It’s official: size matters in car design. Only instead of ever-bigger and brawnier gas-guzzlers, it’s the little guys who now rule the roadway. Nowhere is this more apparent than in the new Land Rover LRX. Long known for its size and off-road power, the iconic all-terrain brand is going mini (well, mini-er). Six inches shorter and almost eight inches lower than an LR2, the LRX was conceived as a premium car, designed to appeal to customers who want the benefits of a 4×4 and the presence of a larger vehicle, but don’t want to be held personally responsible for the disappearance of the ozone.

From Snowy Roads To Sand Dunes, The Freelander Will Impress You With Its Performance, Writes Bill Caven

LAST week’s blizzards may have made for very tricky driving conditions, but one group of motorists would have rather perversely welcomed the snow.

Yes, at last the serious off-road brigade had the opportunity to reap the benefits of their investment.

While the country effectively slid to a grinding halt in places, the 4×4 mob were out and about, happily going about their business.

There are those who hate the sight of so-called Chelsea Tractors, but sales of SUVs continue to grow as more and more families recognise the safety benefits they bring.

The rusty Chevrolet pickup shuddered to a halt and its young owner almost fell out of its cab trying to get a closer look. As a breed, native New Yorkers eclipse even Parisians in their ability to exude indifference, but while it’s a carefully cultivated French affectation, here in the Big Apple you know they really don’t care.

If you’re old enough to remember “My Mother the Car” or “Knight Rider,” then you already know that cars can talk. If you don’t remember either of those TV shows, let me tell you about a vehicle that speaks volumes: the Land Rover Range Rover Sport Supercharged.

Check out that name and you might question what language the British maker is speaking. The name rolls off the tongue about as smoothly as a peanut butter and marshmallow fluff sandwich, so let me translate. Land Rover is the maker, Range Rover Sport is the model, and Supercharged is the trim level.

I grew up in Duluth, Minnesota before heading out here to Latteland over 20 years ago. Being raised “up north” has its advantages. Learning how to drive on roads that often times resemble skating rinks is one. Best of all, I can honestly tell my children that school was a two-mile uphill trek in the snow. Barefoot. Both ways.

Paying a premium price for a sport utility gets you the beauty of a Range Rover, a powerful supercharged 400-horsepower V-8 engine and a luxuriously comfortable ride, whether on the highway or in the woods.

Twenty-inch wheels, a sparkling grille and an adjustable terrain-response system that tunes the four-wheel drive to what’s on the ground under the almost 11-inch clearance are also part of the package.

The Range Rover is not just a pretty face, however, because it has a maximum towing capacity of about 7,700 pounds.

The 4×4 world has been set alight with three high-octane off-roaders revealed in the last week.

In recent days we’ve published details of a rabid Porsche Cayenne, a 480bhp Arden Range Rover Sport and now Hamann have joined the battle.

The Hamann Range Rover Sport Conqueror has had power boosted from 385bhp to 475bhp and pulling power upped by 10 per cent to 449lb/ft.

The German tuners haven’t revealed performance figures, but we’d expect the Conqueror to accelerate from 0-60mph in seven seconds and have a top speed of around 170mph.

Power has been increased by modifying the supercharger and fitting an uprated sports exhaust.

With Ford selling off parts of its Premium Automotive Group (PAG) one at a time, it remains uncertain if Land Rover and Jaguar will end up under the same ownership in the future. In the meantime, Land Rover is collaborating with Jaguar on a future flagship model that will draw on Jaguar’s expertise to produce a new Range Rover with a lighter-weight construction that could expand both upmarket and down.

With the power of a rhino and the grace of a ballerina, the Range Rover Sport is some car. And the diesel’s suprisingly green, says David Wilkins

Specifications

Price: £53,120

Engine: 3.6-litre diesel

Performance: 0-60 mph in 8.6 seconds, 25.5 mpg

CO2: 294g/km:

Worth considering: BMW X5, Mercedes ML Class, Range Rover

We’ve featured the Range Rover Sport on The Verdict before. Last time, just like this time, our test car was a diesel. That first car was very impressive and so is this, but there is one important difference. On our original test car, the “Sport” badge looked out of place. On this one, it doesn’t.

Off-Road Idol

The luxury SUV market is a strange animal. The very best of these unwieldy, inefficient vehicles are imbued with incredible technological features that can take you pretty much anywhere on the planet in complete comfort. Case in point, the Land Rover line of sport-utility vehicles.
Pilot any Land Rover off the beaten path and you’ll soon discover that a reputation for superior traction and control in tricky conditions is well deserved. Even the tarmac-ready Range Rover Sport — on low-profile, speed-rated tires — is able to climb fallen trees and slog through muddy waters with little effort and impressive grace.