Range Rover Sport and Long Wheel Base Models Spied Testing

By 6Speed Spies - April 30, 2013

Our spy photographers have caught a 2014 Range Rover prototype with an extended wheelbase and a longer rear side door. The model is still heavily disguised, but we can see it will feature a lot more legroom and space for rear passengers making it the choice for those who can afford their own driver. Apart from the added few inches, the vehicle appears identical to the standard short wheelbase Range Rover we’ve seen testing around the world for a while. Engine options will likely carry over from the current model, but we can also expect to see hybrid and plug-in hybrid variants that borrow technology from the Range e concept.

Additional information is limited, but previous reports have indicated the Range Rover will ride an aluminium chassis that is being developed with the assistance of Jaguar. Thanks to this change, the vehicle could be up to 400 kg lighter than the current model. The redesigned Range Rover could be introduced in late 2012 as 2013 model.

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The 2014 Range Rover Sport is the sportiest car Land Rover has ever built. With its 510 hp supercharged 5-litre V8 and an aluminium chassis, it stands a good chance of defeating a sportscar.

But it’s also not as good as it could be, which is why the company is taking things even further. By now, you probably noticed Jaguar has three even more powerful monsters, the 550 hp XFR-S, XKR-S and XJS.

That improved engine could be what’s learning behind this camouflage. This Range Rover Sport prototype has bigger air intake at the front, indicative of a sportier model. Since the new RR Sport is already much lighter than its predecessor, and adapting the lessons learned by Jaguar will benefit this performance SUV greatly.

Currently, the Range Rover Sport’s Supercharged version is rated at 0 to 100 km/h in 5.3 seconds, so it’s not impossible to see that time drop to 5 seconds flat when this more powerful model debuts.