As one last hurrah for the current Range Rover Sport model, the 2013 model carries its finely aged design well yet still touts its historic off-road go-anywhere on land prowess. The Range Rover Sport embodies a road-going presence that puts itself into a desirable category among fast-moving cities without the much need for using its in-tact off-road capabilities. The latest version, just before the introduction of a redesigned model, still has what it takes to turn heads and transport its precious cargo on and through just about any navigable terrain you can throw at it.
Exuding luxury appointments in its finely crafted interior, the 2013 Range Rover Sport takes the normal Range Rover up a notch in the visual excitement and fun factor categories. The visual sports appeal of the Range Rover Sport does not end with is finely chiseled body or leather-laced cabin, it carries into the drivetrain with a 5.0-liter V8 boasting 375 horsepower and 375 pound-feet of torque in the HSE trim, while my Supercharged trimmed test vehicle gets a supercharged version of the V8 allowing you to play with a full deck in the form of 510 horsepower and 461 lb-ft of torque.
The sport really shines through the Range Rover Sport Supercharged getting more than enough all-wheel-drive power to scoot the tall-statured SUV to 60 mph in just 5.2 seconds. In the handling department the Range Rover Sport Supercharged puts forth its best effort of the optimized air-suspension system. The trick suspension system, quite characteristic for Range Rover models considering how off-road capable they are, has a full array of settings. Starting off in normal mode the suspension is dialed in for paved roads and highway travel. A Dynamic mode tailors the chassis for better throttle response, advanced 6-speed automatic transmission shift mapping and tighter handling by putting the dampers into an aggressive setting. The Terrain Response System’s other settings adapt well to rock, gravel, snow, mud and dirt at the turn of the selectable dial on the center console.
Being that the suspension is height adjustable, you are able to manually dial in the vehicle height from a low-riding access height, which is available at low speeds in preparation for parking to give the driver and passengers easier access. The normal height is automatically selected should you drive off while in access height. You will want the system to select the normal height as the suspension travel is diminished giving the Range Rover Sport a bouncy and uncomfortable ride while at access height. Also selectable at low speeds, is the higher settings of the air suspension and Terrain Response System, raising the Range Rover Sport several inches for optimal ground clearance.
The off-road capabilities, being that the Range Rover Sport has an much more aggressive road-going demeanor from …read more
Source: FULL ARTICLE at Automotive Addicts
