When it comes to storytelling, there are seven basic plot archetypes: rebirth, quest, tragedy, comedy, voyage and return, and overcoming the monster. In this case, the monster is entirely at your disposal and you’re equipped for any quest on terra firma. Embossed with sophistication and bolstered by precision engineering, the latest Range Rover Sport stands on the shoulders of the countless giants that came before it. According to Range Rover it’s the pinnacle of its line-up. Backed by 65 years of British all-terrain expertise, the 4x4’s sturdy Defender-esque capabilities are furnished with elegance, and every sporty feature, designed to thrill throughout the urban jungle, is matched by pragmatic off-road prowess.
To illustrate, the 2.5-tonne SVR edition recently smashed the Nürburgring record for the fastest production SUV, chewing up the 20.7-km circuit in eight minutes and 14 seconds. Yet the “sports utility vehicle” is a bona fide 4x4 that can belly flop into 85cm of water with all the enthusiasm of a black Labrador puppy. The exuberant strength of the 5.0-litre LR-V8 Supercharged engine is framed within an advanced aluminium body, and tamed by a lightweight front and rear suspension as well as Torque Vectoring, which delivers responsive and controlled cornering that’s so deft, the wheels flow with a calligraphic grace that lives up to the car’s name.
All that’s missing is the ink, but the Autobiography Sport still manages to leave an indelible mark. The arcs may not be tight enough to woo a graphologist, with a wall-to-wall turning circle of 12.5 metres, but it’s a smooth line thanks to the Adaptive Dynamics system to balance the handling. Internally, the meticulous detailing and plush tan leather complements the Santorini Black exterior and neatly contrasts the on-board gadgetry. The CommandShift® 2 gear system lets you tackle manual gear changes like a boy racer, ensuring a fun ride on any terrain, while the Dynamic Response enhances the handling even further via minute hydraulic adjustments.
The system works in tandem with the Adaptive Dynamics, which monitors the vehicle’s movements over 500 times a second, reacting to driver and road inputs and ensuring your on-road penmanship is altogether flawless. It probably helps to have an eight-speed automatic transmission at your disposal, shifting between gear ratios at twice the speed of a blink at 200 milliseconds. Slick suited in black, the Range Rover will always suffer the moniker of “Chelsea tractor”, assigned largely to middle class school runs and Premier League footballer commutes, but deep down, it has all the nous and dexterity of a feral mountain goat.
In this case, the goat won the lottery and got kitted out with all the latest tech, including an advanced Meridian™ sound system, a touchscreen display with satellite and digital TV, optional rear seat entertainment with touchscreen remote control and WhiteFire® digital wireless headphones. Even the wing mirrors project a light beam onto the floor when the car is unlocked. Visible only at night, it appears like a pair of miniature Bat-Signals, motioning a call to action and an impending adventure.
Truly wasted on the rat race, this car yearns to tackle tougher terrain and when the going gets tough, it responds accordingly with a next-gen, four-corner air suspension system boosting the ground clearance by 65 mm. Strength with control, style with modesty and talent without guile, there’s a lot left unsaid about this fine piece of British engineering – but “range” is the optimal word. When kitted out with the Dynamic Pack, it’s a car for all occasions, rolling on 21-inch five split-spoke alloy wheels and furnished with Oxford perforated leather for a luxurious ride.
The Stealth Pack is also available in all exterior colour options and includes Satin Black exterior accents on the front grille and surround, Range Rover lettering on the bonnet and tailgate, upper mirror caps and tow eye cover. From engine options and colours to alloys, accessories and interiors, make sure your Autobiography is a unique story with Land Rover’s “Build Your Own” functionality. Just remember the car is the true protagonist.
Nuts & Bolts
