Seven months after the latest Range Rover broke cover, Land Rover has taken the wraps off its reinvented Range Rover Sport which, for the first time ever, is going to be offered as a pure electric vehicle.
The battery-powered model won’t arrive until 2024, however, so until then customers have a choice of mild hybrid petrol and diesels, as well as a plug-in hybrid that uses a petrol engine and an e-motor, to choose from.
Badged ‘P510e’, the PHEV model is said to have a real-world range of zero-emission driving totalling 63-miles from its 38.2kWh battery. Combined, the 3-litre six-cylinder petrol and 105kW e-motor churn out 503bhp for a 0-60mph time of 5.4 seconds.
The cheaper ‘P440e’ model has the same all-electric range and despite power being trimmed to 434bhp, it only takes a second more to sprint to 60mph from a standing start.
Headlining the engine line-up is a freshly developed twin-turbo V8. Good for 523bhp, it can propel the British-built Sports Utility Vehicle to 60mph in 4.3 seconds with the help of the car’s Dynamic Launch software.
The handling credentials of the third-generation Range Rover Sport look set to be taken to another level with the introduction of a ‘Stormer Handling Pack’. This combines Dynamic Response Pro, all-wheel steering and an active e-diff with torque vectoring.
Another first is the addition of ‘Dynamic Air Suspension’ – a set-up that consists of switchable air springs and twin-valve active dampers for “ultimate agility, control and composure”.
Of course, being a Land Rover, off-road credentials also matter and every car is fitted with a fully configurable ‘Terrain Response’ system that incorporates an adaptive off-road cruise control system.
As a model spawned from the Range Rover, the Range Rover Sport’s shares similar styling, although it is fussier than its bigger – and costlier – brother, especially at the front where the LED headlamps and grille are noticeably slimmer.
At the rear, the car has thin split wraparound tail-lights that sit either side of a pane of piano black plastic that has the words ‘Range Rover’ stamped into it.
Another first is the roof-extending spoiler – the longest ever fitted to a production Range Rover, company bosses claim. Alloy wheel sizes have grown, too, with the circumference of the largest measuring 23-inches.
Body colour choices include ‘Satin Eiger Grey’ and ‘Giola Green’, while ‘Varesine Blue’ is available for the very first time. Those seeking “the ultimate in personalisation” can turn to the ‘Special Vehicle Bespoke Match to Sample’ service; this enables buyers to make their new car “truly their own”.
As for the cabin, this is said to “promote exhilarating driver engagement”. Most of the functions are executed via the 13.1-inch central screen that operates JLR’s ‘Pivi Pro’ software, with the ‘floating’ display met by a gently angled centre console where knobs for the climate control, audio and drive modes are positioned. The main screen is supported by a customisable 13.7-inch digital driver instrument binnacle.
A choice of leather and eco-friendly materials is available for the sculpted front sport seats, dashboard and door cards, while the ‘Rear Seat Entertainment’ option ensures passengers travelling in the back are kept entertained by a pair of 11.4-inch HD touchscreens. These are integrated into the rear of the front seats.
Order books for the new Range Rover Sport have now opened, with prices starting at £79,125 and Thierry Bolloré – the Chief Executive Officer at Jaguar Land Rover – is sure current and potential buyers are going to like what they see.
“The exceptional New Range Rover Sport sets new standards as the ultimate sporting luxury SUV, building on seventeen years of unique customer appeal,” he said.
“It is the latest embodiment of our vision to create the world’s most desirable modern luxury vehicles, effortlessly blending new levels of sustainability with the signature qualities that have made Range Rover Sport so popular.”
