Australian details have been released for the updated 2018 Range Rover Sport ahead of its arrival in April. The biggest news is the inclusion of a plug-in hybrid (PHEV) variant, meaning Jaguar Land Rover is already in the process of making good on its promise to feature some form of electric power on all new models from 2020.
The full Australian price list is still to be released, however, the range will kick off at $95,100 plus on-road costs, which is approximately $4000 more than the entry price of the outgoing range.
Styling, equipment and technology improvement headline the changes for the 2018 model year, which brings the Sport into line with the recently released Velar.
On the outside, a new front bumper design is complemented by new lights and a slimmer grille. The exterior also brings updated fender vents that work with the bumper to improve airflow and cooling.
For the rump, there’s a new slotted spoiler profile that the brand claims will significantly reduce the accumulation of dirt on the rear windscreen to improve visibility.
Buyers can select from a variety of new wheel options in 21 and 22-inch designs with a silver, diamond-turned or black finish. A new exterior colour, Byron Blue metallic, is also available.
To take the aggressive Range Rover stance up a notch, a Black Pack is available for HSE Dynamic models that bring gloss black exterior accents, including the grille mesh and surrounds.
There’s also a Carbon Fibre Exterior Pack available across the model range. This adds gloss black and carbon fibre to the main grille, fender vent and bonnet vent surrounds, as well as the door mirror covers and tailgate finisher.
Let’s hope the dealership has a latte machine, caffeine will be needed to work through the plethora of lighting choices that await buyers.
Sharp looking LED headlights are available with the option of Premium, Matrix, Pixel and Pixel-Laser. The Premium headlight package, a standard inclusion, has 24 LEDs per vehicle, with Signature Running Lights and optional Auto High Beam Assist. Standard kit also includes signature daytime running lights, automatic headlights and power wash.
Matrix LEDs raise the light count to 52 and offer increased functionality by splitting the beam into vertical strips that can be controlled individually.
Next up is Pixel LED lighting that allows control of 142 individual LEDs. This system projects more light splitting the main beam pattern vertically and horizontally. This option also incorporates Bending Lights which direct beam pattern according to the direction of steering.
Lastly, the new Pixel-Laser High Beam can project light more than 500 metres ahead courtesy of 144 LEDs and four laser diodes.
Moving to the interior, the Sport gets the sexy new dual-screen setup from the smaller Velar. Two high-definition 10-inch touchscreens take pride of place on the centre stack delivering a minimalist cabin.
In a great move, up to 14 connection points (USB, HDMI and 12V) are integrated throughout the cabin. In addition, there is provision for up to eight 4G Wi-Fi connections.
Buyers can keep the peace in the second row with optional twin 10-inch rear seat entertainment displays.
To get the latest safety kit, option packages need to be selected. All variants get Lane Departure Warning and Autonomous Emergency Braking as standard.
Engines are relatively unchanged, however, a new Si4 petrol model is available, while the supercharged V8 gains some extra kilowatts.
Oil burners lead the way, opening the diesel range is the SD4, a 2.0-litre turbo engine producing 177kW/500Nm. There are also two 3.0-litre six-cylinder diesel power plants, the TDV6 and SDV6 that develop 190kW/600Nm and 225kW/700Nm, respectively.
At the pointy end of the diesel range is the 4.4-litre SDV8 which can output 250kW and 740Nm.
The new Si4 2.0-litre Ingenium petrol engine produces 221kW of power and 400Nm of torque.
For those who love to consume petrol in their spare time, a 5.0-litre supercharged V8 that develops 386kW (an 11kW increase) and 625Nm is available.
The attention seeker of the range will be Range Rover Sport P400e, Jaguar Land Rover's first plug-in hybrid electric vehicle (PHEV). Power comes from the Si4 221kW 2.0-litre four-cylinder Ingenium petrol engine with an 85kW electric motor. The system delivers a combined output of 297kW and 640Nm.
The hybrid can accelerate from 0-100km/h in a very respectable 6.7 seconds with a maximum speed of 220km/h. The 13.1kWh battery pack can allow an all-electric range of up to 51km. Remarkably, the claimed combined fuel consumption is rated at 2.8L/100km.
When it comes to charging, Jaguar Land Rover claims a full charge can be achieved in as little as 2 hours 45 minutes at home using a dedicated 32 amp wall box.
The battery can be fully charged in 7 hours 30 minutes using the 10 amp home charging cable supplied as standard.
Owners can monitor the charging status of the car with the InControl app on their smartphone. The app can also send alerts if there is a charging error or some flog has forcibly removed the charging cable.
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