Range Rover 4.4 V8 : THIRST AMONG EQUALS

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Andy Enright Considers The 4.4 V8 Version of the latest Range Rover

Its difficult to imagine a UK equivalent of Americas Robb Report. Ostensibly a lifestyle manual for the super rich, it has trumpeted the Range Rover as the Millionaires Choice Sport Utility. For once, a nation that so often misunderstands British tastes has hit the nail on the head. Look at the target demographic for the latest Range Rover 4.

4-litre V8 and youre dealing with the rarefied levels of seriously high earners. These customers expect the best and Land Rover appear to have hit the bullseye.

For these people the V8 models average fuel economy figure of 17mpg is of less importance than the 100-litre fuel tank which means that the behemoth Range Rover can travel a distinctly convenient 490 motorway miles between top ups. Use the car as an urban scoot and the 12.7 mpg showing will mean the car can still crawl 278 miles before youd need to visit a petrol station. Likewise the fact that the engine emits more carbon dioxide than the annual Trade Union Congress shindig at Brighton will be of peripheral concern.

As will prices which start at £55,100. Of far greater import will be the silky manners of the latest 305bhp 4.4-litre Jaguar-sourced V8 engine. Compared to the old 4.

4-litre BMW engine, the current V8s power has been increased by over 20bhp and the sprint to sixty slashed by around a second. This lightweight powerplant uses an advanced torque-based engine management system that, together with drive-by-wire throttle control and variable camshaft phasing, continually adjusts the engine to deliver optimum performance, fuel economy and emissions. For buyers who dont mind burning even more unleaded, theres always the supercharged version.

"The latest Range Rover has moved the art of super luxury 4x4s on quite significantly."

For the Range Rover, the Jaguar-sourced engines have been further developed to offer more torque at lower revs and to operate at more extreme angles to cope with tough off-roading. They have enhanced protection from dust and rocks, and are also better water-proofed for Land Rover's tough river-wading requirements. The engineers decided to match this 4.4-litre V8 to the latest-generation ZF six-speed automatic electronically controlled transmission, which claims (and delivers) outstanding smoothness and response. The current model also includes Land Rovers superb Terrain Response system that makes this car even easier to use in the unlikely event that you venture off road.

This latest Range Rover is not only fast: its also quiet. The 4.4-litre engine offers better NVH (Noise, Vibration and Harshness) qualities than its predecessor and is also better isolated from the interior. Cabin noise is significantly reduced.

The front side glass is now laminated to cut out more external sound and the profile of the A-post has been modified to reduce wind noise. The result is probably the quietest Range Rover ever. A wide range of electronic functions is available, including a rear camera for easier reverse parking, a tyre pressure monitoring system and adaptive front headlamps that swivel when cornering to improve illumination. A rear seat entertainment system is also on offer, with two headrest-mounted 6.

5-inch screens, a six-disc DVD auto-changer, infra-red remote control, wireless headphones and sockets for auxiliary media sources (such as an MP3 player or games console). The latest models also benefit from an electronic park brake, more effective four-zone air conditioning plus the option of cooled front seats. Theres also a climate control windscreen and side glass, available in conjunction with automatic rain and light sensing. Other luxury appointments include a DVD satellite navigation that provides both on and off-road guidance, a Logic 7 harman/kardon audio system boasting 14 speakers and 710 watts of power, and a personal integrated telephone system.

This latest in-car phone is Bluetooth-enabled and can be voice, touch-screen or steering wheel operated. Cradle-mounted phone handsets also allow for SMS text messaging (via an on-screen keyboard). A touch-screen is standard on all models. It has clear resolution for easy visibility in all light and provides an interface for audio, navigation, on-board computer, telephone, and 4x4 information and settings.

Its impressive stuff. Otherwise, its as you were. Despite the cars leviathan bulk, the airiness and all-round visibility of the cabin engenders enormous confidence. Get the Range Rover out onto the open road and youll marvel at the body control, so to discover that the car can still cut it off road comes almost as a bonus.

With Terrain Response, Hill Descent Control, Dynamic Stability Control, ABS with Electronic Brakeforce Distribution and Brake Assist, youll go some to relinquish control. The Electronic Air Suspension utilises terrain sensing software to establish whether the car is off road or not, softening the ride and allowing maximum articulation if it believes youve left the metalled road. Wheel articulation, for those that scoff at the off-road abilities of a vehicle with a unitary chassis, is superb. The steel unitary body is outstandingly resistant to the sort of torsional stresses that taking the Range Rover off road generates, and results in a smooth ride on road, the Electronic Air Suspension able to do its job without having to contend with chassis flex.

Think of a massively rigid road car for example a Lotus Elise, a car that is built around a bonded aluminium tub. The Range Rover body is three times stiffer than an Elise. Make no mistake, the Range Rover is the state of the art of super luxury 4x4s. The best 4x4xfar? Thats about the size of it

FACTS AT A GLANCE

CAR: Range Rover V8
PRICE: £55,100 - £74,820 - on the road
INSURANCE GROUP: 16
CO2 EMISSIONS: 389g/km
PERFORMANCE: Max Speed 130mph / 0-60mph 9.2s
FUEL CONSUMPTION:(urban) 12.7mpg / (extra urban) 22.4mpg / (combined) 17.4mpg
STANDARD SAFETY FEATURES: Twin front and side airbags, ABS
WILL IT FIT IN YOUR GARAGE?: Length/Width/Height 4950/1863/1863mm