Last year Land Rover introduced the new generation of the Range Rover and now time has come to present the revamped Sport variant which some say looks like a bigger Evoque. It will hit dealerships sometime this September and is considered by the British automaker as the “fastest, most agile and most responsive” model that they have ever produced. If we were to compare it with the outgoing Range Rover Sport, the new variant is 62 mm longer, while at the same time being 149 mm longer than its bigger brother, the regular Range Rover. Its wheelbase has been elongated by 178mm which has enabled Land Rover to offer a 5+2 seating layout.
Compared to its predecessor, the new model is no less than 1,102 lbs (500 kg) lighter if we compare the old V8-powered model to the new V6-engined variant. If we were to compare the V6 versions, the new generation has lost an impressive 925 lbs (420 kg) from its curb weight. Land Rover says the 2014 Range Rover Sport has a drag coefficient of 0.34 thanks to a near-flush glazing, smoother underfloor panel and the movable vanes built into the cooling system.
Upon launch, Land Rover will offer two power units which are equipped with stop/start system. The first one is a SDV6 3.0-liter diesel producing 288 bhp while the other is a beefier V8 5.0-liter supercharged unit pumping out 503 hp. In 2014 the car will be offered with a TDV6 diesel rated at 254 bhp, a SDV8 4.4-liter churning 334 hp and a 2.0-liter turbocharged gasoline engine as well which promises to provide just about the same performances as the old diesel V8.
Regardless of the chosen engine, those ponies are transferred to a permanent 4×4 system with the help of an eight-speed ZF automatic transmission. Customers can order the 2014 Range Rover Sport with a single-speed transfer case that has a 42:58 percent torque distribution or they can get the car with a two-speed transfer case featuring low and high range, along with a 50:50 torque split.
The vehicle has been fitted with the company’s fifth generation of the air spring suspension that takes a lot of the components from the one fitted to the regular Range Rover. For the Sport variant it has been updated to allow better handling, whereas in the Range Rover is tweaked for a more luxurious feel.
As far as the interior cabin is concerned, it looks a lot like the one its bigger brother has, but with a 20mm lowered driving position, head-up display (optional) and a wide variety of colors, textures and themes. Since it’s longer than its predecessor, it shouldn’t come as a surprise that it offers 24mm more knee room.
Moving on to prices, the version equipped with a SDV6 engine starts from 59,995 pounds and goes all the way up to 74,995 pounds. Prices will go down to approximately 51,550 pounds in 2014 when the TDV6 will be offered. If you are willing to spend 81,550 pounds, you can get the flagship V8 5.0-liter Supercharged Autobiography model.
