Ever since the updates for the 2014 Range Rover leaked, we knew the green Land Rover badges were returning to the Range Rover models. And with the release of the first pictures of the new Range Rover Sport, we’re seeing what the modern Range Rover family looks like with some green again.
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The weight reduction measures on the new Range Rover Sport open up the future possibility for the fitment of a smaller, lighter power plant, such as a four cylinder engine. A model which could have an overall weight of less than 2000kg, a reduction of over 500kg from the previous lightest model.
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It’s faster to 60 than the Range Rover Sport Classic with it’s 375hp V8!
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With a weight reduction of about 800lbs., the new 340hp supercharged V6 Range Rover Sport is quicker than the previous model with its 375hp 5-liter V8, achieving the dash from 0-60 mph in 6.9 seconds2, a reduction of 0.3 seconds. Enthusiastic drivers will also be pleased with a sporting engine note, emphasized by using a sound symposer on the intake system.
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Land Rover does currently provide an app in the U.S. but it’s really nothing more that a digital owners manual. For the 2014 Range Rover Sport, they’ve stepped it up a little.
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Advanced Land Rover customer support features
The new Range Rover Sport offers a number of advanced new Land Rover customer support features, with a range of valuable services to enhance safety, convenience and security. The features, which utilise a telematics module and mobile SIM chip, plus the vehicle’s GPS locator, include:
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Land Rover is finally giving us some cool tech:
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Lane Departure Warning is designed to warn the driver via a vibration in the steering wheel if an unintentional drift out of the lane begins. If the vehicle drifts from the centre of the lane, and the system does not detect an obvious lane-change manoeuvre or use of the indicators, the vibration alert is triggered. This is reinforced by a graphic in the instrument cluster.
The system is deactivated below 60km/h so it does not interfere in urban conditions. The driver can adjust the system’s sensitivity (two levels) and the alert intensity (three levels), or can turn the system off completely.
Traffic Sign Recognition uses the camera to identify traffic signs on either side of the road and on bridges, providing the driver with information about the latest detected speed limit, cancellation signs and overtaking regulations via the instrument cluster display.
To indicate how recent the information is, the displayed sign fades away in a series of steps as the distance increases from the location of the sign. The driver can also use the system to provide a warning of speeding, by configuring the system to flash the speed limit sign in the display when the vehicle exceeds the displayed limit by a set amount (which can be varied by the driver).
Another innovative feature is Flank Guard, which helps alert the driver to potential impacts on the sides of the vehicle during tight manoeuvres such as in multi-storey car parks, where it is easy to collide with pillars, barriers or other vehicles.
The new feature is enabled by the addition of extra distance sensors on the vehicle (now 6 sensors front and rear, instead of 4), which provide wider coverage around the vehicle than conventional park distance sensors.
The driver is warned of potential impacts by audible beeps, while the central instrument cluster display provides a graphical image indicating the proximity of objects using distance bars. Using information on the vehicle’s steering angle and trajectory, the system only warns when there is a threat of impact, for example ignoring close objects if the vehicle is steering away from them.
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