- SPORTS TOURER: New sports tourer SUV with inspiring and refined on-road
performance, as well as outstanding breadth of capability
- NUMBER FIVE: A fifth nameplate for Land Rover, complementing the
award-winning Range Rover
- POWER: Supercharged 287kW, 4.2-litre V8 top-of-the-range engine, plus
high-technology V6 diesel and V8 normally aspirated engine options
- DYNAMIC RESPONSE: Land Rover's new Dynamic Response suspension system and
performance-tuned chassis help deliver responsive handling and comfortable ride
- TERRAIN RESPONSE: Acclaimed Terrain Response
system for class-leading
off-road capability
- DESIGN: Aerodynamic and muscular exterior design, with spacious,
well-equipped interior and cockpit feel for the driver
The Range Rover Sport, an all-new sports tourer SUV from Land Rover, is the
best-performing and best-handling vehicle that the renowned 4WD manufacturer has
ever built. Powered in top-line form by a supercharged 287kW 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 ultimate luxury
SUV. Range Rover Sport is more compact and will be priced to fit between
Discovery 3 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 and maximum
torque 550Nm with an electronically-limited top speed of 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 cockpit 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 cockpit 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 4WD's, 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. 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: a normally aspirated
220kW, 4.4-litre petrol engine and the all-new 2.7-litre turbocharged V6 diesel
with 440Nm of torque. 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
in Australia late in 2005.
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