Range Rover Bertone

The 1988 Land Rover Range Rover Bertone was a design proposal created by Bertone for the next generation of the Range Rover. It was not selected for production, but it remains an important study because it shows how the Italian design house interpreted the idea of a more modern and refined luxury off-road vehicle at the end of the 1980s. The proposal kept the basic Range Rover identity: a tall body, large glass area, straight waistline, practical five-door layout, and strong off-road stance. However, Bertone gave the vehicle a cleaner and more architectural appearance. The front end was very flat and horizontal, with slim rectangular headlamps set into a full-width graphic panel. The grille was reduced to a narrow dark band, giving the car a technical and almost concept-car appearance. The bonnet was simple and broad, with sharp edges rather than decorative surfacing. From the side, the design used a long, straight beltline and large flush-looking windows. The pillars were visually darkened, creating a continuous glasshouse that made the upper body appear lighter. The body sides were plain and geometric, with minimal ornamentation, simple door handles, and restrained protective trim. The wheel arches were squared but softened at the corners, keeping the rugged Range Rover character while making the form more polished. The rear was also highly simplified. A wide black panel carried the Range Rover lettering across the tailgate, with horizontal rear lamps integrated into the same band. The rear window was large and upright, and the tailgate area was almost completely flat. This gave the vehicle a modern, premium appearance while preserving the practical loading form expected from a Range Rover. Mechanically, the proposal would have been based on Land Rover Range Rover components of the period, including the brand’s established four-wheel-drive system and V8 engine options. No evidence indicates that the Bertone proposal reached series production, and available information does not confirm a production run. It should therefore be described as a non-selected styling proposal, not as a coachbuilt production variant.