Bosch European Motors
With 502 pound-feet of torque and a promise of a 4.5-second 0 to 60 sprint, I鈥檓 eager to see just if SVO has indeed crafted the ultimate all-rounder. Power flows to the track by way of an eight-speed automatic geared for 50 percent shorter shifts, designed to keep the revs within the optimal power band at all times. Even for a 5,000-pound truck, the engine churns up enough thrust to send me flying down the track, hitting the triple digits before turning in to bends. SVO has taken everything the Range Rover Sport does and improves it, optimizing the suspension and adaptive damper settings, making it far more nimble. Torque vectoring helps pull the hulking luxury SUV through corners, helping to reduce understeer. In Range Rover鈥檚 mission to bring civility to the wild, without sacrificing luxuriousness or street performance, the SVR certainly raises the bar set by the Range Rover Sport. Yet, in the end, attempting to be all things to all people is its biggest burden. Certainly, the Range Rover鈥檚 marriage of luxury and Ruggedness is, as always, its greatest strength.
The Range Rover is somewhat complex in its construction and it is strongly recommended that a buyer have a potential purchase checked by a Range Rover specialist. Check the engine and chassis numbers carefully. Engine swaps to larger and more modern versions of the Rover V8 were common, but vehicles with their original engines are worth a lot more on the investment market. Check chassis and underbody for rust and damage. The Range Rover is an off road vehicle and may have been subject to chassis damage such as rock dents and deformation. The vehicle may also have been used for beach excursions for surfing and fishing etc. and may not have had the salt deposits on it cleaned off soon after that exposure. Have a good look around and above the rear axle. Check for signs of accident damage. Look carefully at body lines, fit of doors and door gaps, and how they close and open. Check all electrical systems including A/C (if fitted), all lights, and all gauges.
The Points Of Interest (POI) function has been extended to include a 'My POI' category and POIs can now be uploaded from USB stick in 'GPX' format. POIs can also be downloaded from the Internet and personalised with name, icon and audible warnings. A new function, Avoid Points, can be accessed from Stored Locations and used during route planning. The interface has been streamlined with more shortcuts to make setting of the destination easier and faster. For example, a 'GO' button replaces a list when there's only one destination available and also eases the setting of everyday Points of Interest. In the navigation display, motorway overhead signs are displayed in split screen junction view to show a more representative display of lane and road signs ahead. There's also a new Map Auto Zoom function which, when enabled, automatically zooms in on intersections or motorway junctions as they are approached. Other improvements to the navigation system are the inclusion of the Arabic language for user input and display and the addition of Russian to the Voice Control feature (including Say What You See).
The latest addition to Land Rover鈥檚 extensive line-up is one of the SUV market鈥檚 hottest properties. The Range Rover Velar introduces a fourth car to the firm鈥檚 luxury off-roader wing, offering potential customers something a little bit different. We鈥檝e already driven the 3.0-litre diesel car, and it fared well, however the Porsche Macan still claims top spot in a hotly contested class. Now we鈥檝e got the more modest four-cylinder diesel in the UK to see if a smaller engine makes more sense. The new-generation 2.0-litre Ingenium unit under the bonnet is available with two power outputs. Land Rover has worked its magic on this powertrain in terms of refinement. It鈥檚 noticeably hushed, quietly and competently feeding power to the wheels, and only raises its voice with deep lunges on the accelerator pedal. It鈥檚 clattery when cold, but it settles down when warm. Claimed economy of 49.7mpg is impressive, too. There鈥檚 also a question mark over the cost, especially when comparing the Velar with more dynamic rivals.
