Land Rover’s second-generation Range Rover Sport has been officially launched in Britain’s idyllic Cotswolds this week, headlined by a global drive program for the international press.
The new Range Rover Sport represents the latest in a line of hugely successful designs from iconic British car maker, including the Range Rover Evoque (launched in 2011) and the more recent fourth-generation Range Rover.
Despite the current fanfare in the UK, Australian buyers will need to wait until November for the 2014 Range Rover Sport to arrive in local showrooms.
In most cases, pricing for the new-generation Range Rover Sport represents only a slight increase on the outgoing seven-year-old model.
The new line-up will start at $102,800 for the entry-level TDV6 SE, which is powered by a 190kW/600Nm 3.0-litre turbo-diesel V6 that takes it from 0-100km/h in 7.6 seconds.
The $113,600 SDV6 carries a more powerful 215kW/600Nm diesel powerplant that can push it from 0-100km/h in 7.2 seconds.
Higher-spec models in the range include the HSE ($125,800) and the top-shelf Autobiography ($145,500).
The HSE is also available with a high-performance 250kW/450Nm 3.0-litre supercharged petrol V6 from $123,100.
Sitting at the top of the new Range Rover Sport line-up is the 375kW/625Nm 5.0-litre supercharged V8, available in either HSE Dynamic for $161,600 or Autobiography Dynamic from $182,400. Both models are able to sprint from 0-100km/h in a blistering 5.3 seconds.
All Range Rover Sport variants feature permanent four-wheel drive and an eight-speed automatic transmission with manual shift option.
The TDV6 SE makes do with a single-speed transfer box, while the rest of the range gets a twin-speed transfer gearbox with high and low range.
A key feature of the new Sport model is its significantly lighter weight and subsequent fuel-efficiency gains over its predecessor.
Up to 420kg has been shed, with the latest TDV6 and SDV6 weighing 2115kg and claiming 7.3-7.5L/100km combined. The V6 Supercharged tips the scales at 2144kg and averages 11.3L/100km, while the Supercharged V8 is the heaviest and thirstiest at 2310kg and 13.8L/100km.
Standard in the base model TDV6 is leather upholstery, rear parking sensors and rear-view camera, automatic headlamps, daytime running lights, auto-dimming rear-view mirror, 19-inch alloy wheels and a power tailgate.
Additional features include push-button start, cruise control, 380-watteight-speaker audio system, multifunction leather steering wheel, climate control, eight-inch touchscreen with satellite navigation and Bluetooth phone and music streaming.
The SDV6 adds high- and low-range gearing, adaptive suspension, Terrain Response 2 Auto and 20-inch alloy wheels, while the HSE specification for both the SDV6 and V6 Supercharged models gain paddleshifters, xenon headlamps, perforated leather, 14-way electrically adjustable front seats, electrically adjustable steering column, keyless auto-entry, front parking sensors and aluminium tread plates.
The Autobiography offers yet more equipment, including 21-inch alloys, 18-way power front seats, front seat heating and cooling, rear-seat heating, mood lighting, centre console cooling and a 19-speaker 825-watt audio system.
Only the V8 Supercharged HSE Dynamic and Autobiography models get dynamic suspension and torque vectoring with an active rear differential as standard equipment; on all other Range Rover Sport variants it is an $8100 option.
Also new for the Range Rover Sport is the optional ’5+2′ seating arrangement for an additional $3700 across the range.
There is also a host of option packages available for the new Range Rover Sport that vary in price depending on what model variant buyers choose.
Big-ticket options across the range include rear-seat entertainment ($5000), panoramic sunroof ($4000), adaptive cruise control ($4700), four-zone climate control ($3200), premium metallic paint ($4200) and a surround camera system for $1800.
The Range Rover Sport gets a suite of airbags (front driver and passenger, side, seat-front, thorax, pelvis, curtain), as well as active systems such as an active speed limiter device, anti-locking brakes with emergency brake assist, electronic brake-force distribution and cornering brake control, and electronic stability control with traction control.
Hill decent control and roll stability control are also standard.
CarAdvice will post a full review of the new Range Rover Sport later this week. Stay tuned.
2014 Range Rover Sport pricing
3.0L TDV6 SE 190kW Diesel – $102,800
3.0L SDV6 SE 215kW Diesel – $113,600
3.0L SDV6 HSE 215kW Diesel – $125,800
3.0L SDV6 Autobiography 215kW Diesel – $145,500
3.0L V6 Supercharged 250kW Petrol – $123,100
5.0L V8 Supercharged 375kW Petrol HSE Dynamic – $161, 600
5.0L V8 Supercharged 375 kW Petrol Autobiography Dynamic – $182,400
