Jaguar Land Rover India have launched the all-new Range Rover Sport, a model long awaited by enthusiasts, with petrol and diesel engine options and price tags undercutting its big brother, the Range Rover.
The all-new Range Rover Sport is a big step forward, and, like its larger counterpart, it makes do with all-aluminium construction which drops a few quintals off the kerb weight. This had made it possible for Land Rover to plonk in their V6 diesel motor, with the supercharged V6 petrol also set to be included in North American and European markets. The new Range Rover Sport also has several changes particularly to the front windscreen and the roofline to make it appear sleeker, and more agile. In fact, it doesn’t just appear that way, it actually is quicker. And that’s not all down to just the weight.
The drivelines are just as impressive. The V6 diesel motor has been given a thorough makeover and while there are the TDV6 and more powerful SDV6 version of the 3.0-litre motor, India gets the latter – complete with its 292 PS and 600 Nm of torque. The SDV6 model weighs just 2,115 kg dry. Alternatively, the power-hungry can have the V8 Supercharged model which brings a full-blown 5.0-litre V8, making 510 PS and 625 Nm; the same as its big brother, but while being even lighter at 2,310 kg. This would translate to some seriously exhilirating performance and the fact that Land Rover claim a 5.3 second 0-100 km/h time for the SCV8 tells you all you need to know. The claimed top speed is 225 km/h. On the other side, the SDV6 diesel is no slouch, with a 7.2 second 0-100 km/h time and a top whack of 210 km/h.
Both engines are paired to the new ZF 8-speed automatic transmission driving all four wheels. Land Rover’s TerrainResponse2 adaptive system is standard as well and is even more advanced than any system offered previously. Be it wet, dry, rain, mud or snow, the Range Rover Sport will claw its way through it all, and make it up grades you wouldn’t believe possible until you actually take the challenge.
Land Rover are expected to offer the car with five or seven seats in the near future and while the car was designed with large 22” wheel sizes in mind, it is more than capable of offering an excellent ride quality om 19- and 20-inchers as well.
The price for the new Range Rover Sport begins at Rs 1.10 crore for the SDV6, while the Supercharged V8 costs Rs 1.65 crore. That’s quite a bit down on big brother and the style quotient it brings may just be all the ingredients for success got right this time.
