Land Rover Range Rover Sport, 2014

 

 Land Rover Range Rover Sport, 2014

The all-new Land Rover Range Rover Sport has been designed to capture the distinctive DNA of its predecessor, but with a bold evolution which has placed it firmly at the heart of the marque's striking new three-model portfolio between the Range Rover and the Evoque.

Range Rover Sport occupies a unique position within its segment, and the new model builds on those core strengths with a design which confirms its status as the definitive premium Sports SUV. With its 'faster' windscreen angle, streamlined profile and sloping roofline, the new Sport is 8 percent more aerodynamic than the previous model and achieves a drag figure of Cd 0.34.

While it was developed alongside the Range Rover and shares some commonality with its sister vehicle, the all-new Range Rover Sport benefits from 75 percent unique parts, a significant number of which directly influence the way the new Sport looks and feels.

"The new Range Rover Sport is the ultimate luxury SUV. A new Range Rover Sport for a new era. Relevant, sustainable and utterly desirable. Alongside the all new Range Rover, and the Range Rover Evoque, the new Range Rover Sport represents the third distinct product in Land Rover's product revolution. Firmly establishing it as a powerhouse British brand, with exceptional Design at its core," said Land Rover Design Director and Chief Creative Officer, Gerry McGovern.

Bold and progressive exterior design
The dynamic new Range Rover Sport has a bold and progressive exterior design which positions the vehicle confidently within the latest Range Rover line-up. With a fresh interpretation of the current model's strong design DNA, the new vehicle has a sleek and contemporary appearance, with its sloping roofline offering a distinctive sporting character.

The new Sport is just 62mm longer than its predecessor, yet at 4850mm, it is shorter than other 7-seater SUVs and most E segment sedans, bringing greater manoeuvrability and ease of parking. However, a significantly longer wheelbase (increased by 178mm) provides greater room and improved access for rear passengers. The new Sport is 149mm shorter and 55mm lower than the new Range Rover on which it is based and model-for-model weighs 45kg less.

Exciting new interpretations of Range Rover Sport design cues include the signature clamshell bonnet, floating roof and side fender vents. The vehicle also features bold new versions of the powerful wheel arch graphic, horizontal body feature lines and distinctive rocker mouldings which are key elements of the model's strong DNA.

While retaining the powerful Range Rover Sport character, the front end has a more modern, streamlined appearance, with its slimmer lights, rearward sloping grille and more sculpted corners.

Eye-catching details
Eye-catching design details serve to emphasise the new Range Rover Sport's more dynamic and contemporary character. The side fender vents are executed with a more dynamic, sloping treatment. Matching twin vents are executed in the bonnet, enhancing the powerful and sporting character of the vehicle.

Designers have also continued the classic Range Rover Sport two-bar theme, reflected in the twin strakes on the fender vents, the two bar front grille, and the twin lines in the tail lamp graphics.

Near-flush side glazing, combined with a premium gloss black finish to the pillars, enhance the bold Range Rover Sport floating roof graphic - which can be highlighted with three contrast roof colours of grey, black or silver - while also emphasising the more streamlined form of the body. Brembo brake calipers finished in red and a Black Pack, which removes all brightwork from the exterior, are also available to create a more bespoke appearance.

At the front, the large outboard air intakes and bold trapezoidal shapes housing the central bumper beam and skid plate send out a strong, high performance message. The same trapezoidal theme is repeated at the rear, with the skid plate flanked by large twin exhaust outlets.

The front lamps continue the bold evolution of the Sport, with highly distinctive LED signature graphics which feature a new distinctive graphic. The slimmer design creates a more aggressive, technical appearance.

At the rear, the lamps have a more compact treatment with a striking new design that uses LED technology. The main tail and stop lamps echo the headlamps' distinctive design language, while the direction indicators use a new interpretation of the 'twin line' graphic from the current model.

Both front and rear lamps flow round into the shoulders of the body with the distinctive tapering blade graphic featured on the other vehicles in the latest Range Rover portfolio.