Off-Road Idol
The luxury SUV market is a strange animal. The very best of these unwieldy, inefficient vehicles are imbued with incredible technological features that can take you pretty much anywhere on the planet in complete comfort. Case in point, the Land Rover line of sport-utility vehicles.
Pilot any Land Rover off the beaten path and you'll soon discover that a reputation for superior traction and control in tricky conditions is well deserved. Even the tarmac-ready Range Rover Sport -- on low-profile, speed-rated tires -- is able to climb fallen trees and slog through muddy waters with little effort and impressive grace.
I was reminded of these characteristics while driving the 2007 Land Rover Range Rover Supercharged (SC) on a very wintry day. There was no snow, just a sudden drop in temperature that transformed a damp highway into something much more treacherous.
But here's the thing: I couldn't even tell that the surface was icy because the SC was so well planted. There was no slipping, no stepping out of line, no traction control lights flashing, no warning bells ringing. The Range Rover seemed to have grip for days.
I only clued in to the road conditions when I started flying by other cars like they were parked. Everyone else was slowing to a crawl, respectful of the black ice; me, I was doing just fine at 130 km/h. Later that night, news reports indicated that 500 cars had left the road in the slick conditions.
Power to Burn
Over the past few years, manufacturers have been engaged in a horsepower war and the luxury SUV segment has not been spared. These days, you need a minimum of 300 horsepower just to be in the game. The Range Rover SC weighs in with a (you guessed it) supercharged engine -- more specifically, a supercharged 4.2-litre V8.
This engine produces a significant 400 horsepower and an even better 420 lb-ft of torque at 3,500 rpm. On the open road, the SC feels suitably quick for a 2,650-kg SUV and for such tasks as merging onto highways and passing on two-lane roads. The manufacturer estimates that powering from 0 to100 km/h should take 7.5 seconds; top speed is capped at 210 km/h.
The luxury SUV market is a strange animal. The very best of these unwieldy, inefficient vehicles are imbued with incredible technological features that can take you pretty much anywhere on the planet in complete comfort. Case in point, the Land Rover line of sport-utility vehicles.
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| Do you want to be king of the road and the jungle? Then get one of these. |
Pilot any Land Rover off the beaten path and you'll soon discover that a reputation for superior traction and control in tricky conditions is well deserved. Even the tarmac-ready Range Rover Sport -- on low-profile, speed-rated tires -- is able to climb fallen trees and slog through muddy waters with little effort and impressive grace.
I was reminded of these characteristics while driving the 2007 Land Rover Range Rover Supercharged (SC) on a very wintry day. There was no snow, just a sudden drop in temperature that transformed a damp highway into something much more treacherous.
But here's the thing: I couldn't even tell that the surface was icy because the SC was so well planted. There was no slipping, no stepping out of line, no traction control lights flashing, no warning bells ringing. The Range Rover seemed to have grip for days.
I only clued in to the road conditions when I started flying by other cars like they were parked. Everyone else was slowing to a crawl, respectful of the black ice; me, I was doing just fine at 130 km/h. Later that night, news reports indicated that 500 cars had left the road in the slick conditions.
Power to Burn
Over the past few years, manufacturers have been engaged in a horsepower war and the luxury SUV segment has not been spared. These days, you need a minimum of 300 horsepower just to be in the game. The Range Rover SC weighs in with a (you guessed it) supercharged engine -- more specifically, a supercharged 4.2-litre V8.
This engine produces a significant 400 horsepower and an even better 420 lb-ft of torque at 3,500 rpm. On the open road, the SC feels suitably quick for a 2,650-kg SUV and for such tasks as merging onto highways and passing on two-lane roads. The manufacturer estimates that powering from 0 to100 km/h should take 7.5 seconds; top speed is capped at 210 km/h.
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| 400 supercharged horses; perfect for rapid progression regardless of where you have to go... |