| 2011 Range Rover | ||
 |
||
|
(Thu 17 Jun 10) Ninety percent of Range Rovers currently sold in the UK have petrol engines, but we wouldn't be surprised if that proportion rose still higher once the 2011 model year version goes on sale in September.
The five-litre supercharged V8 petrol unit will still be available in unchanged form, but the 3.6-litre turbo diesel is being replaced by a new 4.4-litre engine which has a maximum output of 309bhp, giving the Range Rover a top speed of 130mph and a 0-62mph time of 7.8 seconds. Official CO2 emissions are down by 14% to 253g/km, and the combined economy figure is the best ever for a Range Rover at 30.1mpg. The diesel also comes with an equally new eight-speed automatic gearbox which, among other pieces of cleverness, partly disengages when the car is stationary and the transmission is in Drive mode. Gear selection is made using either the paddles behind the steering wheel or a rotary control on the centre console, and Terrain Response selection is now made using a switch rather than the previous rotary control in order to avoid what would no doubt be a high level of embarrassment and dismay. The Terrain Response system itself now has Hill Start Assist and Gradient Acceleration Control, the latter coming into play if the driver has not engaged Hill Descent Control. Apart from all this, the Range Rover remains pretty much as it was before, with only some minor interior and exterior upgrades, different shades of blue and white paintwork and five new alloy wheel designs. The line-up will include an Autobiography Black limited edition to celebrate Ranger Rover's 40th anniversary, and only 700 of those will be made. Pricing will be confirmed nearer the time of the launch. |
