Like all current and previous models, the Range Rover Sport has been tested rigorously in Land Rover's off-road development
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| The Range Rover Sport has been tested rigorously in Land Rover's off-road development program. (Photo: Land Rover) |
Via a rotary knob, the driver can choose one of five settings based on existing surface conditions (ice, road, grass, mud, etc), which then automatically selects the most appropriate settings for ride height, throttle response, Hill Descent Control, traction control and transmission. There's no doubt that the Sport will be as capable off-road as the LR3 or Range Rover, but one must first equip it with something other than its ZR-rated high-performance rubber.
Defining Land Rover's first attempt at breaking into the super sport utility market is the Range Rover Sport's top-of-the-line
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| A supercharged 4.2L 32-valve V8, derived from the unit powering Jaguar's series of 'R' cars, gives the top-line Sport its life. (Photo: Land Rover) |
Because of its application in a sport utility vehicle, Land Rover has detuned the awesome V8 to 390 horsepower from the Jaguar rating of 400 hp, but it has gained an additional 10 lb-ft of torque for a stump-pulling total of 400.
Given that 60 percent of the total torque from this powerplant is available between 1,400 and 3,500 rpm, the Range Rover Sport in its supercharged configuration will be fast enough to challenge the Porsche Cayenne Turbo as the world's quickest SUV, at least before adding on Porsche's optional Tequipment package with its 50-horsepower and 55 lb-ft of torque upgrade.