Range Rover Sport Review: Brian Byrne, Irish Car

When the first generation of the Range Rover Sport was launched in 2005, the press drive events were held in the Pyrenees, writes Brian Byrne. Along with the Irish, among the other nationalities on our rotation were journalists from a country who had a reputation for hammering cars along even in quite scary mountain places. So instead of only paying attention to where we were going, we also had to keep a close eye behind for guys who thought we were all competing on a mountain rally stage, but who didn't have the skills of professional rally drivers.

During our 2-day event, a pair of them managed to write off one of the cars, fortunately not while driving. One wanted a photo of the car against a mountain lake background and kept waving his colleague to back further towards the water. Not having realised how quickly the lake shelved, he backed too far and the car eventually had to be towed, fairly ruined, from the lake. Though it could wade well through reasonable pools and rivers, Land Rover had never claimed it was a fully amphibious vehicle. But it was actually a very competent car, as I was able to attest to the following year when I journeyed in it through a week of travel in the rugged rain forests of Laos.

These were thoughts coming back when I took delivery for review of the third generation Range Rover Sport. I already knew, from its launch last year, that the car is now a totally different beast. More refined, but still with the ability to handle anything that it might be thrown at, even many water hazards. 

The style has become less aggressive up front, though it's a tall fascia when you stand beside it. Very slim lights and a smooth and deep top bumper treatment adds to a rather svelte effect. The clean finish extends fully around the car, with a high rear lights line linked across the tailgate by an integrated Range Rover name in light grey on black. A discreet 'Sport' badge and equivalent Land Rover oval on the other side are the only other visual disturbances to a very smooth back end.

That same minimalist ethos has been floated through the interior. It is good to see only one centre screen, of reasonable size, and a well-shaded-from-glare driver's instruments panel. The shifter for the 8-speed autobox shares its space with commendably large rotary knobs for climate control, a smaller one for radio volume, and a rotary selector for drive modes. 

This is an expensive brand and an expensive car, and the materials, fitting, and style of the interior fully reflect that. And while there is room for three in the rear, it's clear that the ideal is two if adult. Though shorter and lower than the big brother RR, there's adequate room for knees, elbows and heads to travel in the comfort which has been paid for.

This latest version of the RR Sport shares its new platform with the full-size Range Rover, and it has been especially developed for electrification. So within a wide range of powertrains available, there's the plug-in hybrid that powered my review car. Based on a 435hp 3.0 inline six turbo petrol with a 141hp electric motor, the 38kWh battery gives it a real EV range of around 85km, more if driven only in urban traffic. Whether on combustion or electric power, the going is smooth and silent and remarkably effortless — as it should be with all that oomph. Putting the unit into perspective, it generates similar power as did the 5.0 petrol V8 that was the top engine in the last RR Sport generation.

Not having a charger at home, and because the system is not designed for fast-charging CCS, I tend to use review PHEVs as straight hybrids once the initial charge has been depleted. As an experiment on a 120km trip on which I was returning the same way, I used the 'Save' function to charge up the battery while on the 84km motorway section, and on the way back I just left the whole thing in hybrid. The 8.5L/100km was the same each way. Which was respectable for the size and power of this car.

This is an option for those in the medium luxury SUV market, with the Merc GLE, BMW X5 and Volvo XC90 in the virtual competitors showroom. What the RR Sport has for me over the others is the memories of adventure driving the nameplate represents. Makes it special.

PRICE: From €116,000. WHAT I LIKED: The memories revived.  

Just 23 special Land Rover Defenders for Rugby World Cup

A very limited edition Rugby World Cup version of the Land Rover Defender has been developed for the French market to mark the sports series, writes Brian Byrne.

Taking inspiration from The Defender Trophy Car for Rugby World Cup 2023 — which has been touring France showcasing the famous Webb Ellis Cup — the Limited Edition Defender 110 is crafted in a unique specification and only 23 units will be available.

The exterior is finished in Santorini Black, with 22-inch Satin Gold alloy wheels, matching bumper inserts, Defender script and signature graphic, as well as Rugby World Cup 2023 logos on the fender behind the front wheel. 

The inside is trimmed with Windsor Leather finished in Ebony, with matching Ebony headlining and blue contrast stitching on the seats and mats, plus an embroidered Rugby World Cup 2023 logo on the front headrests.

A laser-etched fascia end cap on the dashboard will have ‘Rugby World Cup France 2023’ script, and the individual number of each car.

No price has been revealed for the car, which will be offered to 23 hand-picked customers in France from March 2024. 

Discovery Sport enhanced for every family adventure

Embracing the adventurous spirit has defined the Discovery family for the past 30 years, writes Trish Whelan. The Discovery Sport has been a real sales success for Land Rover, leading the way for the past three years and selling almost half a million models to date. 

During that time, it has won a number of awards and introduced a big number of new, younger families into the brand. 

The new LR Discovery Sport is a true Land Rover with its versatility and go-anywhere ethos. JLR says it can wade rivers, climb mountains and explore places other SUVs can’t reach.

This latest version has been updated with the latest user-friendly technology and more efficient, electrified engines while being every inch a Land Rover combining its all-terrain handling with all-weather capability including a wading depth of 600mm, All-Wheel Drive and a second-generation Active Driveline system. Terrain Response 2 automatically detects the surface and adjusts the torque delivery to best suit the conditions. It can tow up to 2,500kg and that the Advanced Tow Assist makes reversing with a trailer safer than ever.

The premium cabin of this compact 5+2 SUV is now even more plush with its levels of craftsmanship and comfort. 

It is also bigger inside with more room for everyone and offers increased small and large stowage spaces, up to 1,794 litres. 

New seats across each of the three rows provide more comfort and versatility thanks to the second row 40:20:40 split fold and slide functionality allowing a possible 24 seat combinations. Those seated in the second and third row get individual heating and ventilation controls. 

The fuel tank can now take up to 65 litres, a 20 per cent increase in capacity. 

The Discovery Sport is built on Land Rover’s latest Premium Transverse Architecture that ‘revolutionises comfort and handling and supports electrification with its advanced Mild and Plug-in Hybrid Electric Vehicle powertrains’. 

Available across the range of four-cylinder Ingenium petrol and diesel engines, the mild hybrid delivers C02 emissions from 144g/km C02 (NEDC equivalent) and fuel economy up to 6.9 L/100kms (40.0mpg). A more efficient plug-in hybrid electric vehicle model and three-cylinder petrol Ingenium engine will arrive later this year. 

The most efficient Discovery Sport model will be the Front-Wheel Drive 150hp diesel with manual transmission with emissions from 140g/km C02 and fuel economy from 5.9 L/100kms (47.8mpg). 

Trims are S, SE and HSE in addition to the R-Dynamic variant that marks itself out with Shadow Atlas script on the bonnet and tailgate. Standard features on all models include a reversing camera as well as a suite of advanced driver assistance systems including Adaptive Cruise Control with Steering Assist, Lane Keep Assist, Autonomous Emergency Braking and a Driver Condition Monitor.

This vehicle has been designed to meet the digital demands of a modern family. While on the go, the Touch Pro infotainment system with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, wireless charging and 4G WiFi hotspot keep you and your family and friends connected, informed and entertained everywhere. 

It is available with a ‘smart rear view mirror’ that transforms into a video screen at the flick of a switch to display what is behind the vehicle in crisp high definition. Offering a wider field of vision and superior visibility in low light conditions from a camera mounted above the rear window, the mirror ensures rear visibility isn’t compromised by a second row passenger or by bulky items in the boot. 

Ground View technology helps drivers navigate high city centre kerbs or tackle rough terrain by projecting camera images that offer a virtual 180-degree view beneath the car onto the touchscreen  - effectively making the bonnet invisible.  

This 'go anywhere' premium compact SUV will be available to order from June when Irish pricing will be announced. 

Diarmuid’s floral display for Land Rover Puissance

Land Rover have enlisted the help of well-known garden designer and Land Rover Ambassador Diarmuid Gavin to create a striking floral display for the Land Rover Puissance Wall, writes Trish Whelan. 

The Land Rover Puissance returns to the Dublin Horse Show on this Saturday 11 August, the 15th year of Land Rover’s sponsorship of this famous show jumping competition. 

The Dublin Horse Show is recognised worldwide as one of the most prestigious jumping competitions. The famous wall starts at a height of 1.850m, which is raised for each round until it reaches the massive height of 2.20m. Each competing horse must clear the wall leading to a very exciting knockout finish.

Apart from its height, you will easily recognise the wall with its distinctive red brick appearance. This year, to complement the wall, Diarmuid selected a range of shrubs and perennial flowers which he brought to the RDS in the new commercial version of the Land Rover Discovery. 

The display, which contrasts well with the familiar red and white brick pattern of the ‘wall’, include pink and white hydrangeas, echinacea and cornflowers which complement the green topiary box balls in terracotta pots for a shapely and attractive design.

Diarmuid said the challenge was to create a design that reflects the magnitude and heritage of the Land Rover Puissance.

Eddie Kavanagh, Jaguar Land Rover Managing Director said Land Rover is very proud of its association with the Puissance competition at the Dublin Horse Show. The Puissance reflects the Land Rover ethos of strength and performance. We were delighted to mark this our 15th year of sponsorship with the help of Diarmuid who has created a stunning floral display.”

The Discovery Commercial has 1,856 litres of flexible load space replacing the second and third row seats, and new Discovery affords driver and passenger premium levels of comfort and entertainment.

Discovery Commercial features a host of technology, convenience features and driver aids necessary when transporting loads for business. 

Priced from €44,046 ex-delivery (excluding VAT at €9,974) in Ireland, Discovery Commercial is available in SE and HSE specifications across the 3.0 SDV6 model.

Plug-in hybrid Range Rover Sport upcoming

Land Rover will be offering a plug-in hybrid version of its Sport next year, writes Brian Byrne.

The variant will be the final part of a refresh of the model launched in 2014, which includes detail changes to the exterior — including a new grille and LED headlights — and a significant revamp of the interior.

This latter includes the provision of two 10" touchscreens for management of various functions as well as navigation and visibility.

The plug-in hybrid will offer nearly 400hp combined from its 2.0 turbo petrol and electric motor combination. The EV range will be in the order of 50km.

Some changes have been made to the AWD system to save weight.

Meantime, below is a Land Rover supplied video about a very special Discovery for Jamie Oliver. Sometimes, being a car just isn't enough ...

Review: Land Rover Discovery

The latest generation of the Land Rover Discovery aligns the nameplate with its smaller sibling Sport variant in style and positioning, writes Brian Byrne. But it also lifts it away from a significant part of the customer base in Ireland.

The tall and square shape of the previous car made it a very practical commercial, and for owners in the agricultural and construction sector it was a popular choice.

The new one, as far as I can see, doesn't lend itself as well to commercial use. And as yet, probably because there's a pent-up demand for the new car as a passenger vehicle, there's no sign of a commercial offering.

Land Rover in Irish Red Cross Charity Partnership

Land Rover has announced a three year partnership with the Irish Red Cross, helping to bring safe drinking water to regions of Niger affected by drought and failed harvests.

The partnership has already seen great success with the first Land Rover funded water tower completed in November last year, benefiting 3,000 people in the village of Tchimattan, plus thousands more from communities the surrounding Tanout region. A further two towers will be built over the course of the partnership, aiming to reach more than 12,000 people in total.

Eddie Kavanagh, General Manager, Land Rover Ireland said "Last year we comitted to support the excellent work the Irish Red Cross does to bring help and relief to the people of Niger. This partnership will help to deliver practical, sustainable help to communities and individuals worldwide."

Niger is a landlocked country located within the Sahel region of West Africa and is the largest country in Western Africa. It has a rapidly growing population of around 15 million, but is one of the world's poorest countries.

Eddie Kavanagh is pictured with John Roche, Head of International Services, Irish Red Cross.

Land Rover Discovery Sport here in January

Prices for Land Rover's Discovery Sport will start from €37,100 for the 2.2 TD4 S model when it comes to Ireland in January 2015, writes Trish Whelan.

This is the first member of the new Discovery family and features 5+2 seating in a footprint no larger than existing 5-seat premium SUVs.

Four trims are offered - S, SE, HSE and HSE Luxury.

Eddie Kavanagh, General manager Land Rover Ireland says 'it offers supreme versatility with a very generous and adaptable loadspace in the option 5+2 seating'. The car has Land Rover's Terrain Response technology and has been engineered to meet any challenge.

At launch, the Discovery Sport will be equipped with a range of four-cylinder turbocharged petrol and diesel engines. Both the all-alloy Si4 2.0 litre petrol engine and the 2.2 turbodiesel feature stop-start technology, high-pressure direct injection, and smart regenerative charging for performance and economy. Tax Bands are C (€390) and D (€570).

Later next year, an ED4 turbodiesel engine will join the range with C02 emissions of 119g/km. Both 9-speed automatic and 6-speed manual transmissions are available.

Rosie Huntington-Whiteley showcases Discovery Sport

British supermodel and actress Rosie Huntington-Whiteley last week swapped the catwalks of Paris Fashion Week for the River Seine as she showcased the Land Rover Discovery Sport premium compact SUV at its unique public debut.

She was seen stepping from one of a pair of Discovery Sports aboard a giant barge moored in the centre of the city.

The former Victoria's Secret model, also known for her role in Transformers: Dark of the Moon and the upcoming Mad Max: Fury Road, was stood flanked by seven pairs of brightly coloured, giant-sized Wellington boots - some as tall as 4.5 metres. The boots, a creative reference to both the Discovery's versatile seating layout and Land Rover's unique take on outdoor life, brought a sense of fun to the Rive Gauche.

After revealing Discovery Sport to the world's media for the first time, the 80-metre long barge continued to turn heads on its attention-grabbing journey down the River Seine, cruising past Parisian landmarks such as the Eiffel Tower and Notre-Dame Cathedral.

You can view the launch film with Rosie at http://youtu.be/bgqJLWyFsXY

Discovery Sport was revealed digitally at Virgin Galactic's Spaceport America facility in New Mexico, USA early last month.

Find yourself on Land Rover picture at Horse Show

The Land Rover Puissance show jumping competition will take place on Saturday, 9 August at the Dublin Horse Show in the RDS, sponsored by Discover Ireland, writes Trish Whelan.

For the first time, Land Rover will capture a 360 degree image of the crowd cheering on the riders competing to clear 'the big red wall'.

Once published live at landrover.ie/fanpic on Sunday, 10 August, fans at the event will be able to tag themselves in the picture and to share the image with their friends via Facebook and Twitter.

Those who tag themselves will be in with a chance to win prize of a Land Rover off-road driving experience with an overnight stay in Carton House Hotel in Maynooth.

Melanie McCourt, Marketing Manager, Jaguar Land Rover Ireland says the FanPic 'will add another dimension to our sponsorship and will offer the crowd an opportunity to engage with the event after the Horse Show has ended'.

Land Rover Puissance

Land Rover prize at Punchestown

Ireland and Leinster rugby star and Land Rover Ambassador Jamie Heaslip and leading amateur jockey Robbie McNamara have announced details of the €100,000 Goffs Land Rover Bumper which takes place on 29 April - the opening day of the Punchestown Racing Festival.

The race is exclusively for horses purchased at Goffs Land Rover Sale, the County Kildare auction house's flagship sale of National Hunt horses. A Land Rover Defender will be presented to the person that sold the winner of the Land Rover Bumper at last year's sale.

Goffs Land Rover Sale was the only store sale to sell 2014 Cheltenham Festival winners, with five successful graduates including Faugheen and Holywell, the latter going on to Grade 1 glory over fences at Aintree. In the point-to-point field, last year's €215,000 Land Rover Sale topper won impressively first time out for Michael O'Leary's Gigginstown House Stud.

Discovery Sport for 2015

The replacement for the Land Rover Freelander will be called the Discovery Sport, writes Trish Whelan. The car will be the first new member of the Discovery family.

The name was revealed yesterday by Gerry McGovern, Land Rover Design Director, in his speech at the launch of the Discovery Vision Concept at the New York International Auto Show.

This all-new premium compact SUV, which will go on sale in 2015, will be the first production model to take cues and features from the Discovery Vision Concept car.

At the announcement, Gerry McGovern said "The Discovery Sport will be the most versatile and capable SUV in its segment."

No images of the Discovery Sport are available at this time.

New Discovery Vision Concept debuts

Land Rover's Discovery Vision Concept, for debut at the New York Auto Show, doesn't have door handles. Instead, you wave at it to open the doors, writes Brian Byrne.

The gesture idea, which has already appeared on Volkswagen's touchscreen systems and is coming to a computer near you in the soon future, is also a further advance on the 'kick' gesture which some Ford Kuga owners can use to open their car's tailgate.

The Discovery Vision Concept also charts a new direction in visual terms for Land Rover's large SUV, with much more 21st century looks which will upstream its presence whether roughing it overland or driving up to a city hall diplomatic reception.

The interior has a lot of innovative ideas, not least the option of configuring it from 7-seat to 4-seat 'Limousine' mode, with 5- and 6-seat options in between.

Technology includes laser headlamps and 'smart glass' which provides virtual imagery on an otherwise clear windscreen, changing the whole idea of where instruments and information should be placed.

From next year, the Discovery nameplate will include the replacement for the Freelander in the beginning of a strategy which will provide three distinct brands in Defender, Discovery and Range Rover.

Land Rover partner with Virgin Galactic

Land Rover is partnering with Richard Branson's pioneering commercial spaceline, Virgin Galactic, writes Trish Whelan. The partnership involved the global reveal in New York of Land Rover's new Discovery Vision Concept car alongside SpaceShipTwo, the world's first commercial spaceship.

Land Rover is Virgin Galactic's first global partner, bringing together two world leaders in adventure, innovation and exploration. The partnership will be used to inspire young people across the globe to pursue careers in engineering, science and technology, pushing the boundaries of travel for the next generation.

It will see Land Rover vehicles become part of daily life for the Virgin Galactic team and for all 'Future Astronauts' the space experience will now begin with Land Rover as they arrive in New Mexico for training, and continue to the moment they drive from the space terminal building to the waiting spaceship. Land Rover will base a fleet of vehicles at the Virgin Galactic test centre in the Mojave Desert, California, and at its operational New Mexico base, Spaceport America.

The announcement was made on board USS Intrepid, a former aircraft carrier and now a museum dedicated to the exploration of sea, air and space, and anchored on the Hudson River. Land Rover brought a unique full-size replica of SpaceShipTwo VSS Enterprise to New York, where it joined British Airways Concorde and its namesake Space Shuttle Enterprise onboard the Intrepid.

The Land Rover Discovery Vision Concept will be on display at the New York Auto Show which opens tomorrow, Wednesday 16 April.

Land Rover's Invisible Car Technology

Research is underway to give Land Rover drivers a digital vision of the terrain ahead by making the front of the car 'virtually' invisible, writes Trish Whelan.

It will allow a driver tackle anything from the toughest off-road route to the tight confines of an urban car park, providing a 'reality' view of not only the terrain in front of the car, but also the angle and position of the front wheels.

Cameras in the vehicle's grille capture data used to feed a Head-Up Display, creating a 'see-through' view of the ground terrain through the bonnet and engine bay, breaking new ground in visual driver assistance.

The technology, which the creators called Transparent Bonnet, shows how advanced technology will take Land Rover's unrivalled capability to the next level.

The Land Rover Discovery Vision Concept to be unveiled at the New York International auto Show on 16 April sports this technology. It will showcase Land Rover's design vision for a new family of Discovery vehicles. From the city to the sand dunes, the brand's new, driver-assisting technology will enable safer, smarter and more enjoyable driving in the SUVs of tomorrow.

Land Rover Discovery Vision Concept

Land Rover will reveal its design vision for a new family of premium leisure SUVs at the 2014 New York International Auto Show, writes Trish Whelan.

The new Discovery Vision Concept car will showcase Land Rover's design vision for a new family of Discovery vehicles built on Land Rover's key principles of emotive design, capability and ultimate versatility, taken to new levels using new customer-focused advanced technologies.

According to Gerry McGovern, Design Director for Land Rover "Discovery has been pivotal in helping to build the foundations of the Land Rover brand. It is admired all over the world and loved by its strong customer base." He added that they have created the Vision Concept to share the essence of Land Rover's new age of Discovery and to debut a new design direction that connects on an emotional level with customers of today and tomorrow."

We'll keep you posted. In the meantime, we feature a teaser photo from the Discovery Vision Concept car.

Special Disco for its 25th

Land Rover is just celebrating its Disco's 25th birthday, writes Brian Byrne.

So the company is producing a special XXV edition to mark the event, and the fact that the Discovery nameplate has garnered more than a million buyers since it was first launched.

The special edition vehicle has a unique interior colourway, distinctive external badging and a premium interior lined with Windsor leather. Available in Causeway Grey, it features Narvik Black grille surrounds and mirror caps, and Dark Atlas features on the grille and fender vents. Silver full-length roof rails, body-coloured handles and a stainless steel bumper accessory tread plate complement the exterior.

Also featuring XXV badging on the front door and tailgate, the special edition is fitted with newly designed 20-inch five-split-spoke forged alloy wheels in a light polished-silver finish.

Land Rovers complete Silk Trail expedition

The three Range Rover diesel hybrid prototypes have now completed the ultimate engineering sign-off test by traversing 13 countries over 53 days from Solihull in the UK to Mumbai in India. It is the world's first ever hybrid expedition along the Silk Trail and one of the boldest driving adventures ever pursued by Land Rover.

Hostile conditions on the route included asphalt roads riddled with vast and deep potholes, dusty desert trails in 43 degrees Celsius heat and numerous miles of mud and gravel tracks and cattle trails. In addition river crossings, passes clinging to the edges of mountains partly blocked by rock falls, the thin air of extremely high altitudes and the dense and erratic traffic of Chinese and Indian roads, all added to the test of man and machine.

The Silk Trail 2013 expedition was the final validation test for the Range Rover hybrid before it is signed-off for production.

It has blazed a trail through France Belgium, Germany, Poland, Ukraine, Russia, Kazakhstan Uzbekistan, Kyrgyzstan, China (including Tibet), Nepal and India. For much of this distance, the expedition followed the legendary Silk Road trading routes that first connected Asia with Europe more than 2,500 years ago. Overnight halts were made in hotels, hostels and tents at many of the same staging posts visited all those years ago by Silk Road merchants, missionaries and mercenaries.

Jaguar Land Rover say the routes travelled would have been impassable to most other types of vehicle, but the Range Rover hybrid prototypes took it all in their stride.

New hybrid engines for Range Rovers

A new hybrid engine system for the Range Rover and Range Rover Sport makes a claimed 36 percent reduction in CO2 emissions, writes Brian Byrne.

Vehicles with the hybrid powertrains will be available to order from next month, with deliveries planned for early 2014.

The system adds a 35kW electric motor to the 3.0 SDV6 diesel and provides a combined output of 340hp.

The Range Rovers so equipped can accelerate to 100 km/h in under seven seconds and deliver up to 44.1mpg equivalent in fuel consumption.

To mark the announcement of the hybrid powertrains, a convoy of three Range Rovers leave Solihull in England today for a 16,000km journey on the old Silk Trail to finish at the HQ of Tata, the owners of Jaguar Land Rover.

First Drive: New Range Rover Sport

It won't be on sale here for some time yet, but I can already say that the new Range Rover Sport will prove to be yet another winner for Land Rover's premium brand, writes Brian Byrne.

I spent all of yesterday in the first one brought to Ireland, just to get a taste of the changes and improvements that have pushed the newest Range Rover to potentially top of its class.

First, a declaration of interest. I have driven Land Rovers and Range Rovers in lots of fascinating places, from Iceland to Bolivia to Argentina, and also in North Africa, Thailand and Laos. I am a fan. The second generation of the Range Rover Sport is likely to keep me one.