Range Rover Sport, the all new sports tourer SUV from Land Rover is now available for purchase at Land Rover dealers throughout Australia. This vehicle combines breathtaking dynamic ability with best-in-class comfort and refinement.

“The Range Rover Sport is an additional, fifth nameplate for the Land Rover brand,” says Matthew Taylor, Managing Director of Land Rover. “It takes us into the growing performance SUV market but is different from all rivals. We see it as a less frenetic, more refined alternative to existing performance SUVs. It is ideal for fast, comfortable, long-distance driving and practical enough for everyday use. Yet it is also exceptional off-road, offering better all-terrain ability than any competitor. Like all Land Rover products, it offers the broadest range of capability in its class."

“It also perfectly complements the existing Range Rover – the luxury SUV. Range Rover Sport is more compact and is priced to fit between Discovery 3 and Range Rover Vogue in the Land Rover product range.”

Range Rover Sport is offered in three different engine derivatives, catering to the varied desires of consumers.

Supercharged 4.2 litre V8
This is the fastest and best-accelerating vehicle Land Rover has ever made 0-100 km/h in 7.6 seconds. Powered by a supercharged V8 engine with 287kW power at 5750rpm and maximum torque 550Nm at 3500rpm. As the supercharger is permanently employed to boost intake charge, the extra performance is present across the entire rev range – unlike an exhaust gas-driven turbo.

Normally Aspirated 4.4 litre V8
This quad-cam (two overhead camshafts per cylinder bank) engine delivers 220kW at 5500rpm and 425Nm of torque at 4000rpm. One of the world's lightest V8 engines, it has a cylinder block and heads made from aluminium, while alloys are used in many other components to save weight.

Turbo Diesel 2.7 litre V6
This latest generation, common-rail engine operates at fuel pressures of 1650 bar – typically 25% higher than previous systems. This gives greater control over combustion and better flow at the injectors with benefits to fuel economy, emissions and refinement. The turbo diesel develops 140kW at 4000rpm and produces 440Nm of torque at 1900rpm.

One of the most aerodynamic of all SUVs, the Range Rover Sport combines a smooth shape with powerful stance, muscular wheel-arches, a raked roof, and tailgate-mounted rear spoiler. Recognisable Range Rover styling cues include the 'floating' roof (created by the black roof pillars) and clamshell bonnet. But in the interests of improved airflow, the bonnet castellations have been smoothed away and the windscreen given a faster angle.

The Range Rover Sport has a five-door body style, with a single-piece rear aluminium tailgate that includes an opening rear glass for easy access.

Inside, it is a roomy yet sporty five-seater featuring premium materials, including leather, wood and metallic finishes. The cockpit is designed around the driver, with a high and sweeping centre console so the driver reaches across to the controls rather than down to them. The seats are sporty and supportive.

“It is the best ‘driver's vehicle’ that Land Rover has ever made,” says Matthew Taylor. “There is the traditional Land Rover Command driving position, yet the cockpit is more cocooning than the SUV norm. We believe the emphasis on the driving experience will make the Range Rover Sport an attractive proposition to those who currently drive luxury executive cars (sedans), as well as the more sporty 4x4s, thanks to its overall refinement and unmatched breadth of capability.”

Although developed with greater emphasis on on-road performance than any previous Land Rover, the Range Rover Sport is exceptionally competent across all terrains. Its off-road capability is boosted by Land Rover's highly effective Terrain Response™ system, which is standard on all models. It allows the driver to choose one of five terrain settings via a rotary control on the centre console.

Terrain Response then automatically selects the most appropriate settings for the vehicle's many advanced electronic controls and traction aids – including ride height, engine torque response, Hill Descent Control, electronic traction control and transmission settings.

Land Rover's new and unique Integrated Body-frame™ structure, first seen on Discovery 3, has now been tailored for the Range Rover Sport to reinforce the vehicle's sporting character. This includes a 14cm shorter wheelbase (275cm) for improved agility. Four-corner air suspension is standard on all models. The double-wishbone suspension has been designed for sporty ride and handling, especially when cornering, and the speed-proportional variable ratio steering allows low-speed agility, while providing stability during high-speed cruising.

Land Rover's new Dynamic Response system senses cornering forces and acts to optimise body control and handling performance. Dynamic Response, making its debut on the Range Rover Sport, is standard on supercharged models, and optional on the others. The system decouples off-road, to allow greater wheel articulation during tough all-terrain driving.

In keeping with its ‘driver's pedigree’, key work on the chassis tuning of Range Rover Sport was completed at the Nürburgring circuit in Germany, in addition to the usual rigorous on-road and off-road Land Rover development programme. Advanced electronic safety aids include Electronic Traction Control, Emergency Brake Assist and Dynamic Stability Control. On the supercharged version, four-piston Brembo front brakes help give superb braking ability.

In addition to the supercharged engine used in the top-line Range Rover Sport, two further Jaguar-derived engines are available: a normally aspirated 220kW, 4.4-litre petrol engine and the all-new 2.7-litre turbocharged V6 diesel. All engines have been extensively developed to meet Land Rover specifications, including improved waterproofing for wading, extra dust protection, and the ability to handle the extreme angles demanded in tough off-roading.

A six-speed automatic gearbox, with a sports mode and low range is standard. It automatically and 'intelligently' adapts itself to the individual driver's style, to increase driving pleasure for the enthusiast.

Practical technologies available on the Range Rover Sport include adaptive cruise control (its first Land Rover application), bi-xenon adaptive front lighting, and latest generation satellite navigation, both on- and off-road. Audio systems by harman/kardon® and a twin-screen DVD rear-seat entertainment system, with high-resolution screens enclosed in the front seat head rests, are available. The Range Rover Sport made its world debut in January 2005 at the North American International Auto Show in Detroit. The vehicle will be available for delivery in Australia in September 2005.

2006 Range Rover Sport

Some previous Range Rover articles:

A World Apart Range Rover Vogue 7th August, 2005 Range Rover Vogue, the most complete luxury SUV in the world, has been released for sale in Australia. It is the most refined, luxurious and powerful Range Rover ever ..... more

Global Adventure For Range Rover Sport 27th June, 2005 The new Range Rover Sport has been put through a real on- and off- road work out during the latest Land Rover G4 Challenge recce trip in Southeast Asia ..... more

Range Rover Sport 2nd March, 2005 The Range Rover Sport, an all-new sports tourer SUV from Land Rover, is the best-performing and best-handling vehicle that the renowned sport-utility vehicle manufacturer has ever built ..... more

Land Rover Reveals The Range Rover Sport 11th January, 2005 Just 12 months after revealing the Range Stormer concept car at the NAIAS in 2004, Land Rover is back this year with a remarkable and updated product range, comprising three new products not seen before at Detroit ..... more

Range Rover for 2006 3rd January, 2005 The 2006 Range Rover will make its world debut, this month, at the Detroit Motor Show in USA. Power will be provided by a 4.4 litre V8 or a 4.2 litre supercharged V8 ..... more