While the regular Range Rover is the black tie-wearing over-achiever of the SUV world, the Sport is the slightly naughtier sibling with an added edge on the athletics field.
Which is why it's no surprise that the all-new Range Rover Sport, launched in South Africa this week, is the fastest and most agile Rangie ever conceived.
Following its bigger sibling onto the company's all-new aluminium platform, it's gained more of everything - except weight. In fact, despite being 62mm longer and 55mm wider than its predecessor, and 25 percent stiffer to boot, it's also up to a whopping 420kg lighter.
It's still 149mm shorter, and 55mm lower to the ground, than the larger Range Rover and although it follows the same basic design path, it's easy to spot the Sport's tauter lines, slimmer headlights and grille along with its smaller taillights.
SUPERCHARGED V8
Sports car-like performance is on the agenda for those ordering the 375kW/625Nm flagship 5-litre supercharged V8 model, which will dash from 0-100km/h in only 5.3 seconds.
Clients can also choose between two tamer 3-litre V6 models in the form of a 250kW/450Nm supercharged petrol in the SC V6 and 215kW/600Nm turbodiesel in the SD V6. Both models run to 100km/h in 7.2 seconds, according to Land Rover, and reach a top speed of 210km/h.
Claimed combined fuel consumption is pegged at 13.8 l/100km in the case of the V8, 11.3 l/100 for the SC V6 and 7.9 l/100km for the SD V6.
MADE FOR ALL ROADS
To achieve the best possible cornering characteristics, given the vehicle's centre of gravity, the Sport is endowed with fully-independent suspension at all ends, with double-wishbones doing duty at the front end and a multi-link layout at the back.
Its upgraded air suspension and Terrain Response system also aim to seek the best balance between on-road agility and off-road prowess. Maximum ground clearance has been increased by 51mm to 278mm, although the air suspension allows up to 115mm of regular variance.
Two distinct permanent four-wheel drive systems will be on offer allowing you to essentially choose between sport and slightly-less-sport-but-more-bundu. In the former case you get a lighter single-speed transfer case with a Torsen differential, while the latter option is a more traditional two-speed case with low range.
Having driven the new SUV in Wales recently, Minesh Bhagaloo, of our sister title Star Motoring, can attest to its split personality:
“The supercharged V8 is a monster, with a particularly rorty soundtrack. Yet after flicking that Terrain Response switch into the various off road settings we were climbing mountains and wading rivers without breaking a sweat (or a tyre for that matter).”
Inside the Range Rover Sport, stylists aimed for purer treatment with more soft-touch surfaces throughout the cabin and a configurable mood lighting system. To emphasise the vehicle's more athletic nature, there's a smaller and thicker steering wheel, although practicality was high on the agenda too - the Sport boasting 24mm more rear knee room than its predecessor.
Drivers will find more in the way of gadgets. In addition to all the Terrain Response adaptable damper functions, the Sport can also be ordered with Wade Sensing - which actually tells you how deep you are when wading through water.
Five distinct models will be offered in South Africa:
SC V6 S (petrol) - R824 500
SC V6 HSE (petrol) - R1 057 100
SD V6 S (diesel) - R885 800