FIRST
VIEW
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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