The 2010 Range Rover Sport builds on its predecessor's impeccable pedigree, and now comes with two new powerplants, a 375 horsepower LR-V8 5.0 liter, naturally aspirated engine, as well as a supercharged version that puts out a mammoth 510 horsepower! In India, you have the option of the 3.0 liter V6 diesel and the 5.0 liter supercharged petrol. And believe me, 510bhp in car such as this, or any car for that matter, is a lot!
These engines were developed in conjunction with Jaguar, and are touted to be lighter and more efficient than the previous generation units. The new naturally aspirated RR Sport can hit 100km/h in a very spritely 7.4 seconds, while the supercharged variant takes just 6.0 seconds - Sport indeed. Both LR-V8 engines are mated to the ZF HP28 six- speed automatic transmission.
This time, we got a chance to sample the naturally aspirated version of the new Range Rover Sport - driving it from San Francisco to Los Angeles, and back, with a mild off-road excursion at a beach on California's glorious Pacific coast.
In terms of styling, the 2010 Range Rover Sport retains the earlier versions clean cut design, The 2010 update does, however, include LED headlamps, combined with a new two-bar grille, revised front bumpers and widened fenders. At the rear, new light clusters, and a revised bumper design mirror the smoother front-end. With its muscular squat stance, the Range Rover Sport certainly has great road presence, and looks just as purposeful whether it's cruising on Hollywood Boulevard or playing in the sand.
According to the company, the interiors have been redesigned using higher quality materials and soft-touch finishes to create an environment that's 'truly worthy of the Range Rover brand: With infinitely adjustable leather seats, tactile, well laid out switches, the interiors of the Range Rover Sport are truly fantastic,and arguably better than most other luxury SUV's on the road today. In fact, the redesign does bring the cabin of the Sport much more in line with its ultra luxurious bigger brother - the original Range. Special mention, also, must be made of the Harmon Kardon surround sound system that boasts 480 watts of power. Its 14 individual speakers produce a dramatic 3D effect from a iz-channel digitally controlled amplifier that makes for outstanding acoustics.
The Sport has a new virtual instrument panel that has the latest Thin-Film- Transistor (TFT) LCD technology that provides exceptional clarity of driver information. Key information found in the instrument cluster includes air suspension height settings, hill descent control and speed settings, as well as Hi/Lo gear ratio selection. The new display certainly makes vehicle data more accessible and easier to read for the driver.
Range Rovers have always been known for their off-road ability. In the new model, the famed Terrain Response system boasts a series of improvements - including improved performance when tackling challenging terrain like sand or large rocks. For soft sand conditions, a 'sand launch control' mode makes for a noticeably easier drive-away. New, speed- dependent wheel-slip targets for the traction control system permit only very limited initial wheel-slip - helping to prevent the wheels digging down into the sand. The system also has an improved rock crawl program for better control while traversing boulders or driving through rocky terrain.
You really have to experience the effortless off-road ability of these vehicles to truly believe it. This particular Range Rover Sport wasn't able to show its full off-road potential however, as it was hampered by massive rims and low profile tarmac tires, which prevented us from taking the Sport into the larger dunes - so we rented some ATV's, and went dune bashing with those instead.
The on-road biased rubber aside, the Sport has an Integrated Body Frame (IBF) chassis that provides the best of both worlds - the strength of a ladder frame chassis, allowing it true off-road capability, as well as the rigidity of a monocoque, giving it good on-road manners. On the road, the new 375 horsepower V8 engine is smooth, and has plenty of torque, which makes for brisk acceleration. This naturally aspirated engine is just 15 horsepower shy of the previous editions supercharged powerplant. And yet, this engine is more efficient than the supercharged car that we tested last year - nonetheless, we could only manage 18 mpg (8 kmpl), which makes for frequent stops at the pump on a long journey. Nevertheless, on long drives, the Sport is an effortless cruiser - the gearing is perfect, and the engine has enough power in reserve to blitz past slower traffic. The extensive use of aluminum in the engine, transmission case, and body panels reduces weight up front and ensures that the car excels, beyond belief, on tight twisting roads - where it feels light and agile. Steering response also is improved on the Range Rover Sport with the stiffening of the front suspension lower arm forward bushing - enhancing the sense of driver involvement at higher speeds.
With its new powerplant, and subtle interior and exterior enhancements, the new Range Rover Sport builds on the previous cars' inherent strengths to offer an even more luxurious and powerful, yet efficient, package.
The new engine is so capable that it becomes hard to justify spending the extra moolah to go in for the supercharged version,which begs the obvious question-why isn't the naturally aspirated 5.0 litre available in india? Nevertheless, with its impeccable looks, the Range Sport has immense road presence and commands respect.Plus the car's versatile and equipped for anything you can throw its way.
And with Jaguar Land Rover sales on the upswing,it seems that Tata motors has reason to smile once again.Moreover,it appears that the initials fears,held by some detractors,that JLR products won't be able to incorporate the latest technology under Indian ownership have been proven completely unfounded by this desirable and modern SUV.Put simply,it's now even more brilliant on-road,and still exceptional off-road as well.
http://maguscars.com/blogs/2010/02/177/
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