Land Rover engineers are working on ultimate performance versions of the new Range Rover Sport and the Evoque, tipped to wear a new ‘RS’ badge.

The Range Rover Evoque RS is expected to be launched in international first, possibly even by the end of the year, but Range Rover Sport RS is also in the works and is currently undergoing performance testing at the Nürburgring in Germany.

Sources say that its 5.0-litre V8 supercharged engine will have at least the same 542bhp as the Jaguar XKR-S, XFR-S and XJR. That’s 39bhp more than the new Range Rover Sport’s supercharged V8. Land Rover will be looking for a 0-100kph time of 4.5sec.

The Range Rover Sport RS will have a unique front bumper design, with the foglights replaced by large air intakes. There will also be changes to the rear bumper and the lower skid plate. Continued..