Range Rover Sport
It looks like this model may bec ome a reality. It's not exactly like the 2-door Range Stormer concept vehicle but it does apparently intend to compete with the Cayenne and X5. Here is a story from the Detroit News (web page):
Quote:
Ford Motor Co.'s Land Rover unit is about to forge into the growing market of performance sport utility vehicles.
Next summer, the brand will introduce the 2006 Range Rover Sport, available with a supercharged 4.2-liter V-8 engine that will deliver the highest degree of power -- 390 horses -- ever in a Land Rover model.
It will compete directly with the popular Porsche Cayenne, BMW X5 4.8is and Mercedes-Benz' ML55 AMG.
Land Rover's U.S. sales have dropped 19 percent this year, reflecting weaker demand for the Freelander and discontinued Discovery SUV models.
The Range Rover Sport was engineered to be less frenetic and more refined than existing performance SUVs, while offering fast, long-distance driving, said Matthew Taylor, managing director of Land Rover.
As more upscale brands such as Porsche and Audi enter the crowded SUV market, analysts say Land Rover needs to differentiate its product lineup.
"The SUV has become the modern day sports car for many consumers," said George Peterson, president of AutoPacific, a California automotive consulting firm. "It's natural for Land Rover to offer a more powerful SUV."
Peterson said the Range Rover Sport will bolster Land Rover's appeal in markets such as southern California, New York City and Las Vegas.
The Range Rover Sport shares the same platform as the new Land Rover LR3 and will become the brand's fifth nameplate. In addition to the supercharged engine, Land Rover will offer a normally aspirated V-8 engine on the Sport.
It goes on sale next summer and will be priced between the $44,995 LR3 and the $73,085 Range Rover, Land Rover said.
Land Rover hinted it was prepared to enter the high performance SUV market when it introduced the 2-door Range Stormer concept at the 2004 North American International Auto Show in Detroit.
Land Rover will build the Range Rover Sport at a plant in Solihull, England.
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When I went to the 4Car review, a pop up ad popped up in front of the page ... for the Cayenne!!!
