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email: Robert.wolf@era.com
Dear 001,
After a recent visit to Land Rovers base in Solihull, West Midlands, it has become abundantly clear to me that the company is taking the challenge of BMW's X5 and Porsche's Cayenne very seriously indeed.
The so-called Range Sport (may not be when released) is said to be based on either the air sprung version of the forthcoming Discovery, or on a variant of the already successful Range Rover - but nobody will tell
me for certain. My instinct is that it's the Disco, as Ford PAG only gave this model the green light if it was a high profit car.
Original reports described this as a slightly smaller Range Rover, but Land Rover have gone a lot further with a sleek, low riding, low roof-line model - with very similar dimensions to the X5, though it will be instantly recognizable as a Range Rover. The cars inside will feature a very elegant design, in leather naturally, with a host of customizing options available.
The really interesting stuff comes under the bonnet for there are two heavily disguised RR's rolling around the Warwickshire countryside with 450bhp Aston Martin V12 engines shoehorned in them. It seems logical to me because it is a naturally powerful motor, somewhat cheaper to make than a supercharged V8 and more durable. If a Jaguar sourced V8 is used in the range it will be the 4.2-litre V8 tuned to deliver greater torque. All engines will be mated to a six-speed manual, automatic and (possibly) semi-automatic gearbox's with a new stability system called e-traction.
It is unclear whether the Range Rover will be topped off with a V12 as well. Either way, we will have to wait until September 2005 for the UK release of the Sport.
Warm regards,
Dink…
p.s. Call me soon, 001 ;)
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