You have got to love the boast that practically all manufacturers make about their shining new metal. The latest one that dropped into my inbox is a great example.
Here’s how it goes: “The new Range Rover Sport redefines sporting luxury, effortlessly combining assertive and instinctive on-road performance with trademark Range Rover refinement, progressive design sophistication and connected convenience. The third-generation model is the most desirable, advanced and dynamically capable yet.”
It’s great PR, even better marketing, but how can such a message be relayed by journalists that haven’t even seen, sat in or touched the new model, never-mind driven it? Now, let me say upfront, that the previous Range Rover Sport was probably one of my five favourite cars, and is one I would buy if my not-so-generous bank manager would allow it.
So how do you deal with good boastful PR, and still manage to keep you, the reader, accurately informed of the latest new cars as the news breaks about them? My attitude is to temper what they say about their latest star car, and attribute clearly their claims to themselves in a number of ways. Then I leave the rest up to my intelligent and discerning readers. So this one continues like this:-
Range Rover says that a suite of powerful and efficient powertrains includes six-cylinder 48V extended range electric hybrids from launch, a potent new V8 Twin Turbo 530PS and mild hybrid six-cylinder petrol and diesel Ingenium engines. It adds that pure-electric propulsion will be introduced in 2024, as Land Rover continues its electrification journey. And all of course promise to deliver the customary Range Rover Sport performance.
The new Range Rover Sport is available in S, SE, HSE and Autobiography specifications, with a First Edition available throughout the first year of production featuring what it describes as a specially curated specification.
Range Rover tells us that the new Sport is available to order now, and that it is priced from €114,150 in Ireland.
Inside, the new Sport promises focused refinement: sculpted seating, cabin air purification, ‘Pro and Meridian Signature’ sound, with the latest ‘Active Noise Cancellation2’ systems delivering modern sporting luxury. It promises sophisticated luxury - cocooning the driver with sweeping console and fast-angled dashboard, finished with modern materials including sustainable Ultrafabrics.
Range Rover says that, added to that, a 13.1-inch curved touchscreen for award-winning Pivi Pro infotainment is complemented by intuitive 13.7-inch Interactive driver display, with software over the air. In addition, wireless Apple CarPlay, wireless Android Auto and 15W wireless Device Charger are included in the package.
What the luxury carmaker describes as high-performance visibility is guaranteed by new digital LED headlights featuring ‘Adaptive Front Lighting’, while new ‘Low Speed Manoeuvring Lights’ provide ultimate convenience.
Getting back to the boastful prose - it does not get much better than this: Dynamic luxury - The new Range Rover Sport combines dramatic modernity and distinctive character with electrified performance (but it will be 2024 before all-electric propulsion arrives ).
Add to that the modernist philosophy of a reductive design approach that elevates the Range Rover Sport DNA.
More later on the new Range Rover Sport after a drive on Irish roads. I’m interested in particular to try out the all-new dynamic air suspension with switchable volume air springs and twin-valve active dampers, to see if it delivers the promised resulting agility, control and composure.
