If it’s chauffeur-driven, what does the
car-owner get?
Unfortunately in our country, even after
paying an astronomical amount of money for the Range Rover, most of the time
owners will pay another man to drive them around and J-LR are well aware of
that. That’s why they’ve paid immense attention to making the back seats as
comfortable as Hizamakura’s lap pillow. There are these large lounge-like rear
seats which will satisfy the chauffeur-driven Asian. I decided to sample it
myself after driving the Rangie continuously from dawn to dusk for our photo
shoot. I got a pair of air-conditioning vents all for myself, a private
entertainment system with an eight-inch display and a really cool touchscreen
remote, though its interface could have been better. Even with the diesel motor
running, the cabin feels unbelievably quiet and isolated. Pretty soon I
snuggled into the sofa-like seats with generous rear legroom and almost dozed
off. This SUV can effortlessly play the role of a chauffeured limo, if you want
it to.
Range
Rover 4.4 Liter SDV8 front
Let’s talk performance, shall we?
Under the clamshell is a refined and
re-tuned 4,367cc oil-burner which was also used in the older version, but is
more productive. On tap there’s 339 PS of maximum power at 3,500 revolutions
per minute and a gigantic 700 Nm of peak torque available right from
1,750-3,000 revs. The silky engine works an eight-speed ZF gearbox, which is so
swift that you won’t notice when the gears change. Be gentle on the throttle
and the tranny focuses on being efficient, stretching a liter of diesel to 8 km
in the city and 12 km on the highway, impressive for its size and abilities.
Range
Rover 4.4 Liter SDV8 interior
Despite the bulk it has strong performance
to offer. Step on the gas and the Range Rover blasts off on the straight. This
is where the power-to-weight ratio plays a vital role, rapidly narrowing the
overtaking distance. I wish the exhaust note were a bit more audible, as only a
soft growl of the V8 filters through the ultra-quiet cabin. In just 7.29
seconds it can propel from 0 to 100 km/h. Even the quarter mile is achieved in
luxury saloon-matching 15.09 seconds, flying at 139.15 km/h. A large SUV with
so much force needs equally strong stopping power, which is provided by large
380-mm ventilated discs up front and 365-mm ventilated discs at the rear. Our
test runs brought the Range Rover from 100 km/h to standstill in just 3.28
seconds, over 44.31 meters, while the electronics made sure that the towering
SUV remained steady.
The
buttons on the side of the front seats help rear passengers to adjust the knee
room
How steady?
The engine response is matched by it
delightfully crisp handling. At 2.7 tones this isn’t really a light vehicle,
but the benefits of having an aluminum monocoque chassis which is substantially
lighter and stiffer is evident in this department. The Range Rover handles with
immediacy, contradicting its proportions. The steering and wheel communication
is clear and precise, which is extremely important at high speed and while
off-roading.
The ride is incredibly super-saloon like,
supple and docile on-road and on top of that it can also diffuse the harshest
of impacts while off-roading. The front air springs absorb road irregularities,
while the stiffer frame soaks up severe shocks without creaks or twists. The
Dynamic Response and adaptive damping do a good job of reducing body-roll, but
can’t really erase it altogether due to its immense size and imposing height,
especially during sudden direction changes.
On
tap there's 339 PS of maximum power and a gigantic 700 Nm of peak torque
available right from 1,750-3,000 revs
Anything Else That We Should Know? I must
mention Range Rover’s stunning off-roading skills. The lightweight adaptive
suspension gives excellent wheel articulation, while the five-mode Terrain
Response system now has an automatic mode, which monitors road conditions and
sets the car up appropriately if the driver isn’t sure which mode to select
manually. We made it crawl over some unimaginable terrain and not once did it
back down, though we did run out of nerves keeping the price-tag in mind. The
high driving position helps, so does its excellent approach and departure angle
and ground clearance, which can be increased further by 50 mm to avoid
embarrassing situations, such as bellying out. With 3,500 kg towing capacity
and a wading depth of up to 900 mm, it can take you anywhere you desire and get
you out of almost any situation. No, it can’t lie to your wife.
Range
Rover 4.4 Liter SDV8 back
Okay, is it worth the money then?
Well, there’s no denying that the new Range
Rover mixes the best of both the worlds - enthusiast-pleasing mud-plugging
ability and luxury saloon-like plush ride and interior. To be honest, the
entire experience feels weird. I mean, being surrounded by lightweight panels,
deluxe interior, lounge-like ambience lighting and the works, while crossing a
turbulent river – absolutely surreal experience. At the price, I feel the Range
Rover is not meant for everyone and is for the exclusive club of tycoons,
royalties and superstars. But definitely a significant car for us. As we can
proudly proclaim that the world’s most luxurious SUV is a product of an
Indian-owned company!
