’s first ever EV.

But before that arrives (and will no doubt come with a monstrous asking price) you should know that the Range Rover plug-in hybrids offer and mind-boggling 113km in battery range. So they are using the space afforded to them.

This catapults it to the top of the market and will be a huge incentive for the lucky few who have bank balances that can justify the asking price.

They don’t seem to have sacrificed much of the space inside either because when you perch yourself into any of the seats you are transported to a premium luxury level that you normally don’t get unless you are in a First Class airline seat.

The front two seats even come with independent armrests (controlled by lovely twisty knobs) positioned on either side of the enormous centre console. Most car companies would have just left the driver and lead passenger to rest their leather-patched elbows on the centre unit. But not LR.

The touch screen is crisp and slick and very easy to navigate and the instrument clusters behind the girthy steering wheel are beautifully designed.

The boot is huge too. Obviously. And I’m guessing you knew that. The bottom half of the door lowers down and acts as a comfy bench with independent speakers and lights for outdoor entertainment purposes. Of course it does.

And I didn’t even get to the best bit from Friday morning’s breakfast launch. The 2022 spec Range Rover has a 7-seat option.

In conclusion, you can have whatever you want here, but you’ll need a healthy bank balance and some patience as the supply chain will, no doubt be affected by the global micro chip shortage.

They still expect to sell between 50 and 80 this year and are aiming for full supply to be back by Q1 2023.

I will get a full test week in one later this year and let you know everything else about the car.