Bond reveals new Range Rover Sport 27 | 03 | 2013
THE NEW RANGE ROVER SPORT, described by Land Rover design boss Gerry McGovern as being “the Porsche 911 of SUVs”, has been unveiled by James Bond in New York (see more official photos of the all-new Range Rover Sport).
Due in Scottish showrooms in September, the SDV6 — which was revealed by actor Daniel Craig — will cost between £59,995 and £74,995. However, the TDV6 will reduce the entry-level price to around £51,550 when it arrives next year. The range-topping 5.0-litre V8 Supercharged Autobiography costs £81,550.
Video: James Bond unveils new Range Rover Sport
Video: New Range Rover Sport on-the-road
Video: New Range Rover Sport on mixed surfaces
Land Rover is striving to emphasise the new Sport is completely different to the considerably larger Range Rover flagship. Though both cars share many of the big 4x4's underpinnings, the new Range Rover Sport clearly has its own, sportier character.
“We’ve taken ride, handling and agility to another level in the Sport,” brand boss John Edwards stated. “This is the fastest, most agile and most responsive Land Rover ever.”
The Sport, Jaguar Land Rover's most profitable car and which still achieved 56,000 sales last year, has much more in common with the Range Rover than the old model.
Range Rover Sport photos leaked
The new Sport not only benefits from key components of the Range Rover's aluminium monocoque chassis, but also most of its primary suspension and transmission parts.
Not surprisingly, weight-saving is one of the new car's highlights. Compared to the similar-in-performance previous diesel V8, the latest high-output V6 is half-a-tonne lighter.
And while the new Sport is 62mm longer than the outgoing model, it remains 149mm shorter than the recently-introduced Range Rover. The newcomer also gets an extended wheelbase which is 178mm longer than the outgoing model.
There's more interior space, resulting in the redesigned cabin delivering more rear-seat knee room. The new car also has enough space for an optional pair of electrically-powered, fold-down, child-friendly seats forming a third row. Essentially, the new Sport now offers potential for a ‘5+2’ SUV.
There will be two engines available from launch: a 288bhp 3.0SDV6 diesel and a 503bhp supercharged 5.0-litre petrol V8. A 254bhp TDV6 diesel and a 334bhp 4.4-litre SDV8 ‘super-diesel’ with a 6.5sec 0-60mph time will follow. It's also believed that a 2.0-litre turbocharged petrol will follow later next year.
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Jim McGill