Design exposure: Range Rover and Range Rover Sport

Land Rover is currently in the process of overhauling its upper-end SUV lineup, with newer versions of both Range Rover And Range Rover Sport Has been released, as well as an extended-length, eight-seater version of the new Defender, known as the Defender 130.

While the Range Rover has a long history that dates back to the 1970s, and can be reasonably credited for inventing the luxury SUV segment, the Range Rover Sport is a much newer model line.

With the first iteration in Australia in late 2005, the sport sits under full-size Range Rover as a direct competitor to the BMW X5, Mercedes-Benz GLE and Porsche Cayenne. Similarly, the latest iteration of the Range Rover Sport is the third generation of this nameplate.

Although price is a key divider between the two products, Land Rover has successfully established the Range Rover Sport as a cheaper, smaller learner than its flagship model which is true to its name, providing a higher level of performance and more dynamic character. .

In addition to the underlying engineer’s effort to overwhelm the sport with a more performance-oriented focus, one of the reasons why it can stand on its own two feet is a different design.

Both the latest generation of Range Rover and Range Rover Sport embrace the philosophy of modernist design, with smooth surfacing, reducing or hiding the number of shut lines to a minimum and focusing on the absence of otherwise vain character lines and gingerbread. All of this enables both vehicles to focus on the pull ratio.

In fact, Land Rover exterior designer Massimo Frasella claims that the flagship car ‘delivers a great design statement that takes modernity and sophistication to the next level. Everything is so pure and free from any extra ornaments’. This probably applies equally to his younger siblings.

Side profile: three lines, three angles

The most significant difference between the two models can probably be seen in the different treatments of the side profile. The silhouette of each Range Rover model can only be defined by three lines, such as a falling roof line, a clear, horizontally oriented waistline (sitting just below the glasshouse), and an ascending third line just below the lower door seal.

The subtle differences between the angles of these lines and their relationship to each other are important for how the Land Rover lineup distinguishes Range Rover models.

In a full-size Range Rover, the roof line and the waist line have much more shallow angles because the eyes travel from front to back of the vehicle, so much so that they move almost parallel to each other. It creates a steep, beautiful impression that is confirmed by the fine door seal line, which has a gentle upper curve as it extends beyond the rear wheels.

The vertical graphic reinforces this. Now combined with the rest of the body, it pulls the eye upwards and highlights the otherwise awkward, smooth surface of the door. The corners of these lines, with flash door handles and contrast side graphic, create the impression that the car is made of a single, solid metal.

The Range Rover Sport presents a slightly different spin on the same fundamentals. The waist line is tilted upwards when the roof line has a more severe taper, to the extent that, if extended, these lines will meet at a point in the back of the car. This has the effect of dramatically compressing the glasshouse at the rear of the vehicle, which together with the extended rear spoiler creates the impression of an almost sailing boat that the vehicle is about to leap forward.

The lower door seal presents itself in a much more fragmented fashion than its more expensive counterpart, a much sharper seal line with a steep upper kick at the back.

In contrast to the vertical graphic of its more luxurious replicas, the Sport features traditional sports cars and GT coupes with a subtle compliance with a horizontally oriented contrast piece that mimics a side stroke. Together, these features indicate the strength and performance potential in the sport.

Front edge: purity and aggression

Similarly, the front profiles of both vehicles carry through the obvious philosophical differences in the side profiles described above. The flagship Range Rover has a seamless, modernist design approach where only what is needed is present.

Like a luxury car, the upper grille and grille mesh are finished as standard in a satin chrome (black out versions are optional available), and even the bottom air intake is largely closed, separated by a pair of satin chrome bars that encapsulate. Fog lamp

In comparison, the Range Rover Sport presents a significantly more aggressive front-end without deviating from the same basic modernist design principles. Unlike the flagship, but common to many sporting models, the lower grille predominates on the front edge of the sport.

This area is made up of individual side air intakes as well as large openings above and below the bumper to provide a more visual signal to the power hidden in the engine bay. Compared to the flagship, the upper front grille is compact but wider, with headlights featuring streamlined L-shaped graphics to highlight the car’s width.

Similarly to take a more aggressive look at the front grille below, the Sport’s bonnet is more sculptural, with a distinct energy dome and contrasting black ornamentation that deviates somewhat from the flagship’s more refined design method.

Rear edge: Modernity in two flavors

Arguably the biggest difference in design approach between the two models is visible on the tail of the car. Range Rover bids farewell not only to its sibling models, but also to its predecessors for its slim but distinct hidden-up-light taillamp feature.

Their vertical orientation not only neatly frames the split tailgate with a minimal shut line, creating a neat design, but also draws the eye toward the narrow boat-tail glasshouse. The absence of hidden tailpipe and other letter lines completes the modernist look.

The Sport, by contrast, adopts a more conventional design that integrates visible LED tail lights into a black strip that extends the width of the tailgate. These edges wrap around the side profile, aligning the front of the vehicle with the pseudo-side streaks, and optically widen the position of the vehicle.

To further indicate the performance of the sport, the tail is completed with a visible exhaust pipe and a set of rear diffusers.

Internal

Although the flagship Range Rover is available in an exclusive SV variant, the interior features a dashboard design with a variety of amenities, including two seats in a luxurious second row and a motorized, fold-out picnic table. In both cases there is a complete digestive tract, with a modest approach to the interior.

This is demonstrated by the Slimline Air Vent, which seamlessly integrates into a strip running across the top of the horizontally oriented dashboard, as well as a large 13.1-inch curved glass central infotainment display that integrates most of the controls in the latest Jaguar Land Rover. Pro operating system.

Unlike the Range Rover Sport, which is exclusively a five-seater, the flagship model is further distinguished by the choice of offering four, five or seven seats in the long wheelbase version.

More: Everything Range Rover
More: Everything Range Rover Sport