Range Rover Sport

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Category: Range Rover Sport

Last Updated on Monday, 25 July 2011 20:21

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Range Rover Sport 2004 -

The Range Rover Sport brought to fruition the desire of Land Rover's previous corporate owner (Ford) to expand the number of models in the line-up and increase market share with a slightly smaller, more sporty luxury SUV. It is aimed squarely at the "sports car SUVs" such as the BMW X3 & X5, Mercedes ML, VW Touareg and Porsche Cayenne, with the idea of equalling their on-road performance while blowing them away in off-road capability. When the "Range Stormer" concept vehicle made the rounds of auto shows, everyone hoped that Ford would not debase the Range Rover name by using it on something with less than superior off road capabilities. As it turns out, Land Rover has done a creditable job, and the resulting vehicle is so impressive that thousands were ordered months before it became available to the buying public.

The new model was officially unveiled in November 2004.

Based on the Discovery 3/LR3 platform, the Range Rover Sport uses the same hybrid chassis and body construction, with wheelbase reduced by 6 inches and the overall stance lowered. The more stylish, less bulky bodywork has traditional Range Rover styling cues such as the "floating" roof and clamshell bonnet. The Discovery 3's double-wishbone air suspension with "Terrain Response" system is utilized, along with its base engine, the 300 horsepower Jaguar-derived 4.4 litre V8.

The Sport's reduced bulk gives it better highway performance than stablemate the Discovery 3, further enhanced by a sophisticated dynamic stability system. More exciting is the upscale version with a 4.2 litre supercharged version of the V8, developing about 400 horsepower and a top speed of 140 mph. Even this version will not quite keep up with the fastest "posh" SUVs from Porsche and Mercedes, but it's good enough to provide a serious alternative for those looking for something with real off-road capability. For the more economy-minded, a 2.7 litre diesel version is also available.

One loss compared to other Range Rovers is the traditional and very useful tailgate, as this is replaced in the Sport by a hatch back design that allows you to open either the top window only, or the whole hatch for full access.

In spite of the 6 inch wheelbase reduction, overall length is only 2.4 inches (6 cm) shorter than the Discovery, and the Sport is actually 20kg heavier. Compared to the standard Range Rover, it is about 6.5 inches shorter and 40kg heavier. This reflects the less efficient (from a strength to weight point of view) body and frame construction compared to the BMW-designed monocoque Range Rover.

The transmission for this model is also directly from the Discovery, a 6 speed ZF HP26 unit with normal, sport, and manual shift modes. On the supercharged model, a "positive torque" feature is added to enhance gear changes. The transfer case, also from the Discovery, has an excellent low range ratio of 2.9 to 1 and an electronically controlled locking centre differential.

Land Rover's now-standard 4-wheel electronic traction control and Hill Descent Control systems are included on this model. Also included is the new "Terrain Response" system that was introduced on the Discovery 3. Like the rest of the Sport's mechanicals, the suspension derives directly from the Discovery 3, but with some variations to optimize it for higher speed performance on road. This suspension was in turn derived from the Range Rover independent electronically controlled air suspension, but uses double wishbones both front and rear (the Range Rover Mk III (L322) uses MacPherson struts in the front).

Range Rover Sport pictures

Range Stormer Concept vehicle.

Range Rover Sport.

Range Rover Sport - Gaydon 2008

2011 Range Rover sport

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