Lamborghini is 50 years old this year, and is launching a couple of new models as part of the birthday celebrations. Aside from the radically designed Veneno, new versions of the Gallardo and the Aventador are on their way. Both will also be on display at the ongoing Shanghai Motor Show.
The Aventador LP 720-4 50° Anniversario, squeezes about 20 extra bhp from the 6.2-litre V12 engine of the base Aventador courtesy of different engine tuning. Apart from this, aggressive aerodynamic changes can be seen with an extended front splitter and a much larger rear diffuser (2009 Murcielago SV, anyone?). Lamborghini claims these aero changes have made it 50% more aerodynamic than the base LP 700-4 Aventador. It comes with the same wheels as the Aventador Roadster, 20″ in the front, 21″ in the back, all in glossy black.
The colour on the Aventador LP 720-4 50° Anniversario is inspired by the Lamborghini Miura; Lamborghini says yellow has been its most successful colour. Standard is a two-tone paint job with a bright yellow Giallo Maggio covering most of the car, and lower body panels painted matte black. However customers can have their car in any colour they want, courtesy of Lamborghini’s extensive personalisation programme.
The base Aventador LP 700-4 was launched in 2011 and a convertible roadster went on sale earlier this year. The Aventador is a mid-engine, all wheel drive supercar with a single clutch 7-speed semi-automatic transmission. It can hit a top speed of 217 mph (349 kmph) and can go from 0-100 kmph in 2.9 seconds.
In 1988, former Finnish World Rally Champion (WRC), Ari Vatanen won the Pikes Peak International Hill Climb in a record-breaking time with his turbochargedPeugeot 405 T16. This famous feat was documented in an equally famous short film by Jean Louis Mourey called ‘Climb Dance’. Peugeot is now making a return to Pikes Peak after a 14-year absence with the stunning 208 T16. The radically designed car will be piloted by the most successful driver in WRC history and a record 9-time champion, Sebastien Loeb.
Beast. Red Bull gives you wings.
If Loeb was Batman, the 208 T16 would do a fair job of playing the batmobile. Save for the head and taillights, and the basic outline of the car, nothing is resemblant of the production Peugeot 208. Sporting extreme proportions, the body has been designed for maximum aerodynamic performance. The carbon body sports a massive rear wing borrowed from the Le Mans-winning Peugeot 908, and a gigantic splitter at the front evident of the focus on aerodynamics. The V6 turbo petrol engine has been tuned to produce more than 800 bhp to compensate for the loss in output as the air gets thin at high altitudes, and the Peugeot is fitted with 2 self-locking differentials so as to ensure that the right wheels get the power at the right time. Peugeot said performance specifications and final livery will be revealed soon. Whether it will retain the black exterior apparently is undecided.
The Pikes Peak International Hill Climb aka The Race to the Clouds, is an annual automobile and motorcycle hillclimb to the summit of Pikes Peak in Colorado Springs, USA. The 19.99 km long climb begins at a height of 1,440 m and ends at 4,300 m offering a different kind of challenge to racers and teams than usual track racing. It is now the second oldest motorsport event in the USA, with the first edition held back in 1916.
No petrolhead in the world needs an introduction to the Nissan GT-R. Disturbingly fast and ridiculously awesome, the GT-R holds a unique place in the world of motoring. Relatively practical and cheaper to the cars it’s usually compared with, the GT-R may just be Nissan’s only contribution to the world of supercars. This intoxicating cocktail of characteristics makes it a very interesting animal altogether, powerful and glorious, yet not the leader of the pack. However, the GT-R didn’t pop up in the middle of the night out of nowhere. It’s a carefully crafted successor to a long lineage of cars worthy of their own plaques in the automotive hall of fame. If you were unaware of the GT-R before just now, I’d like you to meet Godzilla.
It all began with the 1969 Nissan Skyline GT-R, the first ever to flaunt Gran Turismo Racer as its name. With a 2.0-litre 160 bhp engine, it was marketed alongside the Nissan R380 racecar, to showcase the Skyline’s racing heritage. A replacement came in 1973 but due to a gas crisis in the early 70s, demand for sports cars plummeted, and only 197 cars were produced. This was the last GT-R until 1989, when Nissan dropped the R32 on the world.
The Nismo R32 eats your car for breakfast. Image credit: illmotion.com
Nissan designed the GT-R R32 to dominate Group A racing. Regulations required the engine to multiply its displacement by 1.7 putting the Skyline in the 4000 cc class. This further required the use of 10-inch wide tyres, so Nissan developed a special all-wheel drive system to assist it with traction. Then they realised that this added a 100 kg of weight. What do Nissan do next? They decided to put a 2.6-litre engine in, compete in the 4500 cc class with 11-inch wide tyres and a new engine block. And the result? A beast of a car producing a mammoth 600 bhp. This kind of stuff only happens in storybooks, and at Nissan’s engineering labs.
The all-wheel drive system and the 2.6-litre made its way on to the production R32 GT-R. But due to Group A homologation rules, Nissan was required to sell a series of the Skyline GT-R which more accurately reflected the car they use in Group A racing. This series was launched in 1990 as the Skyline GT-R Nismo edition (Nismo or Nissan Motorsport being Nissan’s high performance division). 500 Nismo R32 Evolution models were sold to the public and 60 were held by Nissan to be made into race cars. A lighter car with an upgraded engine came with the GT-R N1 in 1991 designed for Group N racing. To celebrate the success of the R32 in both Group A and Group N racing, 1993 saw the introduction of an even higher performance model, the Skyline GT-R V-Spec (Victory Specification) and the V-Spec II in 1994. Performance stats like those of the R32 GT-R were unheard of in a car which cost less than $35,000. The R32 was a humongous success selling almost 44,000 cars.
Image credit: Matthew Everingham
The R33 GT-R came in 1995 with a few powertrain refinements but the same engine as the R32. The V-Spec edition had a sport suspension with lower ground clearance, a new all wheel drive system with an active limited slip diff, and 4-wheel independent ABS. Late 1997 saw the arrival of the high performance Nismo R33 400R with an upgraded engine producing 400 bhp and 470 Nm of torque. Capable of hitting 97 kmph in 4.0 seconds and a top speed of over 300 kmph, only 44 400Rs ever saw the day of light making it a collector’s item. The R33 was the first production car to lap the hallowed Nürburgring racetrack in under 8 minutes.
1999 saw the arrival of the arguably the most influential Skyline GT-R to date. The R34 Skyline GT-R and its numerous variants are the reason the GT-R name still exists today, and how. An instant hit with the growing tuner car culture in Japan and the US, the R34 was immortalised in pop culture through the Fast and the Furious films, the Initial D manga series and the Gran Turismo video games. The standard GT-R opted for a 2.6-litre engine and all wheel drive system. A major change was the 5.8″ multifunction display on the dashboard which tried to satisfy the inner geek in all of us by showing different live readings of engine and vehicle statistics. Multiple high performance variants were introduced such as the V-Spec and V-Spec II having racing suspensions, revised ECU maps and underbody diffusers. 2002 saw the coming of the GT-R V-spec II Nür and the Skyline GT-R M-spec Nür, named after Nürburgring where the Skyline was developed. The V-Spec II Nür had over 330 bhp under the hood, but due to its unbelievable tunability, tuners have been able to churn out over 500 bhp from even standard R34 GT-R’s. Over 3 years, the R34 was released in a total of 9 variants selling more than 12,000 cars.
Nismo Skyline R34 GT R Z Tune
The R34 was a real gamechanger for the Skyline range. The GT-R was suddenly an international underground phenomenon. Home-tuned street racer GT-Rs were popping up all over the States and Japan. It was successful on the track as well. People were amazed how Nissan had managed to milk so much performance from a relatively small engine and a relatively cheap mid-range car. There was genuine disappointment among the automotive world and genuine enthusiasts when Nissan announced in 2002 that the GT-R name would no longer be associated with the Skyline. The Skyline still exists in form of the Infiniti G35 range, but its not really a Skyline, is it? Tuners went back to their Toyota Supras, Honda Civics and Mitsubishi Evos quite baffled.
Once in a while a GT-R R34 V-Spec pops up in the ‘used cars’ section of the classifieds, and its not long before a 30 year old banker is standing in his garage with a spanner in hand, admiring the car he dreamed of owning when he was a 17 year old. As for the successor to the Skyline GT-R, Nissan had a few tricks up their sleeves. More on that in part II, to be out soon.
The record had been taken away after Guinness decided that the car used to achieve the 267.8 mph record speed didn’t qualify as a production car, since it had a deactivated speed limiter unlike the one sold to the public. With the speed limiter, the production Veyron SS was capable of hitting a ‘disappointing’ 258 mph.
Guinness gave the following statement to ‘Sunday Times’ of the UK explaining why the Veyron SS was given the title back,
Following a thorough review conducted with a number of external experts, Guinness World Records is pleased to announce the confirmation of Bugatti’s record of Fastest production car achieved by the Veyron 16.4 Super Sport. The focus of the review was with respect to what may constitute a modification to a car’s standard specification. Having evaluated all the necessary information, Guinness World Records is now satisfied that a change to the speed limiter does not alter the fundamental design of the car or its engine.
So Bugatti now owns both World’s Fastest Production Car and World’s Fastest Convertible speed records. But with the Hennessey Venom GT making waves, SSC’s Ultimate Aero TT and the awaited Tuatara as well as Koenigsegg’s claims of the Agera R capable of hitting 270 mph, expect this battle to heat up quickly.
You win some, you lose some. The Bugatti Veyron Grand Sport Vitesse is now officially the world’s fastest drop-top, with a record speed of 254.04 mph (408.84 kmph). Remind yourself that this is a convertible, and that figure becomes more mind-numbing than ever.
The record was set at Volkswagen’s Ehra Lessien Test Track in Germany, which is one of the very few places on earth where a Veyron can be maxed out. Ironically, the run took place on the 6th of April 2013, the same day when the Bugatti Veyron Supersport was stripped of its fastest production car record by Guinness World Records.
The milestone will be celebrated with a limited run of 8 special ‘World Record Edition’ Grand Sport Vitesses costing €1.99m plus taxes. The world record setting car will also be on display at the Shanghai motor show, complete with the driver’s signature and top speed written on the door kickplate in silver marker.
Bugatti stated that the initial open-top speed target for the Veyron Grand Sport Vitesse was ‘just’ 233mph. However, when testing revealed that 400kph (248mph) would be possible, the engineers set about increasing their targets, with 254.04mph being the final result. Its all courtesy of the famous 8.0-litre, 16 cylinder Bugatti Veyron Super Sport engine having four turbochargers producing a jawdropping 1183 bhp.
Maserati is all set to revive the Ghibli name with a four door saloon, which was unveiled before its world debut at the Shanghai Motor Show later this month. The new Ghibli seems to be Maserati’s solution to broadening its brand appeal and increasing sales figures. Directly in competition with the likes of the Audi A6/S6/A7/S7, Mercedes Benz E-class and the Jaguar XF, the Ghibli will sit below the Quattroporte executive sedan in the Maserati lineup.
The big surprise in this whole saga is that the 2014 Ghibli will be available with a turbocharged 3.0-litre V6 diesel engine, making it the first diesel Maserati ever. According to the rumour mills, a Ferrari-derived, turbocharged and direct-injected V8 petrol engine will also be available, with a likely displacement of 3.8 liters making more than 400 bhp.
Maserati has confirmed that the Ghibli sits on a shortened version of the platform used for the Quattroporte and first looks suggest a very sleek and sporty approach by the charismatic Italian marque. Sporting headlights astonishingly reminiscent of the new BMW 3 series/4 series, Maserati is confident that the Ghibli will play significant role in its plan to achieve sales of over 50,000 cars a year.
More details will be released at the Shanghai Motor Show.
The Audi Sportscar Experience 2013 was held at the Buddh International Circuit (BIC) this past weekend, and the newly launched Audi R8 V10 Plus was easily the main attraction for everyone present on hand.
The session on Sunday consisted of 3 stages namely, the slalom, the ABS test and hot laps with assisted driving meant to provide a first hand experience of track driving. The drivers got a chance to sample the TT and the S4 apart from the absurdly fast R8 V10 Plus.
Jatin Dahiya, an engineering student from Delhi, was one of the lucky few who got to try their hands on the R8 V10 Plus. He had the following to say about the experience,
The S4 and TT are brilliant machines but they’re incomparable to the new R8. The acceleration is absolutely brutal, and even though there’s so much power, you never feel like you’re losing control. The amount of grip is unbelievable when you’re going around corners, I had no trouble cornering at speeds above 110 kmph. I was pretty confident of the car’s braking abilities after the ABS test, so I managed to touch 230 kmph on the long straight without much fear. Altogether, it was an amazing experience.
The Audi Sportscar Experience is a fully-guided driving program meant to hone one’s track skills and is held at the Madras Motor Sports Club (MMSC) in Chennai apart from the BIC. The complete lineup of cars now consists of the S4, TT, RS5, R8 V10 Coupe, R8 V10 Convertible & the R8 V10 Plus. Prices have dropped too, with packages available from Rs. 30,000 to Rs. 98,000 depending on the whether you opt for basic or advanced training.
If you’re the proud owner of a Bugatti Veyron Super Sport, you may want to look away. Guinness World Records have declared that the Veyron SS is not the world’s fastest production car as per the title it was awarded in 2010. The people at Guinness apparently overlooked the fact that the recrod-setting car had been modified with a deactivated speed limiter, which allowed the Veyron SS to hit a record 267.8 mph (431.07 kmph).
Guinness World Records states that the record-setting car must be mechanically identical to the one sold to customers. Here’s what Jaime Strang, PR Director of the company had to say about the matter:
It has come to the attention of Guinness World Records that there was an oversight in its adjudication of the ‘Fastest production car’ which was set in 2010 by the Bugatti Veyron 16.4 Super Sport. As the car’s speed limiter was deactivated, this modification was against the official guidelines. Consequently, the vehicle’s record set at 431.072 km/h is no longer valid. Following this, Guinness World Records is reviewing this category with expert external consultants to ensure our records fairly reflect achievements in this field.
Bugatti is defiant of Guinness’ decision, saying that the production models only have a speed limiter for its customers’ safety and that Guinness was aware of the deactivated limiter on the test car. The production models are limited to ‘just’ 258 mph.
Bugatti’s record was challenged by an American car maker, Hennessey, which claims that its absurdly fast Venom GT should be the world’s fastest production car with a clocked speed of 265.7 mph. However the Venom GT’s speed hasn’t been recorded in the right conditions, which includes an average of two timed runs in opposite directions among other factors. Due to this, the record is most likely to be reverted to the previous holder at 256.1 mph, the Shelby SuperCars Ultimate Aero TT.
The BMW X6 was a very polarising design when it first came out in 2008, and its newly unveiled younger brother seems to be headed the same way. The X4 concept has been unveiled and a production model of the ‘Sports Activity Vehicle’ (SAV) as its called by BMW, will go on sale in 2014. BMW also says that the concept isn’t just the preview of a new model, but a glimpse at the future of the entire X range. Like the X6, the X4’s styling is a hybrid of an SUV and a fastback coupe, a design most of us now know as the crossover. Flaunting strong character lines down its sides, a big radiator grille and two-tone 21-inch alloy wheels, the X4 takes on an aggressive and powerful stance, like the larger X6. Dimensionally most similar to the 3-Series Wagon, the X4’s headlight’s and taillights remind us a lot of the upcoming 4-Series coupe as well as the 3-Series Gran Turismo. Underneath the sculpted body, the X4 is based on the smaller X3 and will most likely offer the same engine options as the X3. It will be built alongside the other X models at BMW’s factory in Spartanburg, USA. The X4 seems to be a well-shaken cocktail of many old and new BMWs. We prefer the X4’s adventurous yet balanced design to that of the X6, but the fastback SUV is still a niche segment and isn’t widely accepted by petrolheads all round the world. Expect this car to make a lot of news when it makes its world debut at the Shanghai Motor Show later this month.
Honda’s highly anticipated compact sedan, the Amaze will launch on April 11, and the Japanese carmaker opened bookings for the same on April 1. The Amaze is expected to cost Rs. 6-7.5 Lakh and bookings can be made at a refundable amount of Rs. 21,000.
Honda anticipates its first diesel car for the Indian market to be a great success and has reportedly already produced 10,000 units of the car so as to avoid extended waiting periods. A 30 day delivery period has been promised by Honda to those who have booked the Amaze already.
The Amaze is a compact sedan based on the successful Honda Brio hatchback. Its sub-four-metre length and options of a less than 1200cc petrol motor and less than 1500c diesel engine go towards ensuring that Honda can avail of the excise (tax on manufacturing) sops for small cars and make it affordable for the value-conscious Indian buyer. The Amaze will be powered by a 1.5-litre i-DTEC diesel engine producing 100 PS of power and 200 Nm of torque, with a 5-speed manual gearbox. Honda India’s maiden diesel car delivers a very impressive ARAI certified mileage of 25.8 km/l. Honda will also offer the Brio’s petrol engine as an option with the Amaze. The 1.2-litre i-VTEC motor produces 88 PS and 109 Nm, and comes with 5-speed manual and automatic transmissions.
We are delighted to witness a remarkable growth of 35% over last year although the market environment has been quite tough. Strong demand for Honda Brio and Honda City has been instrumental in achieving this success. The launch of Amaze this month will be a significant step in Honda’s strategy to begin a new phase of growth for our business in Indian market. We expect huge growth potential in tier 2 & tier 3 markets with this car and therefore we have been expanding our sales network to reach out to newer cities and markets.
– Jnaneswar Sen, Sr. VP – Sales and Marketing, Honda Siel
German luxury car maker Audi has launched the R8 V10 Plus model in India at a price of Rs. 2.05 Crore (ex-showroom). It’s powered by the same 5.2-litre V10 Lamborghini engine as the Audi R8 V10, but manages to churn out 542 BHP and 540Nm of torque. Featuring a 7-speed S tronic dual clutch gearbox, the R8 V10 Plus goes from 0-100 kmph in 3.5 seconds and onto a claimed top speed of 317 kmph. These performance figures are helped to no end by extensive use of carbon fibre, helping the supercar achieve a very impressive power to weight ratio of 345 BHP per ton. The new front splitter, mirror housings, lateral air inlets, side blades, rear diffusor and engine compartment lining are all done with carbon fiber.
Speaking at the launch of the R8 V10 Plus, Michael Perschke, managing director, Audi India, said,
With its sporty and powerful identity, spontaneous responsiveness and extraordinarily high revving, this new member of the R8 family, the V10 plus is the ideal high performance coupé which truly embodies progressiveness and superior performance. With this second addition to the R8 family in 2013, after the launch of new Audi R8 V10 in January, Audi now offers a whole range of R8 options in India. I’m confident that this high performance super sportscar will allow us to further build upon our leadership position in the super sportscar segment in India and maintain the iconic position of the R8 in India.
If its tough to shave off those last few seconds per lap in your Jaguar XKR-S, the Tata owned British manufacturer has unveiled the XKR-S GT at the New York Auto Show just for you. Specifically tuned for the racing circuit, the GT managed a time of 7:40 at the hallowed Nurburgring race track, which is faster than the Murcielago SV, the SLS AMG as well as the Zonda S. It goes from 0 to 100 kmph in less time than you can say Jaaaaaaaaaag; well in 3.9 seconds actually. Safe to say, the XKR-S GT is blisteringly fast. It’s also very rare. Only 30 will be made and sold purely in North America with the US getting 25 of these beasts. Oh, and it costs a measly $175,000.
This car can produce some serious downforce, 145 kgs of it in fact, helped to no end with that massive carbon fiber wing at the back and all those aero bits added all over the body. It sports a sharp, equally large carbon fiber air splitter at the front, and diffuser at the back sits pretty right in between the quad-exhaust pipes. With bright yellow carbon ceramic brakes, Pirelli Corsa tyres and a high performance Eibach tuned suspension, the GT means business. It has a 5.0 litre supercharged V8 engine producing almost 550 BHP and even if the all the aero bits make it look like its come out of a Need for Speed game, this car definitely belongs on the track.
Jaguar has one of the richest racing heritages of all time, and in recent years has been working very hard to reassert itself among its peers and offer performance as well as comfort to its loyal customers. The GT is a reminder of what Jaguar can do when it comes to fast cars. It looks mental, and goes like it too.
So if you have $200,000 saved up to spend on a street-legal car tuned for the racetrack, should you buy the Jaguar XKR-S GT? In a word, no. You should buy this instead:
Walk up to the Aston Martin Vanquish, and at first glance you could almost certainly justify about $100,000 of the $280,000 base price. Aston Martin has been criticized quite a bit in recent years over stubborn design policies. People don’t like how all Aston Martins have looked pretty much the same for a few decades, save for a headlight here and a spoiler there. But does it really matter, when they look like this? Imagine what you sound like when you say, “I’m sorry, I’m sick of the stunning lines on every car”.
The Vanquish, seen here at the New York Auto Show, is absolutely drop dead gorgeous. Its curvier than the DBS, and features some very smooth flowing lines from front to back. The body is now a concoction of aluminium, magnesium and exposed carbon fiber bits for added muscle. It takes some evident design cues from the biggest brother in the Aston Martin lineup, the One-77, and I’m not complaining. It oozes elegance, has tons of character and manages to seek attention in the classiest way possible.
It manages to keep up on the asphalt as well. The 5.9 litre V12 engine produces 565 BHP and has a lot of improvements – variable valve timing at intake and exhaust, improved intake manifold, larger throttle body – which have lowered peak torque deeper in to the rev range. This produces some serious pull coming out of corners leaving quite a few pulses racing. The double wishbone suspension and monotube adaptive adjustable dampers allow some compliance in normal and sport mode, but track mode may definitely cause the small issue of a slipped disc. Carbon ceramic Brembo brakes are standard, and get the job done, and well.
The Aston Martin Vanquish is not as expensive as its V12 competitors, like the Lamborghini Aventador and the Ferrari F12 Berlinetta. Its also not nearly as powerful, with the Lambo grinding out 691 BHP and the F12 a massive 730 BHP. But then again, the Vanquish isn’t going after the same target demographic either. It comes with heated seats, a 13-speaker 1000 watt Bang & Olufsen sound system, and a very functional infotainment system with haptic feedback buttons. The interior is trimmed with Fine Luxmil and semi-aniline leather and Alcantara, all hand stitched. Its aimed at people who want a comfortable grand tourer, which they can take on road trips through Europe, and maybe to the supermarket on the weekends.
Not many people buy Aston Martins because of superb performance or exclusivity. They buy them because whenever they peep out of their bedroom windows to take a look at the weather, and they see the silhouette of their Aston Martin glowing in the setting sun’s orange light, it puts a big fat smile on their faces.
For two years, Subaru has been teasing fans hungry for information on the next WRX, and it finally dropped the curtains on the WRX Concept at the New York Auto Show last week. The eye catching concept looked very impressive in the legendary WRX pearlescent blue coat of paint, to say the least.
The sedan’s wide and low stance grants it an aggressive look and hints at big performance, although no specifics were revealed by Subaru at the time itself. Foreshadowing the upcoming production car, a closer look reveals the carbon-fiber roof panel which helped designers lower the center of gravity of the car as well as its weight. A prominent character line runs from the front fender right up to the taillight on the sides. Sitting on 245mm wide Dunlop tyres, and droolworthy 20 inch BBS wheels, the anticipation of an all-wheel drive system is made evident by 4 large, flared wheel arches. The bulging hood promises a new turbocharged engine and intercooler as well as a massive hood scoop to cool the same, reminiscent of WRXs of the past.
Up front, the traditional Subaru hexagonal grill is the centerpiece in a very low and assertive fascia, with sleek hawkeye headlights which bookend the grill. Deep, low air intakes enhance aerodynamics as well as engine cooling. The C-shaped taillights add width to the rear-end with a trunklid spoiler replacing the big standard wing. The rear diffuser and quad tailpipes further indicate a high performing production car, whenever it comes.
The WRX Concept is a huge step forward for Subaru and the legendary WRX line, and it should make the coming months very exciting for enthusiasts.
Land Rover unveiled the all new Range Rover Sport at the New York Auto Show, with design chief Gerry McGovern going to the extent of calling it “the Porsche 911 of SUVs”. Adding a whole lot of functionality with a long list of options, the new eye catching Range ‘evokes’ more than just a gasp (see what we did there?).
Deemed “the fastest, most agile and most responsive Land Rover ever” by brand boss John Edwards, the Sport comes in 4 trims priced between $63.5k and $93k. It offers a choice of a 3 litre supercharged V6 engine producing 340bhp or a monstrous supercharged 5-litre V8 producing 510bhp. The all new high strength aluminium structure makes it more than 360kgs lighter than the outgoing Range Rover Sport. An 8-speed automatic transmission is standard, and an extremely capable new fully automatic Terrain Response 2 System is available as well.
The new car is longer than the outgoing Sport and has a notably shorter rear overhang. This offers both more rear-seat knee room and space for an optional pair of third row seats, making it a ‘5+2’ SUV for the first time. The external styling is very contemporary and sophisticated, yet sporty. Lower and more compact than the larger Range Rover, “It’s dramatic and powerful, with immense road presence,” according to McGovern. To be honest, it reminds us a lot of the baby Range, the Evoque.
The interior is as stunning and functional as ever, with a new optional heads up display, many driver oriented controls, a lower driving position and a higher centre console. It maintains the elegant and sporty feel of the car, and with a lot of panache. Its definitely a nice place to be in.
The first-generation Range Rover Sport was quick to achieve the status of JLR’s most profitable car, and hasn’t looked back since. Expect this classy addition to the lineage to keep up with the trend, and with relative ease.
