JLR has revealed a bold new logo for the Range Rover brand, as it prepares to launch the luxury SUV marque's first electric model later this year.
Appearing in a recent presentation to investors, the new emblem – featuring a pair of Rs in the brand's trademark minimalist, wide-set font – is the first designed for Range Rover since it launched its original car in 1970.
JLR told Autocar, however, that the new badge is not intended to replace the spelled-out 'Range Rover' script that has adorned the front and rear of each Range Rover model since the brand's launch.
"The Range Rover Motif has been developed as a smaller symbol for where our familiar Range Rover device mark does not fit, such as on a label or as part of a repeating pattern, and within event spaces where an emblem is more appropriate," it said.
Range Rover has been split out as one of four JLR sub-brands – alongside Jaguar, Discovery and Defender – as part of the company's House of Brands strategy, wherein each of those four model lines is operated as its own business, with their own bespoke branding, positioning and marketing strategies.
Jaguar has already revealed its new-era branding as part of the Type 00 concept unveiling, but Defender and Discovery have yet to receive their own bespoke badges.
As part of this strategy, the Land Rover name will take on a new role as a 'trust mark', the company has said, meaning it will continue to be used in reference to the drivetrains and technology in the company's SUVs but will no longer be pitched so overtly as the parent marque.
Nonetheless, CEO Adrian Mardell has previously emphasised that Land Rover will remain an integral part of JLR's operations and its name will continue to feature on the cars. "I really want to reiterate and put this on record that the Land Rover mark will remain," he said, following the unveiling of the House of Brands strategy.
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The "Range Rover pattern" looks passable as a muddy boots floor mat.
Yes, this logo doesn't hit the mark, though it doesn't matter as those who must have a Range Rover buy a Range Rover, irrespective of price, this logo - or durability/reliability.
So they're going to use it as a repeating pattern. But really, it's a bit lame.
By itself it's not smart, not clever. It's amateurish at best. The work of someone in primary school, not the apex of design.
Maybe it will make sense when applied to something, but after them killing off Jaguar I fear that they've got such awful management and designers working for them that really it's a death by a thousand cuts.
Rolls Royce rang - something about possible logo copyright infringement. OK lads, turn the bottom R upside down. That's better. It's five past nine now - what are we going to do for the rest of the day?
Methinks there are too many people at JLR with nothing better to do...