Range Rover to Offer True "Sport" Utility Next Year

What to do? Range Rover has a "quick" fix in mind for the 2006 model year, starting with a supercharger strapped to a

The low riding Sport will boast 390 horsepower, making it the most powerful Land Rover model ever made. (Photo: Land Rover)

modified Jaguar-derived 4.2-liter V8. So not to be confused, the Range Rover Sport is not based on the current Range Rover, but rather rides on a modified Land Rover LR3 platform. Available next summer, it will feature unique styling cues, a lower ride height and sport-tuned suspension, plus it will boast 390 horsepower making it the most powerful Land Rover model ever made. Seen as a separate entry, the Sport will be Land Rover's fifth model in its lineup. Also, in addition to the supercharged V8 the Sport will get a normally aspirated V8 as a base model.

The recently introduced Land Rover LR3, a replacement for the Discovery, is expected to boost up the 19 percent slide this Ford Motor-owned British brand has experienced so far this year, but the less popular than anticipated Freelander is still a drag on the corporate ledger. The sportier Range Rover should increase numbers substantially being that it will be priced between the $61,900 ($44,995) LR3 and

The Range Rover Sport has been engineered to be more refined than the current crop of performance sport utility vehicles, ideal for speedy, long-distance travel. (Photo: Land Rover)

$98,000 ($73,085) Range Rover, It should also create a halo effect on the brand which could trickle down to lesser models. The Range Rover Sport will also be a high profit vehicle, a boost to Land Rover's dealer organization.

According to Matthew Taylor, managing director of Land Rover, the Range Rover Sport, loosely taken from the 2-door Range Stormer concept that debuted at the 2004 North American International Auto Show in Detroit, has been engineered to be more refined than the current crop of performance sport utility vehicles, ideal for speedy, long-distance travel.

Like all Land Rover and Range Rover models, the Sport will be built in Solihull, England.