Friday 28th January 2011

Range Rover Sport To The 'Ring

Faster than a Lotus Exige? Only if Dan Trent's driving the Lotus...

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Fog-bound arrival at ‘NüroDisney’

On the Land Rover stand at the Detroit auto show, 36 hours away from driving to Germany for our Nürburgring investigation, I indulge in a bit of Nordschleife geekery with PR man Richard Agnew. I bemoan the fact the webcam suggests the track will still be a metre under snow by the time I get there.

"You should take a Range Rover Sport," says Agnew. "It'll be good in the snow and you know it'll go around in 8:55 on standard tyres. And the guys reckon there's more to come."

Whaat? Given my personal best is a smidge over nine minutes, and that effort left me trembling with excitement, fear and adrenaline for at least a week, this sounded astonishing. Especially given that said 'Most Awesome 'Ring Lap Ever' was achieved in a Lotus Exige S. On track rubber, in perfect weather conditions and on a deserted track.

On the P&O ferry - champers declined...

Either I'm rubbish or the Range Rover is something very special. Or, perhaps, they employed an utter mentalist to drive it. Maybe a bit of all three, my fragile ego hoping they just took a secret off-road shortcut at the Karusell and missed out a chunk of the track.

Sadly I won't be finding out as the only 'ring I'll be driving on this trip will be the one around Brussels en route to my appointments in Germany with various Nürburgring folk.

Before that though it's a daft'o'clock start and an early ferry. A glass of complementary fizz in the P&O Club Lounge is a tempting offer but tea is probably a better bet, no matter how much the Range Rover's purple paint and pale leather interior shout the blingy, champagne lifestyle.

Belgium, looking lovely as ever

It does seem odd to be driving out to the 'ring in a 4x4, but as Belgium heralds its arrival with the inevitable huge potholes, standing water and bumper-to-bumper driving I'm glad to be in the Range Rover. Blazing LED running lights do a good job of clearing errant locals out of my path, while inside the V6 turbodiesel's murmur is barely audible, the thumping DAB/iPod friendly stereo a welcome partner.

A supercharged petrol V8 would have been nice of course, but ruled out in the interests of preserving PH's expenses budget. No need to worry though, at a continental cruise the trip computer shows a steady 29mpg or so, which is pretty good for a heavy beast like this.

Extreme off-roading for photocall

By the time I reach the Nürburgring the fog has fallen and the snow is all but gone so it doesn't look like the Range Rover's 4x4 talents are required. Nor, unfortunately, am I going to get a lap in. It's mid-week and there's nothing doing over at the Nordschleife entrance, though the weekend will bring the first of 2011's tourist drivers flocking. I wish I could join them - especially as they'll be opening the combined 24-hour race Nordschleife/GP track for public laps - but I've got work to do.

Next day I head out for photos, the familiar roads around the 'ring if anything the equal of the formidable circuit itself. They're wide, well-sighted, deserted and sweeping and you could happily drive around this hilly, forested region and never touch the Nordschleife's tarmac.

The Sport at the Nordschleife entrance

True, the Rangie is hefty and does nothing to disguise the fact, but that lap time doesn't seem too far-fetched, even in the diesel. The 245hp V6 is fabulous and, according to Range Rover, can deploy 369lb ft of the 442lb ft of torque available within 500 milliseconds from idle. Classic pointless-but-cool stat, but it feels super-strong and very refined.

And the whole package has character and a sense of occasion German rivals can only dream of. I feel a bit queasy that a vehicle I generally associate with yummy mummies and footballers might actually be getting under my skin, and remind myself why I'm in a Range Rover by doing something those folk will never do - taking it off-road.

Okay, it's only to scrabble up onto a muddy bank by the famous Brünnchen corner viewing spot but it gets a bit of clay on the Rangie's tyres and makes for a great pic so I'm happy.

Raring to go...

Time is running out, but I have one important call to make before leaving the Eifel and dashing for my ferry and it's one I couldn't have done in a Lotus: yes, to the Getränkmarkt for essential local delicacies. Crates of local delicacies...

I'm late and the journey back is made with no deference to PH expense accounts (sorry Chris-R, I'll save you one of those beers) and all of a sudden the Range Rover wakes up and digs deep into its formidable reserves. And it's brilliant.

So, I'd love to take that Lotus back to the 'ring. But, having tasted luxury, I'd love even more to tow it there behind a Range Rover Sport. Which to use for an attempt on that personal best lap time though? There's a question I never thought I'd be asking...

[Cassius81]

Have not driven the new V6, but it seems that the older 3.6 V8 might be redundant now?

Generally prefer the full-size RR to the Sport, but both are impressive.

[Digga]

My LR dealer loaned my an identical vehicle whilst my trusty van (a.k.a the Discovery) was in for a service last year.

That new 3.0TDV6 is an impressive step forward compared to the old 2.7, which itself IMHO is a belting good motor, certainly way more refined than the AUdi 3.0 I had in a recent A6.

29mpg isn't great though - my Disco (which is slightly heaver than the RRS) can equal that with the 'old' engine - I'm guessing speed limits weren't adhered to?

I have to say though, if I could, a TDV8 RRS would be the thing I'd have. Maybe it's because, having owned a P38 4.6 Vogue RR my idea of what makes a RR is skewed, but refined as the new 3.0 is, it can't match the noise of the V8 diesel.

[Digga]

Cassius81 said:

Have not driven the new V6, but it seems that the older 3.6 V8 might be redundant now?

<whispers> New, bigger V8, out this year.

Cassius81 said:

Generally prefer the full-size RR to the Sport, but both are impressive.

Really?

I find the 'full fat' RRs to have the same wallowy feel as my old P38, whereas the Disco and RRS (different length versions of the same basic platform) are much less rolly poly. Each to their own I Guess.

By the way, this is why the V8D RRS is the vehicle for the 'Ring; http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=99zCe-q--SQ

[Spoof]

Digga said:

By the way, this is why the V8D RRS is the vehicle for the 'Ring; http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=99zCe-q--SQ

[Cassius81]

Digga said:

eally?

I find the 'full fat' RRs to have the same wallowy feel as my old P38, whereas the Disco and RRS (different length versions of the same basic platform) are much less rolly poly. Each to their own I Guess.

By the way, this is why the V8D RRS is the vehicle for the 'Ring; http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=99zCe-q--SQ

Take your point but I wouldn't buy an LR (of any type) for its handling... My preference is more due to the space inside and all round looks/presence of the full fat RR.

I thought they were keeping the 4.4V8 for the full fat RR only? What are the details of this new engine?!

[rallycross]

Bling to the Ring would be a better title!

Why would you take your huge over-sized / over weight Bling-box to the Ring other than if you were towing something behind that is actually worth driving round the ring in?

[angusc43]

Good to see Mr Trent's excellent writing again - I haven't seen any copy since the demise of Performance Car.

[Luca Brasi]

Ah, the lovely Belgian road network

[Alicatt1]

Luca Brasi said:

Ah, the lovely Belgian road network

It's why I drive a TDV8 RRS here in Belgium,

[Dan Trent]

"Only if Dan Trent's driving the Lotus..."

Yup, kinda set myself up for that one didn't I! Haha!

[anything fast]

rallycross said:

Bling to the Ring would be a better title!

Why would you take your huge over-sized / over weight Bling-box to the Ring other than if you were towing something behind that is actually worth driving round the ring in?

SPOT ON!!

you could take it to the ring and meet up fitty cent, puff daddy, some drug dealers, some 20 years olds who have hired one for a wedding etc etc, or you could buy proper RR and have a proper sports car..

sorry i for one thing these things are utterly vulgar and appeal to footballer types, orange women and people who wear too much gold!

[The Curn]

An interesting point of view from your position.

[sizequeen13]

anything fast....

its funny. although it may apeal to those people ( orange, footballers etc ) its actually very very usefull. prefer the big one, but this is still an excellent product with either engine. theres less between them than there ever was. both exceptional. what a snob though. really.

Edited by sizequeen13 on Friday 28th January 13:54

[anything fast]

The Curn

I see you have some proper cars, like a proper RR and a new shape Disco... very good sir thats they way it should be done!

[Graham]

I've tracked ( although not at the ring) a 3.9 classic rangey and even a k-series freelander...

both were a hoot. the rangy requires a very comitted driving style. once your turned in,you have to keep your foot in, lift and you'll probably end up on the roof. but they go a lot quicker than you'd think. well untill the brakes catch fire .

The freelander was an even bigger surprise.. very composed, nice 4 wheel drift on the limit.. I'd be half tempted to build a stripped out trackday hound out of one, just to embarass the "fast" boys... mind you a good supply of engines might be needed..

[HowMuchLonger]

Digga said:

eally?

I find the 'full fat' RRs to have the same wallowy feel as my old P38, whereas the Disco and RRS (different length versions of the same basic platform) are much less rolly poly. Each to their own I Guess.

By the way, this is why the V8D RRS is the vehicle for the 'Ring; http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=99zCe-q--SQ

New RR no longer has the roly poly feel thanks to it's adaptive suspension. Turns that I would take in last years model at 30mph would have all the lights flashing on the dash, in this years I can do 50 quite happily. it halso has 2x the torque quoted in the article for the sport, so full fat for me.

[HowMuchLonger]

I still want a Bowler Nemesis though!

[tomv1to]

Anyone out there had the JE Zulu conversion performed on their Defender and taken around the ring. If you have that must have been awesome.

I should imagine hurtling from 0-60 in a Range Rover Sport at 8.8 seconds being exciting with the TDV6 and can imagine the V8 managing it in 5.9 seconds being a lot of fun.

But a defender roaring and ratteling to 60 in 5.6 seconds ball shatteringly thrilling.

Edited by tomv1to on Friday 28th January 14:35

Edited by tomv1to on Friday 28th January 14:37

[Spoof]

Every car/model/owner seems to have a stereotype on PH. It does seem to be a victim of its own success though.

For those who've never owned/driven one, it really is a very capable all round vehicle, as that video of me destroying a set of tyres on the ring shows.

[Digga]

HowMuchLonger said:

Digga said:

eally?

I find the 'full fat' RRs to have the same wallowy feel as my old P38, whereas the Disco and RRS (different length versions of the same basic platform) are much less rolly poly. Each to their own I Guess.

By the way, this is why the V8D RRS is the vehicle for the 'Ring; http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=99zCe-q--SQ

New RR no longer has the roly poly feel thanks to it's adaptive suspension. Turns that I would take in last years model at 30mph would have all the lights flashing on the dash, in this years I can do 50 quite happily. it halso has 2x the torque quoted in the article for the sport, so full fat for me.

That much better? Intersting.

I guess I last drove a full-fat RR (an early TDV8) around autumn 2007.