Autoblog

Click above for more high-res spy shots of the 2009 Range Rover Sport

The 2009 Range Rover Sport looks like it's getting a slightly revised face. After undergoing minor cosmetic surgery, the Sport comes out with grillework that's reminiscent of the Land Rover LR2's as well as a new front bumper. Out back and along the sides, the SUV seems to be unchanged compared to the current model. One of Brenda Priddy's clandestine operatives snagged the freshened Ranger Rover Sport frolicking undisguised somewhere in Europe where it looks cold and snowy. As for when it'll be shown to the public, who knows? Geneva's just around the corner, though, so we'll have our gang keep an eye out for it when they're not eyeballing Renaults or noshing on good chocolate and tasty Lake Geneva perch filets.


[Source: Brenda Priddy & Co.]

Click images for hi-res

UK customers who want a more muscled-up appearance for the Land Rover Freelander 2 and Range Rover Sport are in luck. LR has unveiled the HST trim level, which adds a full body kit, new wheels, and updated grille, will serve as the range-topper for the Freelander 2 (that's LR2 for us Yanks).

Similarly, the Range Rover Sport also gets the HST treatment, with "Stormer" dubs in the wheel wells, updated bodywork, and some associated interior upgrades. There are no associated power upgrades, so think of HST as a "more show, same go" deal, much like the Ford Edge Sport that was unveiled for our market last night. Both vehicles go on sale this March. Press release pasted after the jump.

[Source: Land Rover]

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HAMANN, which has yet to find a car or truck it's not willing to make faster, look wilder, and fit scissor doors to, has turned its attention to the Range Rover Sport. And while Lambo doors are (thankfully) left off here, the rest of the HAMANN formula is applied. The result has been dubbed the Conqueror, and it's ready to lay waste to expensive tires and capture the hearts of lead-footed country club valets.

Power upgrades are made available for all the SUV's engine offerings. The blown unit from the Range Rover Sport Supercharged goes in for a spa treatment and deep tissue massage that leaves it feeling invigorated and renewed to the tune of 475 horsepower and 450 lb-ft of torque. Refreshing, indeed. The added zip underhood is complemented by a new widebody aero kit that emphasizes the "Sport" in the truck's moniker. In the process, the Rover also undergoes bling reduction surgery, sporting a darkened grille, black headlamp bezels, and carbon fiver trim on the side extractor and door handles. 23" EDITION RACE wheels fill out the bulging, flared fenders and also hide upgraded brakes.

Inside, HAMANN will do whatever the customer wants, as evidenced by the snakeskin-covered seats. Unless you're an 80s rocker like Kip Winger or Brett Michaels, we'd advise against ordering those, as they only conquer good taste. The rest of it -- custom leather trim, suede-wrapped dash, etc. -- is fine with us.

Follow the jump for HAMANN's full press release.

[Source: HAMANN]

Hopefully the potential dispersal of the Ford Premier Group won't affect this wonderful Jaguar/Land Rover collaboration that is being rumored. By borrowing aluminum (aluminium?) expertise from Jaguar, future Land Rovers could be as much as 1,000 pounds lighter than current models. Utilizing Jaguar's rivet-bonded aluminum monocoque body design, Land Rover could continue to build large luxury SUVs that are lighter and return even better fuel economy.

According to What Car's inside source, the new Range Rover will be the first all-alloy, monocoque-bodied 4x4 when it debuts in 2010. "There's no decision yet, and we don't have to decide for a couple of years, but it seems a logical step to investigate," said their source.

As they further point out, the Discovery and Range Rover Sport are both due for replacement a couple of years after the Range Rover, and it would make economic sense to share the technology across as many models as possible to exact the best economies of scale for L-R. It was expected that the new RR might switch to Land Rover's semi-monocoque steel T5 platform, which underpins the Discovery and the Range Rover Sport, but this makes a whole lot more sense.

Curb weight for the current Range Rover is about 6,000 pounds, but with a similar 15% weight savings as Jag has witnessed, Land Rover could get that down to less than 5,000 while maintaining the off-road toughness for which its vehicles are known. The boost in fuel economy and performance wouldn't hurt either.

[Source: What Car?]

This November, Land Rover will begin the sale of an updated Range Rover Sport that will come equipped with either a 2.7-liter, turbo-diesel V6, or a new TDV8 that produces 40-percent more power and torque than its six-cylinder brethren. Only you can't have either, because they'll only be available in Europe.

While covering all the goings on in Paris last week, the Range Rover press event didn't make it on our short list and that's when news of the new diesel debuted. With a price tag just shy of $100,000, all the luxury accoutrements you'd expect are included, along with some newly developed/acquired technology in the form of adaptive cruise control, dual alarms, voice recognition and an adaptive automatic transmission.

The revised Range Rover Sport we get stateside will hopefully benefit from some of these new features, just don't expect the diesel version to make it over anytime soon.

[Source: Pistonheads]

We've been too busy throwing down new posts to attend Spike TV's second annual AutoRox awards, but apparently that didn't stop the cable network from going on with the show at Fremont Experience in Las Vegas. Hosted by rapper/actor Ice Cube and featuring a variety of performances and celebrities, the show is America's only nationwide televised automobile awards ceremony.  Chevrolet's Corvette Z06 came away the big winner, netting the night's top honor for "Car of the Year," as well as taking home the "Best Sports Car" and "Deal of the Year" awards.

Other big winners included former Chrysler Chairman and CEO Lee Iacocca, who took home the "Icon Award". Sadly, Snoop Dogg was apparently unable to deliver the award to his golfing buddy, so 24's Kiefer Sutherland stepped in on his behalf.

Other winners include:

• BEST TRUCK - Honda Ridgeline
• BEST LUXURY CAR - Audi A8
• BEST SUV - Land Rover Range Rover Sport
• HOTTEST EXOTIC - Bugatti Veyron
• BEST TUNER - Mitsubishi Lancer Evolution IX
• BEST CONCEPT CAR - Chevrolet Camaro
• BEST MUSCLE CAR (viewers' choice) - Dodge Charger SRT8

Catch the delayed broadcast on Tuesday, April 18th on Spike TV, when it airs from 10pm-11:30pm Eastern.

[Source: Spike TV via PRNewswire.com]

 

Dubbed the closest thing to the company’s first ever concept, the Range Stormer, that money can buy, the HST is a blinged out version of Land Rover’s Range Rover Sport that was debuted recently during the press day of the Goodwood Festival. The HST features identical mechanicals as the S/C Range Rover Sport but sports an electric sunroof, electronic locking rear differential and privacy glass. The exterior gets a treatment that West Coast Customs would be proud of, which includes flush fitting front and rear bumpers and a larger grille. The lower cladding all around is body-colored and there’s a new tail spoiler and rectangular exhaust pipes out back. The “Stormer” alloy wheels are 20 inches large and chromed for good measure. Performance should be identical to the supercharged Range Rover Sport, though its price will grow to £63,000 ($109,790 US).

[Source: Classic Driver]

May I have the envelope, please? Not quite yet.

However... the finalists are:

• BMW 3-Series
• Honda Civic/Civic Hybrid
• Land Rover Range Rover Sport
• Lexus IS
• Mazda MX-5
• Mercedes-Benz M-Class
• Mercedes-Benz S-Class
• Porsche Cayman S
• Suzuki Swift
• Volkswagen Passat

The finalists were selected by a jury of 46 international automotive journalists in a secret ballot. To pick the winner, the jury will rate each finalist in terms of overall merit, value, safety, environmental responsibility, emotional appeal, and significance. The winner will be announced at the New York International Auto Show in April. (Last year's winner was the Audi A6.)

Three specialty awards will also be handed out by the WCOTY program: World Performance Car, World Green Car, and World Car Design of the Year. (Finalists in these categories are selected separately from the WCOTY finalists.) Check out the WCOTY website for details.