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The Range Rover Sport, an all-new sports
tourer SUV from Land Rover, is the best-performing and best-handling
vehicle that the renowned sport-utility vehicle manufacturer has ever
built. Powered in top-line form by a supercharged 287kW [390hp in North
America] V8 engine, the Range Rover Sport is designed to combine
invigorating dynamic ability with outstanding comfort and refinement.
"The Range Rover Sport is an
additional, fifth nameplate for the Land Rover brand," says Matthew
Taylor, Managing Director of Land Rover. "It takes us into the
growing performance SUV market but is different from all rivals. We see
it as a less frenetic, more refined alternative to existing performance
SUVs. It is ideal for fast, comfortable, long-distance driving and
practical enough for everyday use. Yet it is also exceptional off-road,
offering better all-terrain ability than any competitor. Like all Land
Rover products, it offers the broadest range of capability in its class.
"It also perfectly complements the
existing Range Rover – the luxury SUV. Range Rover Sport is more
compact and will be priced to fit between Discovery 3/LR3 and the Range
Rover in the Land Rover product range."
The spirit of the Range Rover Sport was
embodied in the much-admired Range Stormer concept vehicle, first seen at
the 2004 North American International Auto Show in Detroit.
The top-line Range Rover Sport uses a
specially-developed version of Jaguar's acclaimed 4.2-litre supercharged
V8 engine. Maximum power is 287kW [390hp in North America] and maximum
torque 410lbft/550Nm with an electronically-limited top speed of
140mph/225km/h. Power and torque are delivered to all four wheels through
a ZF six-speed 'intelligent shift' automatic gearbox featuring sport
programming and Land Rover's CommandShift™, which offers manual control
of gearchanges. Low range is electronically selectable. One of the most
aerodynamic of all SUVs, the Range Rover Sport combines a smooth shape
with powerful stance, muscular wheel-arches, a raked roof, and
tailgate-mounted rear spoiler. Recognisable Range Rover styling cues
include the 'floating' roof (created by the black roof pillars) and
clamshell bonnet. But in the interests of improved airflow, the bonnet
castellations have been smoothed away and the windscreen given a faster
angle.
The Range Rover Sport has a five-door body
style, with a single-piece rear aluminium tailgate that includes an
opening rear glass for easy access.
Inside, it is a roomy yet sporty five-seater
featuring premium materials, including leather, wood and metallic
finishes. The kazzoopit is designed around the driver, with a high and
sweeping centre console so the driver reaches across to the controls
rather than down to them. The seats are sporty and supportive.
"It is the best ‘driver's vehicle’
that Land Rover has ever made," says Matthew Taylor. "There is
the traditional Land Rover Command driving position, yet the kazzoopit is
more cocooning than the SUV norm. We believe the emphasis on the driving
experience will make the Range Rover Sport an attractive proposition to
those who currently drive luxury executive cars (sedans), as well as the
more sporty 4x4s, thanks to its overall refinement and unmatched breadth
of capability."
Although developed with greater emphasis on
on-road performance than any previous Land Rover, the Range Rover Sport is
exceptionally competent across all terrains. Its off-road capability is
boosted by Land Rover's highly effective Terrain Response™ system, which
is standard on all models. It allows the driver to choose one of five
terrain settings via a rotary control on the centre console. Terrain
Response then automatically selects the most appropriate settings for the
vehicle's many advanced electronic controls and traction aids –
including ride height, engine torque response, Hill Descent Control,
electronic traction control and transmission settings.
Land Rover's new and unique Integrated
Body-frame™ structure, first seen on Discovery 3/LR3, has now been
tailored for the Range Rover Sport to reinforce the vehicle's sporting
character. This includes a six-inch/14cm shorter wheelbase
(108inches/275cm) for improved agility. Four-corner air suspension is
standard on all models. The double-wishbone suspension has been designed
for sporty ride and handling, especially when cornering, and the
speed-proportional variable ratio steering allows low-speed agility, while
providing stability during high-speed cruising.
Land Rover's new Dynamic Response system
senses cornering forces and acts to optimise body control and handling
performance. Dynamic Response, making its debut on the Range Rover Sport,
is standard on supercharged models, and optional on the others. The system
decouples off-road, to allow greater wheel articulation during tough
all-terrain driving.
In keeping with its ‘driver's pedigree’,
key work on the chassis tuning of Range Rover Sport was completed at the
Nürburgring circuit in Germany, in addition to the usual rigorous on-road
and off-road Land Rover development programme. Advanced electronic safety
aids include Electronic Traction Control, Emergency Brake Assist and
Dynamic Stability Control. On the supercharged version, four-piston Brembo
front brakes help give superb braking ability.
In addition to the supercharged engine used
in the top-line Range Rover Sport, two further Jaguar-derived engines are
available (depending on market): a normally aspirated 220kW [300hp in
North America], 4.4-litre petrol engine and the all-new 2.7-litre
turbocharged V6 diesel. All engines have been extensively developed to
meet Land Rover specifications, including improved waterproofing for
wading, extra dust protection, and the ability to handle the extreme
angles demanded in tough off-roading. A six-speed automatic gearbox, with
a sports mode and low range is standard. It automatically and
'intelligently' adapts itself to the individual driver's style, to
increase driving pleasure for the enthusiast.
Practical technologies available on the
Range Rover Sport include adaptive cruise control (its first Land Rover
application), bi-xenon adaptive front lighting, and latest generation
satellite navigation, both on- and off-road. Audio systems by harman/kardon®
and a twin-screen DVD rear-seat entertainment system, with high-resolution
screens enclosed in the front seat head rests, are available. The Range
Rover Sport makes its world debut in January 2005 at the North American
International Auto Show in Detroit. The vehicle will be available from
mid-2005 in Europe and North America, and later in other markets.
Range Rover
Sport Review
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