The Land Rover Range Rover Sport is a mid-size luxury SUV (Sports Utility Vehicle) produced by the British manufacturer Land Rover, part of Jaguar Land Rover, at the Solihull plant. Introduced in 2005 with the first-generation L320 model, it was succeeded by the second-generation L494 in 2013, and the third-generation L461 in 2022.
Range Stormer concept
The Range Rover Sport was prefigured by the Range Stormer concept car, and it was introduced at the 2004 North American International Auto Show.
This was a low-slung, short wheelbase, 3-door coupé that was unusually "sporty" in the context of Land Rover's history.[1] Designed by Richard Woolley, the marque's first complete concept car sported split-folding gullwing doors, one-piece skeletal seats, a "clamshell" bonnet, 22 inch alloys, a 289 km/h top speed, 4WD and a 2500 kg weight. The Range Rover Sport was comparably of much more conservative design featuring five doors and a wheelbase hardly shorter than that of the Range Rover Vogue.
A replica of the Stormer was built by West Coast Customs of Corona, CA for Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed Al Maktoum, Crown Prince of Dubai, on the occasion of opening West Coast Customs Dubai; the car is currently registered under the Dubai Traffic And Road Authority.
The Range Stormer is now on display at the Heritage Motor Centre in Gaydon, Warwickshire, UK.
First generation (L320; 2005)
Chassis
The chassis of the Range Rover Sport was adapted from the integrated bodyframe, semi-monocoque, independently suspended design which debuted on the Discovery 3 in 2004. This allegedly gives the Range Rover Sport the refinement and structural rigidity advantages of a monocoque chassis with the robustness of a separate chassis design for off-road applications. It also allows for less expensive manufacturing of the vehicles due to a large number of common components. Although sitting on a modified version of the Discovery 3's chassis, it is smaller than its more utilitarian sibling in every dimension with a wheelbase shorter by 140 mm. Its smaller dimensions and its raked roofline make it impossible to accommodate third-row occupants like the Discovery 3, but as a sports tourer it was never intended to be a seven-seater. Brembo front brakes are standard on the V8 Supercharged and TDV8, but were an option with the dynamic package on TDV6 and naturally aspirated V8 petrol.
Powertrain
The 2005–2009 Range Rover Sport HSE is powered by a naturally aspirated 4.4-litre Jaguar AJ-V8 engine producing 300 hp and 425 Nm, with the Supercharged model getting a supercharged 4.2-litre variant producing 385 hp and 550 Nm. Both petrol engines have been designed with a sump and oil pick-up system to allow for operation at extreme angles.
Second generation (L494; 2013)
The second-generation Range Rover Sport was announced on 27 March 2013 at the New York Auto Show. Several streets were shut down in Manhattan for a launch party starring James Bond actor Daniel Craig.[14]
Design
The new Range Rover Sport continues in the design direction that produced the Evoque styling, and the full-size 2013 Range Rover. It is 4 in longer, being 191 in long; and 400 lb lighter, weighing in at 4727 lb. Unlike the previous generation that uses an integrated bodyframe chassis, the L494 Range Rover Sport utilises an all-aluminium monocoque body, just like the L405 Range Rover.
It introduced Dynamic Response suspension with active anti-roll bars.
Facelift (2018–2022)
Third generation (L461; 2022)
The 2023 Range Rover Sport was revealed on 11 May 2022.[25] The chopped-roof sibling of the regular Range Rover gains minimalist styling inside and out with powertrain options ranging from MHEV, PHEV and eventually a twin-turbo V8. An all-electric version is expected to launch in 2024.
Structure
As the previous generation, the L461 continues in the way of the L460, featuring design cues, similar powertrain and shared parts. Based on the MLA-Flex platform, it is significantly heavier than its predecessor, at 2322 kg, it is now approximately 180 kg heavier. Based on the same unibody structure as the L460, it has one conventional petrol model, four petrol plug-in hybrid models, four petrol mild hybrid models, and three diesel mild hybrid models.[26] At 20 mm lower and 35 per cent stiffer than the Range Rover, it remains as a standard all-wheel drive off-road crossover vehicle
Sales
External links
References
- Bob Gritzinger. And baby makes four: Range Stormer conceives sporty side of Land Rover AutoWeek, 19 January 2004^
- Ray Hutton. 2006 Land Rover Range Rover Caranddriver.com, 2005-05-01, retrieved 2022-02-04^
- "4×4 of the Year 2008", 4×4 Australia Magazine, January 2008^