New engine and driver technology for Land Rover Range Rover Sport 2017

The Land Rover Range Rover Sport’s status as luxury performance SUV has been strengthened with a range of enhancements for its 2017 model year. 

The latest model will introduce innovative new autonomous driving technologies and greater scope for bespoke personalisation.  The 2017 model year Range Rover Sport will be available in South Africa early next year.

Introduced in late 2013 to the South African market, the 2nd-generation Range Rover Sport is a genuine Land Rover success story, delivering all the refinement and capability expected from a large SUV, plus the performance (especially in the TDV8 and Supercharged V8 engines).

Advanced Tow Assist

The first-in-sector Advanced Tow Assist feature takes the stress out of manoeuvring when towing large trailers.  Images from a rear-facing camera are shown on the central touchscreen, allowing the driver to indicate the desired direction of a trailer when reversing by using the Terrain Response 2 rotary controller.  The Range Rover Sport will make all the necessary steering adjustments automatically.  Its like park assist autonomous parking, though here the SUV does not park itself, but the trailer.  Clever.

As well as making it easier to manoeuvre a trailer, the system will alert the driver if a jack-knife situation is imminent.  The driver can monitor immediate surroundings for potential hazards using the vehicle’s surround cameras.

Blind Spot Assist

Additional autonomy technology is provided in the form of Blind Spot Assist, which uses sensors on the vehicle to detect other road users approaching in the driver’s blind spot.  It is an advance on the previous blind spot system which gave a visual warning.  If the driver risks causing a collision during a lane change, the vehicle will autonomously counter-steer to maintain its position.

Low Traction Launch

Peerless all-terrain capability remains a cornerstone of the Range Rover family, and the 2017 model year Range Rover Sport includes a selection of new features to further enhance its off-road prowess.

Low Traction Launch makes it easier for a driver to pull away on low-grip surfaces such as mud, wet grass or ice.  The technology can be selected manually using the central touchscreen menu.  Alternatively, the vehicle will automatically prompt the driver to select Low Traction Launch if the Grass/Gravel/Snow mode is selected using the Terrain Response 2 controller.

Once active, the driver assistance programme controls the amount of torque the driver is able to apply when pressing the accelerator.  This reduces the likelihood of experiencing a loss of traction.

The updated 4x4i menu presents all the necessary vehicle information when tackling challenging terrain.

Enlarged touchscreen, enhanced connectivity

The enlarged touchscreen features a new 10-inch display (up from the previous 8-inch screen) for greater ease-of-use and clarity, and features tablet-style pinch and zoom functions.

This is powered by Land Rover’s InControl Touch Pro technology, available with an in-car wireless hotspot, app connectivity and remote smartphone features, making this the most connected Range Rover Sport to date.

The new Pro Services system allows customers to download apps and install them directly to the vehicle’s InControl Touch Pro system, rather than being used through their smartphone.  Live Apps include live data such as weather reports and a flight tracker.

InControl Remote Premium allows drivers to control a number of vehicle functions remotely using the dedicated smartphone app.  Owners can check data such as the mileage or fuel level, and even remotely (by app) lock and unlock the vehicle, and adjust the climate control settings to pre-cool/heat the vehicle interior.

Exterior enhancements

The purposeful Dynamic model has a number of exterior features finished in Gloss Black for an even more dramatic appearance, including an updated radiator grille with side vents, bonnet vents, mirror caps and bonnet and tailgate script.  A red Sport badge and red brake calipers also help to set Dynamic models apart.

A new Bright Pack will be offered as an option on Autobiography Dynamic models.  It brings a more vivid finish, with features such as Atlas Silver front grille mesh and Atlas Silver bonnet mesh.

Smallest engine in RRS

At 2017 model year, the RRS (Range Rover Sport) will debut the new 2.0-litre four-cylinder Ingenium diesel engine, manufactured at Jaguar Land Rover’s own engine plant in Wolverhampton.

Already available on both Discovery Sport and Range Rover Evoque models, Ingenium is Jaguar Land Rover’s new breed of engine designed for effortless performance, refinement and efficiency.  Its advanced technology and all-aluminium construction contribute to impressive fuel consumption and CO2 emissions of 164g/km, with a 0-96km/h time of 8.0 seconds, estimated, in the new Range Rover Sport SD4.

It seems Jaguar Land Rover South Africa is choosing not to go the 4-cylinder petrol turbo engine route (like Volvo has with the XC90) for the Range Rover Sport, limiting the availability of the 2.0 Ingenium engine to the smaller Land Rover vehicles.