2009 Land Rover Range Rover Sport

RANGE ROVER SPORT TAKES TOP HONORS AT NORTHWEST SPORT UTILITY VEHICLE OF THE YEAR COMPETITION

Land Rover, the world's leading premium sport utility vehicle manufacturer, won two awards at the Northwest Sport Útility Vehicle of the Year Competition, most commonly known as 'Mudfest'™. The award presentation took place today at the Los Angeles Auto Show.

The 2009 Range Rover Sport won the coveted 2008 Northwest SÚV of the Year award, along with the Best Off-Road SÚV award. The SÚV of the Year award is determined by compiling the journalists' overall scores. The winner is the vehicle that impresses the voting journalists most – in this case, the Range Rover Sport.

The event was held October 2-3, 2008 at Pacific Raceways in Kent, Wash. Twenty automotive journalists from the Washington, Oregon and British Columbia region drove and evaluated 22 sport-utility and crossover-utility vehicles. Each vehicle was tested on three separate venues, including off-road, on-pavement and a specially-designed track for stability and handling assessment. Packaging, versatility and overall value for money are also evaluated through a comprehensive scoring procedure. Three categories: value, family and luxury, are organized so that each SÚV is evaluated against similar vehicles.

'We are delighted to have won the off-road and overall categories at Mudfest this year,' said Chris Marchand, Executive Vice President, Marketing and Sales, Land Rover North America. 'Being named the 2008 Northwest SÚV of the Year is a fantastic accomplishment for the Range Rover Sport and its great knowing that the automotive journalists are recognizing its capability both on- and off-road.'

Source - Land Rover

LAND ROVER'S SPORTS TOURER ROCKS THE PERFORMANCE SUV WORLD

The Range Rover Sport is the SÚV engineered for anyone serious about expeditious driving. With V8 power, a tight wheelbase, a low build, and a wide stance give the Sport exemplary agility and tenacious road holding. The Range Rover Sport, available with Land Rover's Dynamic Response active suspension system, is the SÚV of choice to those who enjoy fast, long-distance touring.
The Dynamic Response active suspension system, which is standard on the Supercharged edition and optional with the Luxury package on the naturally-aspirated HSE, delivers flat cornering, tight body control, and sharp steering response. Powerful Brembo front disc brakes, included with Dynamic Response, provide exemplary stopping power.




WHAT'S NEW FOR 2009
All Range Rover Sports are now equipped with clear lenses for the taillamps and side repeater (side turn signal) lamps. Body-color paint has now been applied on the lower portion of the tailgate appliqué while the rear bumper's protective tread strip has a new texture. Inside, there's a new Noble metal finish for the vent bezels, door pulls, and the upper side trim on the center console. An almond colored leather trim with nutmeg colored carpets and carpeted mats are now offered (replacing previous beige tones). Additions to the exterior color palette include Bournville (a very dark brown metallic), Santorini Black (metallic), and Galway Green (a dark hue).

Range Rover Sport models equipped with the supercharged and intercooled V-8 engine benefit from two new 20-inch wheel designs this year. Both share the same basic 15-spoke configuration but one has a Sparkle Silver finish and the other has a Diamond Turn appearance.



BODY ARCHITECTÚRE
Land Rover's Integrated Body-frame construction provides exemplary collision performance, efficient packaging, a stiff platform needed for superior handling and maneuverability, and a composed cabin environment, by combining a hydroformed-steel ladder frame to a highly rigid monocoque body. Miniature dampers between the frame and body at mounting points and a tuned mass damper located at each corner of the vehicle help block the transmission of noise, vibration, and road harshness into the passenger cabin.

The Range Rover Sport uses high-tensile-strength boron steel to reinforce the roof pillars, magnesium in the front crumple zone, and aluminum for the hood. A single-piece tailgate with a separate hinged glass not only provides convenient access to the cargo hold, it also trims aerodynamic drag. Exterior steel panels are zinc coated on both sides for corrosion protection. Fixed windows are securely bonded to contribute to the body's structural rigidity.

POWERTRAINS
The Range Rover Sport uses aluminum block-and-head construction, chain-driven double overhead camshafts, and four-valve combustion chambers in both the supercharged and naturally aspirated V8s.

The 4.4-liter naturally aspirated V8 features electronically-controlled continuously-variable intake timing and electronic throttle actuation. Peak outputs are 300 hp at 5500 rpm and 315 lb-ft of torque at 4000 rpm.

The 4.2-liter supercharged and intercooled V8 uses thicker-walled cylinder liners for extra block rigidity, necessitating a slightly smaller bore size. A belt-driven Eaton supercharger delivers a maximum 11.6-psi of boost pressure. Twin air-to-coolant heat exchangers cool the pressurized intake charge en route to the cylinders. The supercharged V8 delivers a hearty 390 hp at 5750 rpm and 410 lb-ft of torque at a useful 3500 rpm.

The ZF electronically-controlled six-speed automatic transmission offers three modes—automatic, sport, and CommandShift (manual). When the console-mounted lever is moved to its CommandShift gate, gear changes can be selected manually. This is handy to match engine and road speeds during aggressive braking; a downshift is also beneficial to help power smartly out of a bend. Selecting the Sport mode provides a more responsive automatic shift program which allows the engine to rev higher before an upshift. Downshifts are also more aggressive.

The Range Rover Sport's two-speed transfer case features an electronically controlled, infinitely-variable locking center differential that automatically distributes the available torque to both drive axles. Shifting between low and high ranges is possible without stopping. An electronically-actuated infinitely variable locking rear differential can be selected from the optional equipment list.

CHASSIS
Convincing an SÚV to behave well both at high speeds on torturous, undulating pavement and while traversing challenging off-road terrain is no easy feat. To advance the Range Rover Sport to a new level of dynamic capability, Land Rover engineers employed the best available technology. Key components are:
• An independent double-wishbone suspension system at each corner
• High-capacity monotube dampers for consistent control of wheel and body motion
• Electronically regulated air springs that provide automatic load leveling and multiple ride heights—access (for entry), standard, off-road and extended; cross linking the air springs makes the best use of the long travel suspension system.
• Land Rover's Dynamic Response active suspension system combined with Brembo front brakes is standard on the Supercharged model and available on the HSE with the Luxury package. Active anti-roll bars balance handling and manage body roll on-road. Relaxing the bars during off-road excursions provides the extra wheel articulation needed to help maintain a secure footing
• Speed-sensitive, variable-ratio ZF power rack-and-pinion steering for excellent feedback and optimum directional control
• Cast aluminum-alloy wheels for low unsprung weight and excellent dispersal of braking heat
• Wide, low-profile radial tires compounded for optimum performance both on- and off-road; the Range Rover Sport HSE is fitted with 255/50YR-19 tires while the Supercharged edition rolls on 275/40YR-20 rubber.

Powerful high-capacity four-wheel vented disc brakes available on both Range Rover Sport models are used to match stopping power with acceleration and speed. Four-piston front brake calipers supplied by Brembo are standard on the Supercharged edition and optional (with Dynamic Response) in the HSE. The parking brake is electronically applied and released by simply pulling a small console lever or by driving off.

Bosch-supplied electronic controls deliver a full suite of stability and traction benefits including emergency brake assist (EBA) for maximum braking effort when needed to avoid an accident; ABS to curtail wheel lock during aggressive braking as well on slippery off-road terrain; dynamic stability control (DSC) to help maintain guidance authority during extreme maneuvers; or in slippery conditions, active roll mitigation (ARM) to slow the vehicle in a tight bend when the vehicle senses overly aggressive driving; electronic brake force distribution (EBD) to make balanced use of the stopping traction available at all four wheels regardless of how the vehicle is loaded; , four-wheel electronic traction control (4ETC), and hill descent control (HDC) to creep controllably down steep grades.

Range Rover Sport's Terrain Response™ system offers supreme off-road versatility that takes the chore out of selecting multiple systems for optimum performance. Setting a console knob in one of five available positions adjusts throttle response, optimizes the transmission's gear changes, positions the air suspension at the appropriate ride height, and sets the center and rear differentials (when so equipped) in a mode right for the terrain. DSC, ETC, ABS, and HDC functions are also altered by each Terrain Response setting. The five available modes are general, grass/gravel/snow, mud and ruts, sand, and rock crawl.

SAFETY AND SECÚRITY
Occupant protection begins with one of the most substantial architectures extant in SÚVs—the Range Rover Sport's Integrated Body-frame—and continues throughout the entire vehicle.

Hydroformed steel frame rails provide superior resistance to side impacts and controlled crush front and rear to absorb collision energy. Occupants and the mid-mounted, burst-resistant fuel tank are both guarded by what amounts to a steel safety cage. If a crash occurs, the engine is automatically shut down, the fuel pump is disabled, doors are unlocked, and the hazard warning system is activated.

Six airbags are provided including two in front triggered by a longitudinal impact, two seat-mounted for front occupant thorax protection in a side impact, and two side curtains that deploy from the ceiling for the head protection of all outboard occupants. A LATCH (Lower Anchor and Tether for Children) system is provided in the rear seat for attaching a child safety seat.

Other safety and security features including as standard equipment are: deep-tinted glass, rear-door child locks, central locking with keyless entry, an anti-theft system that immobilizes the engine and fog lamps located at both ends of the vehicle. An adaptive front lighting system with Bi-Xenon™ headlamps that turn to follow steering inputs are standard in the Supercharged model and optionally available in the HSE as part of the Luxury package.

COMFORT, CONVENIENCE, INFOTAINMENT
The Range Rover Sport offers an extensive array of premium features for both long and short drives. These features are wholly satisfying to the most demanding driver. Both front bucket seats are eight-way power adjustable and ergonomically designed for lasting comfort. Firm bolsters and high-grip seating surfaces are provided to support occupants during the inevitable aggressive driving stints. The cockpit array consists of a highly legible instrument cluster and a broad center stack rising out of a high console to locate all controls within easy reach.

The automatic climate control system provides independent settings for two distinct zones. Heated front and rear seats are standard in the Supercharged edition and optional in HSE. A power sunroof is standard in both models.

The programmable key fob can command the air suspension to lower to facilitate easy entry. Adaptive cruise control with the ability to sense and adjust to traffic in the lane ahead is available in the Supercharged model. The Range Rover Sport uses Bluetooth® technology, which is standard in both models to integrate a cell phone, allowing a microphone in the dash to speak and speakers around the vehicle to listen. A Park Distance Control system that senses objects both in front of and behind the vehicle is also standard.

Acknowledging that superb audio entertainment is an essential, not a luxury, both Range Rover Sport models are fitted with a Harman/Kardon LOGIC7 550-watt entertainment system armed with a 12-channel amplifier playing through 14 speakers. AM/FM stereo, CD via a six-disc in-dash changer, and auxiliary-input (MP3) source material are efficiently orchestrated into a full surround-sound audio experience. Steering-wheel controls command volume, station, and CD track selection. SIRIÚS digital audio reception is standard in the Supercharged edition and optional in the HSE. A rear-seat entertainment package consisting of two front headrest displays, a six-disc DVD changer, a remote control device, and a touchscreen interface is an available option.

A DVD-based GPS navigation system with multiple state-of-the-art features is included to assure that every Range Rover Sport adventure has a successful ending. Commands can be entered either by touching the 7-inch LCD screen or by voice. The 4x4 Information screen presents the current settings of the Terrain Response system, the steering angle and, the vertical movement of all four wheels, the suspension setting, gear selected, and transfer case range. Navigation is provided during both on- and off-road excursions.

Source - Land Rover