Land Rover Range Rover Sport 4.4 V8 Petrol

Sleek lines, an agile chassis and powerful engines mean that most Range Rover Sports will spend their time being used as high-performance road vehicles and will never venture off-road. This is a great shame because they are - as with all Land Rovers - very competent away from the tarmac.

Dimensions H 1817mm; W2170mm; L4798mm

Max Load Capacity 2013-litre Insurance Group 13E-17E

In 2002 a third generation model was introduced which saw the model move further up-market. Land Rover was now owned by Ford, after they took over from BMW in 2000. Range Rovers initially came with the BMW M62 V8 petrol with 282 bhp and 6-cylinder diesel engines because at that time, when the third generation Range Rover was being developed, it was still owned by BMW, although only the V8 gasoline is offered in North America. The last model has improved ground clearance and cross-linked air springs. This time, a unibody architecture was chosen, with many design cues from the original model.

In 2005, conscious of the need for more power to keep up with the Range Rover's competitors, and reluctant to keep relying on BMW for power plants, Ford presided over the adaptation of engines from Jaguar (also Ford-owned) for Land Rover use. A 4.4-litre, 305 hp version of the Jaguar 4.2-litre V8 was developed and first used in the new 2005 Discovery/LR3 model, temporarily giving it more power than the Range Rover. At the 2005 Detroit Motor Show, a major update of the Range Rover was unveiled, with the base model using the LR3/Discovery 3 engine, and a premium model using a supercharged version of the Jaguar 4.2-litre V8 developing 400 horsepower—the same engine slated for the new Range Rover Sport (the RRS model uses a detuned variant making a total of 389 bhp), scheduled for introduction about the same time (mid 2005) as the updated Range Rover. Both engines are lightweight aluminium alloy units, with advanced torque-based engine management systems that, together with drive-by-wire throttle control and variable camshaft phasing (on the 4.4-litre version), continually adjust the engine to deliver optimum performance. Both the engines are specially adapted by Land Rover for better low speed torque characteristics (important in off-road driving), the ability to run at the extreme angles encountered off road, improved protection from dust and rocks, and improved sealing needed for wading.

The Range Rover's exterior was updated for 2006 along with the BMW V8 replaced with a Ford unit. The new engine choices were Jaguar's AJ-V8, with 4.4 L 300 hp (227 kW) or 4.2 L 400 hp (298 kW) supercharged variants. In addition, the 2006 Range Rover is equipped with an updated "infotainment" system. This includes a touch screen with on and off-road navigation, radio, CD, Satellite Radio (US), telephone, rear view camera, a wireless video camera system and other additional features all accessed via the same user interface. The audio system is Harman Kardon Logic7 surround sound.

For 2007, all of the Range Rover's changes were mechanical or interior. On the inside, the hidden folding cup holder that popped out of the centre console in previous models was replaced by a simpler and more durable in-console design with sliding covers — almost identical in design to those in the Range Rover Sport. The ignition switch was moved from the lower-part of the centre console up to the dashboard, next to the steering wheel and the Range Rover received the Range Rover Sport / LR3's Terrain Response system as well as a redesigned four-wheel drive control panel. The handbrake is now electronic. Additionally, the seats differ from the old style, slightly resembling the new Range Rover Sport with cooling fans optional on the HSE and standard on the Supercharged. Heated seats are standard across the board and the premium seats from the BMW era are no longer available. The HVAC system was also updated with more vents and quieter operation. That, along with the acoustic laminated windscreen will lower driving noise. An increase in interior storage is mainly attributed to the new split-dual glovebox. And then in a return to original Range Rover styling, more wood inserts have been added to the doors and centre console. The 3-litre BMW 6-cylinder diesel engine was replaced for 2007 with Ford's new 3.6 L AJD-V8. This engine boasts 272 hp (203 kW), far more than the 177 hp (132 kW) of the previous engine. Other changes for 2007 include better brakes, a revised suspension, and Land Rover's Terrain Response system. Supercharged Range Rovers will also use an electronic rear differential. The interior is also refined, with optional cooled front seats and more cargo capacity.