Range Rover House lands in Cape Town

Range Rover House lands in Cape Town

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Range Rover House, a bespoke experience for a bespoke brand, first opened its doors in California in August 2022, paving the way for a luxurious experience that many people wish to experience. Since then, many Range Rover Houses have played host to guests worldwide as the house shifts its location. Now in the final quarter of 2024, it has made its way to South Africa and has found itself placed in Bishopscourt, Cape Town, basking in the shadows of Table Mountain.

Upon arrival, the hypermodern home that hosted South Africa’s first Range Rover House was a remarkable sight. While the house itself was stunning, we were unprepared for the true highlight awaiting us. The centrepiece is an ultra-rare, ultra-exclusive Range Rover SV Onyx Edition, one of only seven in existence. While we will discuss this extraordinary vehicle shortly, let's first explore the space and how it is connected to this bespoke edition.

Range Rover House is an experience that embodies the brand's values and, to some extent, is similar to building a bespoke car. Attending this event made me appreciate the incredible attention to detail that contributes to the sensory experience of driving a Range Rover. Every experience laid out ties back into Range Rover and its vehicles, so let's dive a little deeper into this.

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One of the experiences that played heavily on senses was the coffee experience. It wasn’t merely enjoyment of expertly brewed African coffee but an eye-opener to how senses such as touch, sight, and hearing can influence the taste of something as simple as coffee. Different textures influence the flavour perceived as you sip away; smoother textures reveal a sweeter taste, whereas a rougher touch on the fingers will bring out bitterness. The same goes for sight: reddish hues tend to bring out the sweetness in coffee, while yellowish hues bring out a more bitter taste. This was quite a mind-boggling experience, but it goes to show how powerful one's senses can be. What makes this interesting, though, is that depending on how a Range Rover is specced, from materials to colour combos, it can evoke different sensory experiences, making it unique in its own. How’s that for food for thought?

Another experience that I enjoyed was the Chanel Experience. Here, we got to sample different fragrances and happily wear our favourite. This experience didn’t necessarily play on senses, but more so on memory and perception of eras, as every scent curated by Chanel is a nod to a specific point in time. The same can be said about how a vehicle smells; I’ll definitely be reminiscing about this Range Rover House experience whenever I smell the interior of a Range Rover again.

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Apart from having our senses tantalised and nostrils evoking memories, we got to experience the more technical aspect of Range Rover through their Design Masterclass. Here we sat down with one of Range Rover's designers from the UK, where we had a simple yet thorough run-through of how the look of modern Range Rovers came to be. Coming from an artistic background, I found this experience particularly fascinating, as every aspect of the latest Range Rover was carefully considered. A simple line is not just a line but a thoughtfully placed element that aims to evoke a specific feeling or aesthetic that the designers want owners to experience.

Those who value exclusivity will appreciate the SV lounge. Here, we experienced the extensive process of customising a Range Rover, and I can confidently say, it's quite comprehensive. Through this process, we got to configure a Range Rover of our own, and it was quite an exciting experience. What particularly impressed me was how extensively you could spec your Range Rover, from embroidery in the seats to personalised door sills with your own signature. It's extensive enough that each family member can have their own signed doorsill for the seat they sit in. To top everything off, for a fee, you can archive your configuration of your Range Rover, making it a 1 of 1; how’s that for exclusivity?

Now, there were some more experiences that made for quite the luxurious visit, such as a hot stone hand massage and an in-depth session with the only water sommelier in South Africa. This all plays to the luxury essence of the Range Rover, but it’s about time we dive into the centrepiece.

Positioned elegantly at the centre of this stunning property, the limited edition Range Rover SV Onyx Edition is a sight that any avid Range Rover fan would drool over. All seven Onyx Editions are Africa-bound, with two heading to Zimbabwe and the remaining five for South Africa. However, don't get your hopes up, as all of them have already been spoken for.

The Onyx edition is, for the most part, a styling factor that, too, will be archived. As the name suggests, this limited edition Range Rover features a stunning black paint job that reveals different hues depending on how the light reflects off the surface. To accentuate the deep black finish, Corinthian Bronze details are incorporated into specific parts of the RR's exterior styling, creating a luxurious combination that highlights the bespoke nature of the vehicle. The interior is equally impressive, with a blend of Caraway and Ebony leather; the lighter contrast, in retrospect to the darker exterior, gives the cabin a more “roomy” sensation. Exclusive touches are further added too, with “SV Bespoke Onyx” embroidered into each seat, as well as a set of “1 of 7” branded treadplates. Let me not forget to mention that the Onyx edition comes with scatter cushions for the two rear seats, and I must admit, it makes for quite the fine touch.

The Range Rover Onyx Edition is a stunning vehicle that truly captures the essence of the Range Rover brand. If you're curious about its price, it comes with a hefty tag of R5,800,000. After all, exclusivity comes at a cost.

Pairing the Range Rover Onyx Edition, which is exclusive to the African continent, with a bespoke event hosted in our homeland is truly a remarkable experience. I recommend attending the Range Rover House if the opportunity arises, as it reflects the brand's dedication and passion for its vehicles. After participating in such a bespoke experience, I can honestly say that I now have a more profound appreciation for Range Rover's attention to detail.

Words: Niki Louw

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