An Even More Dynamic Driving Experience Promised: 2023 Range Rover Sport Revealed
The all-new third-generation Range Rover Sport is here. It is the sharpest and cleanest design yet, while somehow being even more tech- and luxury-packed. Add in more electrified power options and a more dynamic driving experience, and we’re intrigued.
The 2023 Land Rover Range Rover Sport gets much of the design, performance, technology, and luxury upgrades that have gotten the new Range Rover a ton of attention lately. It, however, is a more focused on-road performance driver’s vehicle while still offering the all-weather and off-road capabilities that Land Rover is known for.
We’ll start seeing the new Range Rover Sport in U.S. dealerships later this year, with pricing starting at $83,000 to $121,500. It will be built in Land Rover’s Solihull manufacturing facility in the U.K., alongside the new Range Rover.
“The exceptional New Range Rover Sport sets new standards as the ultimate sporting luxury SUV, building on seventeen years of unique customer appeal,” said Thierry Bolloré, Chief Executive Officer, Jaguar Land Rover.
“It is the latest embodiment of our vision to create the world’s most desirable modern luxury vehicles, effortlessly blending new levels of sustainability with the signature qualities that have made Range Rover Sport so popular.”
2023 Range Rover Sport Driving Dynamics
Built on the all-new chassis architecture underpinning the latest Range Rover, the Range Rover Sport is the performance on-road driver’s vehicle in Land Rover’s lineup. This new chassis ups the torsional stiffness of the vehicle by up to 35% over the outgoing model, which should bode well for how it handles when you chuck it into a corner.
“Land Rover’s pioneering flexible MLA architecture and the latest chassis systems come together to deliver the highest levels of dynamism we’ve ever seen on Range Rover Sport,” said Nick Collins, Executive Director of Vehicle Programs, Jaguar Land Rover.
Collins added, “Integrated Chassis Control governs the comprehensive suite of innovations, coordinating everything from the latest switchable volume air suspension system to our Dynamic Response Pro electronic active roll control 2. The result is the most engaging and thrilling Range Rover Sport ever.”
Land Rover pioneered the use of air suspension in consumer vehicles for both on and off-road comfort and performance. Its latest Dynamic Air Suspension system, which introduces switchable volume air springs for the first time, is the latest evolution of the system and is fitted as standard on every new Range Rover Sport.
Working alongside the air suspension system on some models is a new Dynamic Response Pro active roll control system, All-Wheel Steering, Torque Vectoring by Braking, and an Electronic Active Differential. Dynamic Response Pro is a 48-volt electronic active roll control system.
This system is capable of applying up to 1,000 foot-pounds of torque across each axle, for the ultimate in cornering performance. The All-Wheel Steering system offers up to 7.3 degrees of rear steer. All of these systems should make this heavy luxury SUV achieve new heights of performance.
It’s a Land Rover, so it also has four-wheel drive as standard equipment, in this case, a new intelligent all-wheel driver (iAWD) system. It also has the latest off-road drive mode system — Terrain Response 2 — which can automatically detect the terrain being traversed and adapt the chassis to best deal with it, or be manually selected for instant optimal performance in any condition.
While the Range Rover Sport is the most on-road-focused Land Rover, it has the baked-in off-road and all-weather capabilities that have made the brand famous.
For 2023, the Range Rover Sport even gets Adaptive Off-Road Cruise Control, an evolution of Land Rover’s All-Terrain Progress Control system. We’ll likely see this new feature on other Land Rover models soon.
2023 Powertrain Options
While we don’t get a diesel option for 2023, we do get new electrified powertrains. All 2023 Range Rover Sport powertrains will use the tried-and-true eight-speed ZF automatic transmission.
On the Range Rover Sport P360 SE and P400 SE Dynamic trim levels, we get a 3.0L turbocharged inline-6 mild-hybrid. It puts out 355 horsepower and 369 pound-feet of torque and offers 20 mpg city/25 highway fuel economy.
On the P440e Autobiography trim, we get a plug-in hybrid version of that 3.0L turbocharged inline-6 — with 105kW electric motor and 31.8kWh battery — putting out 395 horsepower and 406 pound-feet of torque. This plug-in hybrid (PHEV) also offers an estimated range of 48 miles of all-electric range.
The top-spec P530 First Edition trim gets a 4.4L twin-turbo V8 putting out 523 horsepower and 553 pound-feet of torque. The Range Rover Sport P530 can accelerate from 0 to 60 mph in just 4.3 seconds, through the use of Dynamic Launch mode. Of course, all that power comes with a fuel economy hit, as it offers 15 mpg city/20 highway. Land Rover has already announced that in 2024, we’ll see an all-electric Range Rover Sport as well.
Range Rover Sport Exterior Design
Going along with Range Rover’s modern design aesthetic of a clean monolithic chiseled design with sharp LED lighting signatures, the 2023 Range Rover Sport looks aggressive and luxurious at the same time. Of course, we also get the clamshell hood, floating roof, and crisp shoulder line the length of the vehicle that we expect with every vehicle carrying the Range Rover badge.
The stealthy front grille and black details, along with the slimmest daytime running lights ever fitted to a Land Rover, help break up the clean, sculpted lines created by the flush windows and door handles. These features, along with the longest spoiler ever fitted to a Range Rover, contribute to impressive aerodynamics. The 2023 Range Rover Sport has a drag coefficient of just 0.29.
The new Dynamic trim level provides an even sharper focus on the performance characteristics of this SUV. It offers unique front and rear bumpers and bespoke lower cladding finished in the body color.
It also has detailed exterior design elements like Satin Grey alloy wheels, Satin Burnished Copper finishes on the hood louvers and side ingots, and a Matte Graphite Atlas finish on the front grille and Range Rover lettering.
Inside the New Range Rover Sport
With an all-new chassis comes an all-new interior and even more comfort, luxury, and tech. Of course, you still get the signature Range Rover Command Driving Position, which offers excellent visibility to the outside world for all vehicle occupants. The interior is all about a clean, crisp, and luxurious modern design aesthetic, to match the exterior refinements and feel.
You can choose between sustainable Ultrafabrics, unique textiles, and a variety of leathers for interior fabrics. Modern Moonlight Chrome interior finishes provide a smooth contrast to the fabrics while integrated hidden speakers in the headrests and doors keep the clean and crisp aesthetic. The 22-way adjustable, heated, cooled, and massaging seats are sure to make any Range Rover Sport driving experience comfortable.
With impressive Meridian audio systems on offer — one with 29 speakers and 1,430 watts of power — there is no bad seat in the house. Each of the four main seats has personal sound zones for the ultimate in individualized comfort. The sound system also works along with the Active Noise Cancellation system to remove road, tire, and wind noise from the cabin, while enhancing the engine note when in a dynamic driving mode.
The latest Pivi Pro infotainment system is controlled through the center stack touchscreen. It has Alexa built in, which works without a smartphone being connected. Of course, it also has wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, both fitted as standard on all trim levels of the 2023 Range Rover Sport.
With a focus on the times we live in and the issues we deal with daily, Land Rover has added next-generation Cabin Air Purification Pro to the Range Rover Sport. It not only removes odors, bacteria, and allergens from the air inside the vehicle, but it can also filter out the SARS-CoV-2 virus.
You can even purify the air in the cabin before a journey, say, after a valet has brought you your vehicle, or while driving, with an advanced CO2 Management function.
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