Range Rover Sport performance variant planned for 2015

Land Rover is expected to roll out a new Range Rover Sports variant. Rumored to be called RS, this high performance Range Rover is expected to sport larger front air intakes, a redesigned rear bumper and quadruple exhausts. Following Land Rover's release of the Range Rover Evoque in Autobiography Dynamic specification, it's likely the Range Rover will plan a similar treatment for this new sports version.

 

The Range Rover Sport RS may sit at the very top of the range, much like the performance Evoque. Reports suggest the performance Range Rover Sport will get more power from its 5.0-litre supercharged V8 engine, the same unit found in Jaguar's XKR-S, tuned to at least 542bhp. Other models using this engine include the new XFR-S Sportbrake and the XJR.

 

By comparison, the most powerful version of the standard petrol Range Rover Sport has 510bhp, and can reach 100ph in five seconds with a top speed of 250kph. Sources suggest, Land Rover is looking for a 0-100kph time of around 4.5 seconds for the new model.

 

Land Rover’s engineers are expected to make changes to the Range Rover Sport’s suspension, including modifications to the car’s software, which governs its active anti-roll bars and air springs. A more powerful braking system is also likely to be introduced, although large wheels than the 21-inch units already fitted to the Sport are unlikely. Judging by the late-stage appearance of this development prototype, we expect the hot Range Rover Sport to go on sale in international markets by early next year.