Land Rover Australia is introducing a number of updates to the Range Rover and Range Rover Sport for the 2015 model year, which will give customers not only easier gear acceleration and towing capability, but the chance to personalise their vehicles with new exterior colours, alloy wheels, panoramic roof and interior colourways.
Importantly, the new range will include an uprated SDV8 engine with additional 40Nm, and enhanced eight-speed transmissions on the diesel SDV8 and petrol SCV6 derivatives.
James Scrimshaw, in charge of public affairs and online at Land Rover Australia told AutoTalk: “We believe the availability of fresh new paint finishes, increased performance from the 4.4 SDV8 as well as new options such as the fixed panoramic roof and alternate 19″ alloy wheels will be welcomed by both our dealers and their customers.”
The SDV8 engine’s 40Nm increase will feature a fuller torque curve from 1700 to 3300rpm thanks to calibration changes. This improves in-gear acceleration by up to 6.5% from fifth to eighth gear, ensuring effortless overtaking ability and enhanced towing capability, according to Land Rover.
The SDV8’s fuel economy and CO2 emissions remain unchanged at 8.7L/100km combined cycle and 229g/km CO2.
Derivatives using the 3L supercharged V6 engine continue to offer 250kW and 450Nm, but a new ZF 8HP45 8-speed automatic transmission saves 6kg, improves gearbox efficiency, and ensures full compliance with new emissions requirements, says the company.
When queried on what appeals mostly to buyers when it comes to the Range Rover Sport model, Scrimshaw says: “Both the 190kW TDV6 and 215kW SDV6 diesel engines are by far the most popular in our range.
“We are however seeing a move towards the 250kW/740Nm 4.4 SDV8 diesel engine since it was introduced in the last couple of months.
“New paint finishes do attract new customers, however we do offer an extensive range of personalisation of options such as contrast roof colours, an extensive range of alloy wheels arranging from 19-inch all the way to 22-inch.”
Pricing on the Range Rover models, is expected later this month.
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