The Re-designed 2014 Range Rover Sport

[m3 bavaria]

Look at both the Range Rover and now the Range Rover Sport. Both trucks were painfully beautiful in their previous shape. They featured an evolutionary design (at least the Range Rover) that incorparted a modern, minimalist take on a classic shape.

The new shape is too rounded, the head and tail lamps are comical, and the lower body cladding is cheap looking.

Land Rover took two vehicles that were unique, stately, and unlike anything on the road and watered them down with gimmicky styling befit for a lesser marque.

I have no doubt that the "new" style will appeal to some, but I'm a purist who has owned 3 Classics, a P38, 09 Superhcharged, and 07 LR3 (the best all round vehicle I've ever owned hands down). So while they may have picked up some consumers, they've also aliented me.

 

[m3 bavaria]

I was speaking solely in context of their design language which is 100% subjective.

 

[Mack73]

+1000 best thing that ever happened to LR.

This was also the same statement I heard from every employee I asked at the Solihull factory...........One guy worked in special vehicles since the 60's - "the best thing ever"

 

[PhyrraM]

There are those who know, and appreciate, that all things must move forward or we will no longer have them.

And there are those that don't. :ylsmoke:

 

[REDROVER]

This was also the same statement I heard from every employee I asked at the Solihull factory...........One guy worked in special vehicles since the 60's - "the best thing ever"

tell that solihill employees they are so right, only when car is under the warranty. its kinda funny, every new range rover model they come up with is called the best thing ever , but in the first 7 years they drop from 80 grand to 8, i wonder why. haha may be i am crazy , and cant read the #s right

 

[proper4wd]

tell that solihill employees they are so right, only when car is under the warranty. its kinda funny, every new model range rover model they come up with is called the best thing ever , but in the first 7 years they drop from 80 grand to 8, i wonder why. haha may be i am crazy , and cant read the #s right

2007 Range Rovers in good shape with reasonable miles are worth $25k ish.

What is a 2007 Mercedes S550 or BMW 750iL worth?

Less. The Range Rover holds its value better than comparably priced luxury vehicles.

 

[RoyJ]

Look at both the Range Rover and now the Range Rover Sport. Both trucks were painfully beautiful in their previous shape. They featured an evolutionary design (at least the Range Rover) that incorparted a modern, minimalist take on a classic shape.

The new shape is too rounded, the head and tail lamps are comical, and the lower body cladding is cheap looking.

Land Rover took two vehicles that were unique, stately, and unlike anything on the road and watered them down with gimmicky styling befit for a lesser marque.

I have no doubt that the "new" style will appeal to some, but I'm a purist who has owned 3 Classics, a P38, 09 Superhcharged, and 07 LR3 (the best all round vehicle I've ever owned hands down). So while they may have picked up some consumers, they've also aliented me.

What if we go past the looks and analyze the hardware underneath?

The old Sport was HEAVY as hell, one of THE reasons I'm not into it, at all. The new one is 800+ lbs lighter, that's no small feat. Not only that, offroad ability, from clearance to water fording, actually improved. The new full size mode offers 12.6" of suspension travel in the back, that's more than some motocross bikes!

The old truck was 5800 lbs bone dry, and while its price has come down, it makes me wonder, what does it weight ready for expedition? 7000+ lbs? With the new truck, and hopefully the LR5 (or whatever it's called), you have have a fully loaded rig right around 6000 lbs, which is inline with most modern SUVs.

 

[RoyJ]

Hmmm....


A Range Rover without a low range is not a Range Rover

Hence it's offered for the 0.5% of owners that wants a real Range Rover. Even that might be exaggerated!

On the plus side, the new RRS with low range and 8 speed ZF would have an absolutely amazing craw ratio. Might even be better than designated crawlers like the Rubicon and Power Wagon.

 

[REDROVER]

2007 Range Rovers in good shape with reasonable miles are worth $25k ish.

What is a 2007 Mercedes S550 or BMW 750iL worth?

Less. The Range Rover holds its value better than comparably priced luxury vehicles.

but it looks very nice and elegant for sure

 

[Chazz Layne]

Ignoring all the usual obligatory melted moderness... where is the "floating roof" silhouette that has graced the Range Rover line's profile since day one?



What's wrong with tinted windows, assuming they are optional? I've found them invaluable on long desert trips.

 

[LarryFoo]

Hence it's offered for the 0.5% of owners that wants a real Range Rover. Even that might be exaggerated!

On the plus side, the new RRS with low range and 8 speed ZF would have an absolutely amazing craw ratio. Might even be better than designated crawlers like the Rubicon and Power Wagon.

The RRS will have around a 46:1 crawl ratio. The Rubicon is 73:1. But the good news is a 46:1 ratio should be more than sufficient for traversing a Manhattan speed bump (even while rolling on 22's). :smiley_drive:

 

[Fivespddisco]

Im still looking at the Side vents .........

 

[jaxs1984]

I predict it will be a smash hit and annihilate the bmw's x3 x5 and with the $1,900 + heavy duty package for off-road its a winning combo for light snow.

 

[RoyJ]

The RRS will have around a 46:1 crawl ratio. The Rubicon is 73:1. But the good news is a 46:1 ratio should be more than sufficient for traversing a Manhattan speed bump (even while rolling on 22's). :smiley_drive:

Are you taking the manual ratios? Because with the auto, I have: 3.59x4x4.1=59:1. Keep in mind if you compare the manual, then the auto's torque converter makes up for a LOT of the difference.

For the RRS, the transfer case is 2.93, and 1st gear on the 8 speed ZF is 4.71. So they put in a 3.33 axle? Possible I guess, in the name of fuel economy.

If the RRS had a 4.10 axle like the Rubicon, it would be 56.6:1, which makes it better than an older Rubicon with the 4 speed automatic (46:1 crawl). And almost as good as the new 5 speed. My point is that the 8 speed ZF makes up a LOT in crawl ratio!

 

[LarryFoo]

Are you taking the manual ratios? ...

My point is that the 8 speed ZF makes up a LOT in crawl ratio!

The lower gearing for 1st on the 8 speed (4.7) vs the old 6 speed (4.2) brings up the crawl ratio from 43 to 48 (assuming the same 3.5 final drive). And yes, the 73 on the Rubicon is manual with 4.1 (what girly man would be driving an auto anyway?).

But I don't think this comparison matters because the '14 RRS will not be going offroad anyway (unless the valet parks it on the grass at a polo match). However, I'd take one if offered (SC V8 only please). I am looking forward to seeing what's next for the Discovery and Defender.