German Car Zone

A Rangier Rover: An Off-Road Royal Expands His realm with Added Capability


As mid-cycle model enhancements go, the 2010 Range Rover's is more ambitious than some brand-new vehicles. As we outlined in our first look, there are two new 5.0-liter V-8 engines-one free-breathing, one blown-that leverage direct-injection technology to boost horsepower by 23 and 29 percent respectively and torque by 16 and 12 percent. These engines and a quicker-shifting six-speed transmission dramatically improve acceleration performance with no fuel-economy penalty (EPA numbers are expected to be unchanged, while Euro figures improve by seven percent for each).

But the really ambitious bit is an entirely new electrical architecture that strings together 62 different ECUs along a couple medium and high-speed CAN data busses, running new software code developed within Land Rover and Jaguar (the architecture will be shared). Why should you care? Because this new circuitry enables a host of comfort, convenience and safety upgrades, from boring stuff like enhanced roll-stability and trailer-sway control systems to boast-worthy features like the largest automotive flat-screen dash display and continuously variable Bilstein Damptronic shocks that can now assess and anticipate driving conditions and retune the damping rates 500 times per second-that's once every 2.5 inches at 70 mph. (Land Rover believes its predictive control algorithms are unique.)


2010 Land Rover Range Rover First Drive and Review - Motor Trend


M

Very nice car, though I think they have made a mistake by introducing the heavily revised car with all new V8 petrol and for other models, the new V6 diesel, yet we are having to wait until next year to get the new upgraded 4.4 V8 diesel, in other words, the new car will for the time being, come with the older 3.6 V8 diesel but other engines are new.

Stewart.

Love it!! Just LOVE it!!



Given the current economic and environmental climate, you might have expected Land Rover to give the heavily revised 2010 model-year Range Rover a 2.0-litre engine and a 50% price cut. It hasn’t. Engine capacity is up by a quarter. Power is up 29%. The price goes up too. But Land Rover has to believe that its markets will return, and when they do it has to be ready with cars capable of competing with BMW’s M-badged off-roaders, AMG-badged Merc SUVs and the Porsche Cayenne Turbo. The old Range Rover had the image, but lacked the firepower. This revision aims to remedy that.
So what changes are on the new-for-2010 Range Rover?

The new, 5.0-litre, direct-injection supercharged V8 is shared with Jaguar. With 503bhp at 6500rpm and 461lb ft between 2500 and 5500rpm, it has 29% more power than the outgoing supercharged motor and 12% more torque, yet improves consumption and emissions by 7.3% to 19mpg and 348g/km. It cuts more than a second from the 0-60mph time at 5.9sec, and adds 10mph to the v-max at 140mph. There are bigger brakes and an adaptive damping system aimed at improving handling.
Looks more like a Range Rover Sport…

The styling changes have softened the old car’s bluff, upright arrogance slightly, though that might have been part of its appeal, and there are some flashy design details in the new side vents that might be more at home on the Sport. But it’s the interior that gets the most attention.

The main dials have been replaced by a TFT screen displaying virtual dials that look a bit like the old ones. A new central touchscreen can show different images to the driver and front-seat passenger, meaning your other half can watch TV while you drive. There’s new switchgear and upgraded cabin materials, including a rather lavish (optional) all-leather headlining.…

Range Rover 5.0 Supercharged (2010) CAR review | Road Testing Reviews | Car Magazine Online

For 2010, the Range Rover gets a variety of upgrades aimed at improving the driving experience: both available engines have an extra dose of horsepower, the interior is even more luxurious, and the level of technology, both inside the cabin and under the skin, is more impressive than ever.

The Look

We'll forgive you if your eyes can't detect the slight changes in appearance from a distance. In addition to a revised grille, LEDs around the headlamps and taillamps, and slightly different side gills with LEDs that function as turn indicators, the fog lights move from the front bumper down to the sides of the air intake. The current Range Rover has aged quite well, so only minor changes seem appropriate.

The Power

For 2010, all Land Rover models get the new direct-injection 5.0-liter V-8. Horsepower is up 75, to 375 hp, and torque is at 375 lb-ft -- both figures represent big upgrades over the aging 4.2-liter V-8, which sometimes struggled to move vehicles as big and heavy as a Land Rover. Supercharged models share the 5.0-liter block but also get an intercooled sixth-generation Eaton blower that pushes power to 510 hp and 461 lb-ft of torque. The whole supercharger/intercooler assembly fits nicely in the valley of the engine, the revised air intake is more efficient, and supercharger whine has been reduced by more than 50%.

Both engines are mated to a ZF six-speed automatic transmission and all-wheel drive. The increase in power from the 5.0-liter engines allows the torque converter to lock up earlier, which increases fuel efficiency. An adaptive sport mode provides more aggressive shift points and "learns" an individual driver's style to provide more appropriate responses to throttle inputs.

Off-Road

Half the reason to consider purchasing a Land Rover is its proven off-road prowess. For 2010, the Range Rover receives some significant improvements in this area. Land Rover's Terrain Response system now includes a launch control program for starting the SUV in sand. In this mode, wheel spin is limited, based on the vehicle's speed, to turn power into forward motion rather than digging a trench. Revisions to rock crawling mode and hill descent control also promise an easier time on the trail. Gradient release control is another new feature that prevents the vehicle from gathering speed too quickly once the brakes are released on a steep slope.…

2010 Land Rover Range Rover - First Drive Land Rover Review - Automobile Magazine

Range Rover 5.0-litre V8 Supercharged

What is it?

It's the Range Rover 5.0-litre V8 Supercharged. For the 2010 model year — which for buyers starts this month — the quickest Range Rover gets a new, supercharged petrol V8 engine that puts a mighty 503bhp under the bonnet.

It also gets some gentle interior and exterior changes, and some impressive equipment upgrades. The intention has been to develop everything for which Land Rover’s flagship is justly famous - luxury, comfort, refinement, versatility, craftsmanship and outright performance - without disturbing the model’s highly successful template.……

Range Rover 5.0-litre V8 Supercharged - Road Test First Drive - Autocar.co.uk

British luxury at its best ... (with German ingredients and indian spices )


Love the RR ..

As much as I like the GL550 and even the Lexus LX570 (yeah I know, don't ask)...this is the best luxury SUV in the world IMO. Interior, now engines and everything has come together. I've never been crazy about the exterior design, I prefer the smaller RR Sport, but thing is truly the S-Class of "offroaders".


M

Rofl, good one!

Are you sure this car is new? Looks the same to me?

Two big differences to watch out for – the deeper grille (although it’s not really, it’s just that that headlights are narrower because they are packed with LEDS), and a new three-stripe motif that’s part of a hierarchy labelling system for the Range Rover range: three stripes for the Daddy Rangie, two for the RR Sport and one for the forthcoming baby.

So the 2010 model year thing is just a mild facelift then?

Far from it. Designers didn’t mess with the skin much because whilst the basic look of the thing is seven years old, it remains a contemporary and solid design. Where the current Range Rover was beginning to show its age was in some of the electronics and creature comforts, this is where the new car ups its game and even raises the bar in a few areas. We’ve been introduced to the some of the new technical achievements already – read this.

Interior restyle is similarly subtle I notice.

Well at first glance yes, but look again. Notice the crisper, cleaner more modern switchgear (the last remnants of BMW ownership now finally banished!). And notice the completely blank instrument panel.

Blank?

A sort of dark-side-of-the-moon style horizon is visible, until you start the car at which time some near realistic looking analogue dials appear on the 12-inch digital display. You choose from the available configurations for the information you need and extra space is given to off-road information when you’re roughing it.

Sounds gimmicky, but it’s pretty cool and really works.

There’s even more screen-trickery when it comes to the central display now with the operating system and sat nav found in the latest Jaguars. Select the split-view feature and whilst the driver can see and operate the various systems on the move, the front passenger can watch TV or even a DVD on the same screen.

And what about these cameras I heard about?

There’s five of them, dotted around the vehicle, two in the front bumper, one in each wing mirror and another in the rear tailgate spoiler. All of these can be called up on the monitor, and you can select and enlarge, even zoom in and change the angle.

A very neat system and it really allows you to get the big car in and out of tight spaces. Except that on the car we tested the cameras frequently malfunctioned – so maybe not rely on them entirely then.

There are also blind spot indicators, optional high beam assist, forward alert monitor, and a very easy-to-use and effective active cruise control.

Does it go and stop as well as before?

Better. Much better in fact.

The Supercharged versions we tested gets massive 15-inch discs and six piston callipers at the front and 14.3 inch discs on the back. Stamp on them from speed and it’s amazing how quickly and stably you can haul 2700kg of hard-charging mass to a halt.

How hard-charging?

Zero to 100kph in just 6.2 seconds – quicker than many sports cars and hot hatches. The revised six-speed ZF transmission featuring intelligent sports mode that adapts to your driving style certainly helps. In everyday motoring slam the gear lever across to sports every time you want sharper changes and quicker get-up-and-go.

It has more power then?

The new 5.0-litre V8s, as seen in the Jaguars again, incorporate direct injection and the supercharger ups its game to 510bhp with 461lb ft of torque – that’s an increase of 29 percent and 12 percent respectively. It sounds creamy and potent and its alacrity is staggering.

Fortunately Land Rover has worked some magic on the trick suspension and it rolls, leans and pitches far less than any Range Rover ever has. At city speeds you could even slam the brakes in a middle of a corner and it will just stop. The floatiness and wallowy ride has been subdued.

Adaptive dynamics continually change the damper settings as required and the car will even slow you down automatically if you are cornering too fast. You just feel the slight hesitation as you thunder into a bend and bury the throttle too early.

Have the on-road improvements compromised its off-road capabilities?

Are you kidding? This is still a Land Rover. The trademark All-Terrain System also gets a host of upgrades including ‘Sand Launch Control’ making it easier to drive away in sand as traction control now provides just enough slippage to let you move off without digging in – just put it into sand mode, apply the e-brake and drive off.

Plus the fact that you can actually use traction control in the dunes now – it’s clever enough to know when to dial back its interference and not let the stability control interfere. The rock control programme allows for a more stable body and less severe pitching left and right.

So Land Rover has managed to make the best even better then?

Amazingly yes. The most incredible thing about it is that it fulfils your expectations as a proper luxury car but whilst it’s no longer a rugged workhorse that readily encourages you to get it dirty, it remains as accomplished as ever off the blacktop.

Land Rover recognised there was nothing fundamentally wrong with the old car, so they only addressed what needed to be updated and the result is a more complete proposition than ever.

DRIVEN: Range Rover Supercharged 2010 - CAR Middle East - Online | Dubai - Abu Dhabi - UAE - Saudi Arabia - Kuwait - Bahrain - Oman - GCC