2014 Range Rover Sport, revealed to the world today on the streets of New York, is the ultimate premium sports SUV – the fastest, most agile and responsive Land Rover ever. The Manhattan skyline was the perfect backdrop for this world premiere with more units of Range Rover Sport sold in the United States than any other global market and New York being the model’s best-selling city.
Developed alongside the highly-acclaimed all-new Range Rover, the new Range Rover Sport now delivers the brand’s best-ever on-road dynamics together with class-leading, genuine Land Rover all-terrain capability. The new, technology-packed, Range Rover Sport, presents customers with a more assertive and muscular exterior, more luxurious interior and the flexibility provided by the option of occasional 5+2 seating.
Exploiting Land Rover’s breakthrough lightweight suspension design and innovative dynamic chassis technologies, the Sport’s all-new, first-in-class aluminium architecture achieves a weight saving of up to 420kg*. This transforms the vehicle’s dynamic performance, enabling it to blend agile handling with exceptional comfort, offering a unique mix of sporting luxury and a dynamic, connected driving experience, along with CO2 emissions reduced to 194g/km.
Speaking ahead of the official world premiere at the New York International Auto Show, Land Rover Global Brand Director John Edwards said: “The all-new Range Rover Sport is a vehicle that has been designed and engineered without compromise. With Land Rover capability at its heart, it is one of the most road focussed vehicles we’ve ever produced, but of course still offers unsurpassed all-terrain capability. It is a vehicle which is designed to be driven. We’ve taken ride, handling and agility to another level for Land Rover to deliver a truly rewarding, sporting drive, together with unmatched luxury, capability and versatility.
“Building on the success of the recently launched flagship Range Rover, the new Range Rover Sport also employs a vast array of new technologies which help to transform its performance, refinement and all round capabilities,” adds Edwards.
Design: assertive, powerful and muscular
The dynamic new Range Rover Sport has a bold and progressive exterior design that is assertive, powerful and muscular, hinting at the improved driving performance, and positioning the vehicle clearly between the Range Rover and the Evoque through a clear, shared design DNA.
Land Rover Design Director and Chief Creative Officer, Gerry McGovern, said: “The new Range Rover Sport is the ultimate luxury SUV. A new Range Rover Sport for a new era. Relevant, sustainable and utterly desirable. Alongside the all-new Range Rover, and the Range Rover Evoque, the new Range Rover Sport represents the third distinct product in Land Rover’s product revolution. Firmly establishing it as a powerhouse British brand, with exceptional Design at its core.”
With a fresh interpretation of the previous model’s distinctive design, the new vehicle has a sleek and contemporary appearance combined with enhanced use of space. The new Sport is just 62mm longer than its predecessor, yet at 4850mm, it is shorter than other 7-seater SUVs and most E segment sedans, bringing greater manoeuvrability and ease of parking. However, a significantly longer wheelbase (increased by 178mm) provides greater room and improved access for rear passengers.
Shorter overhangs at the front and rear, plus additional width (+55mm) give the new vehicle a more modern stance.
With its ‘faster’ windscreen angle, streamlined and rounded profile and lower, dynamic sloping roofline, the new Range Rover Sport is 8 percent more aerodynamic than the outgoing vehicle (Cd 0.34). The new Sport is 149mm shorter and 55mm lower than the all-new Range Rover on which it is based and model-for-model weighs 45kg less.
While it was developed alongside the Range Rover and shares some commonality with its sister vehicle, the all-new Range Rover Sport benefits from 75 percent unique parts, a significant number of which directly influence the way the new Sport looks and feels.
To maximise personalisation, customers will be offered a choice of wheel designs ranging through 19-, 20-, 21- and 22-inches in diameter including the iconic “Viper’s Nest” wheel design, now available for the first time across all Range Rover models.
Capability: the broadest range of abilities in an SUV
The new Range Rover Sport has been engineered to deliver dramatically improved on-road driving dynamics, with more connected and agile handling complemented by enhanced ride and refinement. The lightweight aluminium suspension is fully-independent, with wide-spaced double-wishbones at the front and an advanced multi-link layout at the rear.
Wheel-travel is class-leading (260mm front and 272mm rear) and provides exceptional wheel articulation of 546mm to deal with the toughest conditions. Maximum ground clearance is increased to 278mm (+51mm) and the upgraded air suspension system automatically varies between two ride heights, while the next generation ground-breaking Terrain Response® 2 system automatically selects the most suitable terrain programme.
Fifth generation air suspension provides up to 115mm of regular movement, from the lowest setting ‘access height’ (now 10mm lower at 50mm for easier entry and exit) to the standard off-road height. An automatic extension, triggered by sensors, and a manually-selected extension, both raise the Sport by 35mm, giving a total movement range of 185mm.
The re-engineered air suspension system with its new +35mm intermediate setting means that the off-road mode can remain available at much higher speeds (80km/h up from 50km/h) than was possible before, which is valuable in terrain with long, rutted dirt roads.
All-new, the electric power steering is characterised by a lighter, more direct steering feel. A choice of two full-time 4WD systems will be offered. One system provides a two-speed transfer case with low-range option, for the most demanding off-road conditions with a front-rear 50/50 percent default torque split, and 100 percent locking capability.
The alternative system is 18kg lighter and features a single-speed transfer case with a Torsen differential, which automatically distributes torque to the axle with most grip, working together with the traction control systems to deliver excellent traction in all conditions. The default front-rear torque split of 42/58 percent is designed to provide a rear-wheel drive bias for optimum driving dynamics.
Powertrains: two engine choices from launch, with new Hybrid and two further diesel engines to follow
At launch, all-new Range Rover Sport customers will have a choice of two engines – a supercharged 5.0-litre 510PS V8 petrol engine and a 3.0-litre 292PS SDV6 diesel engine. The powertrain line-up will be expanded in early 2014 by the addition of a 3.0-litre 258PS TDV6 and high performance 4.4-litre 339PS SDV8 diesel engine. In addition, an innovative, high-efficiency diesel Hybrid model will be available to order in 2014.
Across the range, acceleration times for the 0-60mph dash start from 5 seconds, while fuel consumption is cut by up to 24 percent – depending on model – and CO2 emissions start as low as 194g/km. All petrol and diesel engines in the new Range Rover Sport are paired with the advanced electronically controlled ZF 8HP70 8-speed automatic gearbox.
The weight reduction measures on the new Range Rover Sport open up the future possibility for the fitment of a smaller, lighter power plant, such as a four cylinder engine. A model which could have an overall weight of less than 2000kg, a reduction of over 500kg* from the previous lightest model.
Sustainability: first in class with lightweight aluminium construction
The all-new Range Rover Sport is the first vehicle in its segment to feature an advanced all-aluminium body structure, which not only contributes to outstanding agility and driving dynamics, but also delivers significantly reduced weight and enhanced sustainability.
Engineered in parallel with the highly-acclaimed new Range Rover, the new model’s lightweight aluminium body structure employs a combination of pressed panels, plus cast, extruded and rolled aluminium alloy parts, so the strength is concentrated precisely where the loads are greatest. The vehicle’s platform is 39 percent lighter than the previous model’s.
In 2014, the new Sport’s improvement in efficiency will be raised to a new level with the introduction of an ultra-efficient diesel Hybrid achieving CO2 emissions of 169g/km.
All models across the range are fitted with an advanced intelligent Stop/Start system which improves fuel consumption by up to 7 percent.
Interior: modern and luxurious with a strong sporting character
The new Sport provides an interior with distinctive Range Rover Sport design cues, superior detailing and craftsmanship.
A design benchmark in its segment, the Sport interior offers a unique blend of style and understated luxury with strong, elegant lines, top quality materials and an extra dash of sporting character. Strong, architectural forms within the interior have been enhanced by a cleaner, purer surface treatment, beautifully executed with more luxurious soft-touch surfaces in key touch points around the cabin.
The sporting ambience of the interior is also reflected in the smaller diameter, thicker steering wheel, vertical gear shifter, higher centre console, configurable mood lighting and more generous seat bolsters. The Sports Command Driving Position (CDP) combines the supreme sense of confidence and control offered by the Range Rover, with a more sporting seating position similar to the Evoque.
Interior packaging is optimised to create a more spacious rear cabin with 24mm more knee room, while occupants also benefit from the wider cabin. New, neatly integrated third row, occasional 5+2 seating can be specified. These powered seats leave a flat floor with no loss of boot space and are split 50/50.
Technology: customer-focused vehicle and safety features
The new Range Rover Sport has been developed as the ultimate ‘no compromise’ vehicle that will fit perfectly into its customers’ lifestyles. It has been engineered to incorporate the latest developments in customer-focused vehicle and safety technologies to enhance comfort, confidence and safety behind the wheel.
New or enhanced chassis technologies for the new Sport include Adaptive Dynamics featuring continuously variable dampers (CVD), and on more powerful models, a dedicated Dynamic mode in the Terrain Response® 2 system for enthusiastic on-road driving. This system is combined with twin-channel Dynamic Response active lean control, a Dynamic Active Rear Locking Differential, and Torque Vectoring by Braking, which transfers torque to the outside wheels during cornering, reducing understeer.
The new Range Rover Sport offers a comprehensive connectivity package enabling customers to stay seamlessly connected to their vehicle, business and family lives. ‘Connected car’ technology allows the driver to check the status of the vehicle via an App installed on their smartphone and also provides support features such as Stolen Vehicle Tracking, Emergency Call and Land Rover Assist Call. Finally, a high bandwidth Wi-Fi Hotspot can be installed in the vehicle so that passengers can use the internet and get the best data connection for their smartphones or tablets.
A new, optional colour Head-Up Display presents key vehicle and navigation data without the driver needing to look away from the road, using laser technology for superior clarity and contrast.
The new model introduces a digital camera system which supports three driver assistance features that help deliver improved driver awareness: Lane Departure Warning, Traffic Sign Recognition and Automatic High Beam Assist. Another unique innovation on the Sport is the new Wade Sensing™ feature that provides ‘depth’ information when driving through water, made even more beneficial to the driver now that the Sport’s maximum wading depth has increased by 150mm over the previous model to 850mm.
Conclusion
The all-new Range Rover Sport, with its greatly enhanced versatility, is destined to continue the outstanding success of its predecessor, which quickly became one of Land Rover’s most popular models following its introduction in 2005, with sales exceeding 380,000 units to date.
Designed and engineered at Land Rover’s development centres in the UK, the new model will be produced in a state-of-the-art low-energy manufacturing facility at Solihull, UK.
On sale during the third quarter of 2013, the new Range Rover Sport will ultimately be introduced in 169 markets worldwide. Customers will have a choice of three equipment levels from launch (HSE, HSE Dynamic and Autobiography Dynamic), and an SE derivative available on TDV6 models from early 2014. An extensive choice of colours, finishes and details will enable customers to create the ultimate bespoke SUV.
All comparisons and data are based on manufacturer’s estimates and are market dependent.
*Lightest ‘weight from’ figure on previous Range Rover Sport is 2535kg; lightest ‘weight from’ figure on all-new Range Rover Sport with future four-cylinder petrol engine is sub 2000kg – representing a weight saving of over 500kg.
*Comparing equivalent models using the V6 diesel engine, the new Range Rover Sport ‘weight-from’ figure is 2115kg, compared to 2535kg – representing a weight saving of 420kg.
Source: Land Rover
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