Range Rover sport roars into Thailand

The new Range Rover boasts an all-aluminium platform and body, which help lower its weight by as much as 420kg and thus improves fuel economy, while maintaining super car performance. It is targeted at a younger group of buyers than the regular Range Rover model. 

Acceleration from 0-100km/h is claimed to be 5.3 seconds for the V8 model, which has a 510hp powerplant with 625Nm of torque mated to an 8-speed automatic transmission. The top speed is claimed to be 250km/h, putting it in the same level as the Porsche Cayenne and BMW X5 4.4. Meanwhile, the turbocharged diesel engine produces 292hp and 600Nm of torque, allowing it to accelerate from rest to100m/h in 7.2 seconds. Average fuel economy is claimed at 13.8 litres/100km for the supercharged version (CO2 321g/km) and 7.9 litres/100km for the diesel (CO2 206g/km). 

The Range Rover Sport features a new four-corner air suspension system and a Terrain Response 2 Auto 4WD system that monitors the current driving condition and automatically selects the most suitable terrain programme. A torque vectoring system helps improve cornering stability, while parking is made easy with the park assist system that features automated manoeuvres for perpendicular, parallel and park exit. The front seats come with a massage function, while the third-row seats could be folded and unfolded electrically, providing room for seven occupants in total. 

Sanpong Chuenroj, managing director of official distributor City Automobiles, said the company will launch the new model at the Thailand International Motor Expo, which starts this weekend. It will come with a 3-year warranty, as well as 24-hour roadside assistance and optional gold packages for customers. 

“We plan to invest Bt150 million next year to launch a new showroom and service centre,” he said, adding that the company plans to launch a new model every year. 

City Automobiles presently has showrooms and service centres on Wireless Road and Rama III Road, while the new facility will be built on Rama IV Road and officially opened in the third quarter of next year.