Land Rover Range Rover Sport History
By
LATEST ARTICLE
Chevy Volt Vs. Nissan Leaf: Compare Cars
For now, they're the only two mass-market electric vehicles on the road. So, which one should you... Read More
Chevy Volt Vs. Nissan Leaf: Compare Cars
For now, they're the only two mass-market electric vehicles on the road. So, which one should you... Read More
- #12LEADERBOARD RANK
- 4885ARTICLES CONTRIBUTED
- 96COMMENTS POSTED
248 views
The Land Rover Range Rover Sport is a five-door luxury sport-utility vehicle designed and first produced by the British automaker when it still was owned by Ford Motor Company. Since 2008, Land Rover has been a part of the Tata Group, which has brought an updated version of the Sport to the U.S. for the 2010 model year.
The Range Rover Sport was conceived to appeal to buyers of less traditional utes--it shares the Range Rover tag, but its styling is considerably less constrained. The look is based on a concept, the Range Stormer, that came in two-door form to the 2004 Detroit auto show. In the process of becoming a "junior" Range Rover, the concept grew a pair of rear doors, but kept the performance intent that makes it a competitor for the likes of the BMW X5 and X6, and the Porsche Cayenne.
The Range Rover Sport first came to America as a 2006 model, slotted just beneath the tried and true Range Rover in the brand lineup, distinct from the LR3 and LR2 "family" Rovers. Outfitted with either a naturally-aspirated 4.4-liter V-8 engine (which had its roots at BMW, which sold Land Rover to Ford) or a supercharged 4.2-liter V-8 that was shared with the Jaguar XF and XJ for a time. Both versions offered a six-speed automatic transmission and a sophisticated off-road-worthy suspension with standard all-wheel drive. The "Terrain Response" system allowed drivers to select a four-wheel-drive mode based on conditions like snow, sand, or pavement, and tailored the Sport's traction and stability control to match. Elsewhere, the Sport brought touchscreen controls to the Land Rover tradition, with a big LCD screen incorporating navigation, climate and audio functions.
During the next three model years, the Range Rover Sport would change very little, as Ford sold the brand to Tata and as it was combined into a business unit with Jaguar. In 2010, however, Land Rover had completed work on an updated Range Rover Sport. The centerpiece to the new model: a 5.0-liter V-8, in standard or supercharged form. With the new powerplants, the Sport now offers either 375 horsepower or a stunning 510 hp, enough to hurtle the truck from 0-60 mph in less than six seconds. The automatic transmission received updates to handle the power, and the suspension's electronic controls were reprogrammed for quicker responses. Fuel economy is poor, at 12/17 mpg for the fastest Sport, but handling is as brilliant as many luxury sedans--the equal of BMW's fine-handling X6--and off-road capability is as strong as necessary in such an expensive, attractive vehicle. A new Dynamic mode brings new quickness to the steering and throttle, too.
With the mechanical upgrades have come a new interior, one a little more fitting to the Land Rover brand. There are finer plastics where necessary, and more leather and wood trim in all--giving the Sport ever more of the elusive Range Rover feel.
No crash tests have been performed on the Range Rover Sport, but its safety equipment includes its interlinked all-wheel-drive system, stability and traction control, hill descent control, and side curtain airbags.
The Range Rover Sport will get a smaller, less expensive cousin in the coming 18 months when Land Rover adds the LRX, a new two-door off-roader with styling cues also lifted from the Range Stormer and follow-up concept cars.
