Range Rover Goes “Galactic” with the Astronaut Edition Autobiography

The Neil deGrasse Tyson of luxury SUVs.

If celestial bodies and special edition Range Rovers are your thing, you’re in luck. Teaming up with Land Rover Special Vehicle Operations on production, the Range Rover Astronaut Edition elevates the popular luxury SUV.

Partnership with Virgin Galactic since 2014

RANGE ROVER REACHES NEW HEIGHTS WITH ASTRONAUT EDITION BUILT TO CELEBRATE PARTNERSHIP WITH VIRGIN GALACTIC
Range Rover Astronaut Edition. Photo: Range Rover

Offering a one-off interior and some exterior styling changes, this special edition Rover celebrates Land Rover’s 5-year partnership with Virgin Galactic as their exclusive automotive partner. To that point, the Astronaut Edition is also only available to Virgin Galactic Future Astronaut community members. So all you stargazers and Neil deGrasse Tyson wannabe nerds who can’t afford this life-changing journey are out of luck.

A plug-in hybrid Range Rover Autobiography with some unique features

The Land Rover Special Vehicle Operations team has essentially taken a Range Rover Autobiography and added some ‘intergalactic’ cosmetic upgrades for those few who will actually get a chance to own it. Nothing has changed under the hood, so expect the same plug-in hybrid (PHEV) powertrain delivering a combined 404PS and EV range of 42km. If you’re more ‘stars’ and less ‘green,’ a 5.0L V8 P525 supercharged petrol variant is also available.

Range Rover Astronaut Edition. Photo: Range Rover

The exterior gets the Zero Gravity Blue paint finish, which, according to the builder, is “inspired by the depth and intensity of the night sky.” The side profile finishers and tailgate find unique Astronaut Edition badging, while a bespoke puddle lamp illumination design features the silhouette of Virgin Galactic’s SpaceShipTwo.

Range Rover Astronaut Edition. Photo: Range Rover

Inside, space dorks will appreciate features including a crafted piece of the spaceship’s front landing skid that flew on Virgin Spaceship Unity’s first space flight in December 2018, along with cupholders re-purposed from that same landing skid.

But for those Future Astronauts (AKA wealthy individuals) who complete their ‘mission’ the Astronaut Edition’s cabin takes it a step further: the “See you up there” quote from Richard Branson which is inscribed in the interior will be replaced by part of the wooden skid from that customer’s own spaceflight.

So, we’ll see you up there! Or maybe not.

Range Rover Astronaut Edition celebrates Virgin Galactic partnership
Range Rover Astronaut Edition. Photo: Range Rover
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Author:
Amee Reehal
Amee Reehalhttps://www.ameereehal.com/
Shooting cars and bikes professionally since film was a thing, for over 20 years, Amee has collaborated with the major automakers and agencies, and his work has been published in various global outlets including MotorTrend, GlobeDrive, SuperStreet, Chicago Tribune, PerformanceBMW, and others. He’s an automotive writer and founder/managing editor of TractionLife.com, focusing on digital marketing & SEO for the past ten years (backed by a marketing degree, go figure). Find him travelling, spending time with his kids and family. Or golfing, poorly.