Wednesday 17th August 2016

Range Rover Sport MY17 updates

Well if an SVR is a bit much, there's now a four-cylinder diesel too...

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While PH may focus on the more performance oriented end of the SUV market, the majority of sales of course come from further down the range. Indeed, the BMW X5, Mercedes GLE and Volvo XC90 are all available with four-cylinder diesel engines of 2.1 litres or less.

Kind of the same, but a bit different

Which is a soft way of introducing the fact that the Range Rover Sport is now available with a four-cylinder diesel, the Ingenium engine seen in the XE but with another turbo. Because, let's be honest, traditionalists may not be all that receptive to a four-cylinder Range Rover.

The numbers are competitive enough at least. The SD4 has 240hp and 369lb ft, enough for a predicted eight-second dash to 62mph, 128mph flat out, 45.6mpg and 164g/km. For reference, an XC90 D5 makes 235hp and 354lb ft, but is fractionally quicker and more efficient. For keen spotters, the four-cylinder diesel Sport is identifiable by two exhaust pipes on one side; all other models have one on each side.

The rest of the updates for the 2017 model year are much as seen in the Range Rover last week, with tech like the Low Friction Launch and InControl Touch Pro borrowed from the Jaguar F-Pace. Also new are an optional Drive Pack (blind spot monitor, sign recognition, reverse traffic detection), a Drive Pro Pack (adding adaptive cruise control and emergency braking) and a Driver Condition Monitor, to wake you up if all that semi-autonomous tech has sent you to sleep.

Is this the same house Mercedes uses?

Outside the Sport is unchanged, bar a Bright Pack optionally available on Autobiography Dynamic models. Lending the car a "more vivid" finish, its Atlas Silver front grille and bonnet mesh should ensure nobody will hold you up on the outside lane of the M40.

The updated Sport goes on sale later this year, with prices starting at £59,700 for the SD4 diesel HSE. Yep, £60K for the four-cylinder diesel. The V6 diesel kicks off at £63,100 for the HSE, rising to £80,300 for the Autobiography Dynamic. The diesel hybrid is available in either £75,200 HSE Dynamic or £86,800 Autobiography Dynamic spec. The supercharged V6 petrol also joins the range, available only as an HSE Dynamic at £64,400. Both the V8 diesel and 510hp V8 petrol are solely available as Autobiography Dynamic models, both also costing £86,800. The SVR remains unchanged at top of the range, starting at £96,900. Keep your eyes peeled at the school gates from early in 2017!

[anonymous-user]

Never thought I'd see the day a Range Rover (well, a RR Sport!) with a 4-cylinder... then again I never thought you would be able to buy a 3-Series with a 3-cyl.

I thought the Evoque and Disco sport would cater for the cheaper/smaller engined land rovers?

[anonymous-user]

Impasse said:

Kierkegaard said:

Never thought I'd see the day a Range Rover (well, a RR Sport!) with a 4-cylinder... then again I never thought you would be able to buy a 3-Series with a 3-cyl.

I thought the Evoque and Disco sport would cater for the cheaper/smaller engined land rovers?

RR Classic had a four cylinder 200TDi engine fitted towards the end of its life cycle and before that the four cylinder VM diesel was used. It's not a new idea.

I meant the current Range Rover - due to its size, weight and image.

Of course every manufacturer is downsizing these days and it's the way to reduce everything from weight, emmisions, carbon foo..blah blah. I bet this engine won't make it into the normal RR.

[anonymous-user]

Ozzie Osmond said:

"While PH may focus on the more performance oriented end of the SUV market"

Good grief - there was a time when PH had a focus on sportscars.

Roll up, roll up, get your diesel SUV here...

And once upon time the earth was flat and witches floated.

Times change, the great thing about PH is that caters for all sorts most of whom are united by a passion for matters automotive in their most general sense.

[anonymous-user]

Ozzie Osmond said:

Do be sure to let me know when "SUV Racing live from Brands Hatch" hits our TV screens. Until then you can take your witches and stick them up your flat earth. Putting a Sport badge on a lumpen SUV may boost the driver's ego at the pub but it serves no other purpose whatsoever.

Goodness me you do feel rather strongly about this don't you ?

There's a great deal to ponder in your post, including, but not limited to:

What on earth does Brands Hatch have to do with it ?

Why do certain people assume people have nothing better to do in pubs than talk about their cars ?

Are SUVs all lumpen ?

Why the inference that you can only enjoy cars if it's a sports car or participates in televised Motorsport ?

Why are you so aggressive to strangers on the Internet ?

[anonymous-user]

torchy6 said:

How true! Who in their right mind would want a Rangey with a diesel 4? Personally I will never buy another diesel. I had a turbo diesel Land Cruiser and the engine annoyed me so much that I chopped it for a Lexus 470, that V8 responce and power - pure heaven (if you ignore the fuel bills!)

Times, tastes and acceptability thresholds change though don't they ?

There are countless "who would want" examples I imagine - a turbocharged series production Ferrari, a four cylinder Porsche Boxster, a four wheel drive car that isn't an off roader, an electric car of all things !!!

The point is markets evolve either through choice, legislation, necessity, innovation etc etc it won't be everybody's cup of tea or diesel but they will sell as many as they can make no doubt.

[anonymous-user]

Had five LRs in a row, one D3 which had some serious faults, then threeD4s and now a FFRR all of which were/are as good as gold.

In my experience the dealer can make all the difference, we've found one we get on with very well and now feel a great product is supported by a great dealer.

Other people's experiences of course may differ.