The all-new Range Rover Sport was launched in South African this week. Land Rover is calling it the ultimate premium sports SUV and the fastest, most-agile and responsive Land Rover ever. The Range Rover was developed alongside the all-new Range Rover, except it now delivers better on-road dynamics together with genuine Land Rover all-terrain capability. The new Range Rover Sport presents a more-assertive and muscular exterior and typically luxurious interior.
Exploiting Land Rover’s lightweight suspension design and dynamic chassis technologies, the Range Rover Sport’s aluminium architecture achieves a weight saving of up to 420 kg. Land Rover says this transforms the vehicle’s dynamic performance, enabling it to blend agile handling with exceptional comfort, sporting luxury and a dynamic driving experience.
The Range Rover Sport has a progressive exterior design that is assertive and hints at the improved driving performance; clearly positioning the vehicle between the Range Rover and the Evoque. With a fresh interpretation of the previous Range Rover Sport, the new vehicle is just 62 mm longer, yet at 4850 mm, it’s shorter than rival SUVs.
However, a significantly longer wheelbase (increased by 178 mm) provides greater room and #shorter overhangs at the front and rear, plus additional width (55 mm) give it a modern stance. The Range Rover Sport gains a ‘faster’ windscreen angle, streamlined and rounded profile and lower, dynamic sloping roofline which is 8 % more aerodynamic. The new Sport is 149mm shorter and 55mm lower too.
The lightweight aluminium suspension is fully-independent, with wide-spaced double-wishbones at the front and an advanced multi-link layout at the rear. In addition the all-new, the electric power steering is characterised by a lighter, more direct steering feel for the new Range Rover Sport. 260 mm front wheel-travel and 272 mm at the rear provides wheel articulation of 546 mm in any conditions. Maximum ground clearance is increased by 51 mm to 278 mm and Range Rover’s air suspension system automatically varies between two ride heights, with next-generation Terrain Response 2 automatically choosing the most-suitable terrain programme.
The Range Rover Sport is offered with a choice of two full-time 4WD systems; one provides a two-speed transfer case with low-range option, for tough off-road conditions with a front-rear 50/50 % torque split, and 100 % lock capability. The second is 18 kg lighter and features a single-speed transfer case with a ‘Torsen’ differential, which automatically distributes torque to the axle with most grip and working together with the traction control systems. The default front-rear torque split of 42/58 %.
From the launch, the Range Rover Sport gets a choice of three powerplants: two supercharged petrol engines (5.0-litre 375 kW V8 and the new 3.0-litre 250 kW V6) and a 215 kW 3.0-litre SDV6 diesel engine. All are paired with an advanced, electronically controlled ZF 8HP70 8-speed automatic gearbox. Acceleration times for the 0 – 100 km/h dash start at just 5.3 seconds for the flagship V8.
The new Range Rover Sport offers a stylish and understatedly luxurious interior with elegant lines and strong, architectural forms enhancing cleaner surface treatments; beautifully executed with soft-touch surfaces. The smaller diameter but thicker grip steering wheel, vertical gear shifter, higher centre console, configurable mood lighting and generously bolstered seats give it that sporty SUV feeling. Rear cabin room is 24 mm larger than before.
New chassis technology for the Range Rover Sport includes Adaptive Dynamics featuring continuously variable dampers and a twin-channel Dynamic Response active lean control. This combines with Dynamic Active Rear Locking Differential and Torque Vectoring, which transfers torque to the outside wheels during cornering. Another unique innovation on the Range Rover Sport is optional Wade Sensing that provides ‘depth’ information when driving through water.
The All-new Range Rover Sport is priced from R824 500, with the flagship V8 Supercharged HSE Dynamic at R1 263 600.
| 3.0 V6 SC S: R 824 500 |
| 3.0 V6 SC HSE: R 1 057 100 |
| 3.0 SDV6 S: R 885 800 |
| 3.0 SDV6 HSE: R 1 151 300 |
| 5.0 V8 SC HSE Dynamic: R 1 263 600 |
