The All-New Range Rover Sport has been engineered with the latest developments in customer-focused vehicle and safety technologies to enhance comfort and confidence behind the wheel, from premium interior features to advanced chassis and driver assistance technologies.

Innovations introduced on the latest Sport include driver assistance features such as Traffic Sign Recognition and Flank Guard, enhanced Park Assist functions with Perpendicular Park, advanced customer support features like Emergency Call, and other valuable features like Wade Sensing™ and a Head-Up Display using laser technology.

Smart driver assistance technologies

The new Sport is packed with smart, relevant technologies to ensure that drivers enjoy a relaxed and stress-free experience behind the wheel.

The new model introduces an innovative digital camera system which supports three driver assistance features that help deliver improved driver awareness.  Mounted next to the rear view mirror, the forward facing camera captures a view of the road ahead which is analysed by a sophisticated on-board computer.

Lane Departure Warning is designed to warn the driver via a vibration in the steering wheel if an unintentional drift out of the lane begins.  If the vehicle drifts from the centre of the lane, and the system does not detect an obvious lane-change manoeuvre or use of the indicators, the vibration alert is triggered.  This is reinforced by a graphic in the instrument cluster.

The system is deactivated below 60km/h so it does not interfere in urban conditions.  The driver can adjust the system’s sensitivity (two levels) and the alert intensity (three levels), or can turn the system off completely.

Traffic Sign Recognition uses the camera to identify traffic signs on either side of the road and on bridges, providing the driver with information about the latest detected speed limit, cancellation signs and overtaking regulations via the instrument cluster display.

To indicate how recent the information is, the displayed sign fades away in a series of steps as the distance increases from the location of the sign.  The driver can also use the system to provide a warning of speeding, by configuring the system to flash the speed limit sign in the display when the vehicle exceeds the displayed limit by a set amount (which can be varied by the driver).

Automatic High Beam Assist switches the headlamps automatically between high and dipped beam, helping to maximise visibility and avoid the distraction of switching the lamps manually.  The system identifies the headlamps or tail lights of other vehicles so that dipped beam can be activated when required.  Ambient lighting levels are also monitored so high beam is not used in built-up areas.

Another innovative feature is Flank Guard, which helps alert the driver to potential impacts on the sides of the vehicle during tight manoeuvres such as in multi-storey car parks, where it is easy to collide with pillars, barriers or other vehicles.

The new feature is enabled by the addition of extra distance sensors on the vehicle (now 6 sensors front and rear, instead of 4), which provide wider coverage around the vehicle than conventional park distance sensors.

The driver is warned of potential impacts by audible beeps, while the central instrument cluster display provides a graphical image indicating the proximity of objects using distance bars.  Using information on the vehicle’s steering angle and trajectory, the system only warns when there is a threat of impact, for example ignoring close objects if the vehicle is steering away from them.

Additional driver assistance features available include an enhanced Adaptive Cruise Control (ACC) which operates even when the vehicle is travelling slowly or is stationary.

Adding to the standard ACC functionality, which maintains a pre-set time gap to the vehicle in front, the new Queue Assist feature extends the ACC function to allow the vehicle to come to a stop when it reaches a traffic queue.  When the car in front moves off, the driver can resume ACC operation by briefly touching the accelerator.  The car then accelerates back to the pre-set cruising speed, maintaining the selected time gap to vehicles ahead.

To offer enhanced awareness in today’s congested traffic conditions, Range Rover Sport drivers can also specify advanced new technologies to alert them to nearby vehicles which could create a hazard.

Blind Spot Monitoring uses side-mounted radar sensors to survey potential blind spots either side of the vehicle, and alert the driver when vehicles are detected within this area.  The system is optimised to work at lower speeds commonly encountered in urban conditions or on congested motorways.

It is now combined with Closing Vehicle Sensing, a new feature which extends the function of the system by scanning a zone much further behind the vehicle, to detect vehicles which are closing quickly from behind and which could cause a threat during a lane change manoeuvre.  Drivers are alerted by a rapid flashing of the existing Blind Spot warning light in the corresponding exterior mirror.

A further additional new function, Reverse Traffic Detection, uses radar detectors in the rear of the car to warn about potential collisions during reversing manoeuvres, such as reversing out of a parking space.  The system is active when reverse gear is selected and can detect a vehicle approaching from either side, alerting the driver to a potential collision.

Other driver assistance technologies which help to reduce stress behind the wheel include the Adjustable Speed Limiter Device, which enables the driver to set their own personal maximum speed, the latest Surround Camera System incorporating T-Junction view, Trailer reverse park guidance and Trailer hitch guidance, and Adaptive Xenon headlamps.

Electric Power-Assisted Steering with advanced Park Assist functions

The new Range Rover Sport’s electric power-assisted steering also enables customers to benefit from a range of advanced Park Assist features, including:

• Park Assist – which helps to identify a suitable parallel parking space, and then automatically steers the vehicle into place
• Park Exit – which helps drivers exit tight parallel parking spaces, by automatically steering the vehicle back into the main carriageway
• Perpendicular Park – which extends the function of the system to help the driver to reverse into perpendicular spaces, using sensors to help identify a suitable space where the vehicle can be parked and the doors on each side opened safely

Each of the functions provides the driver with clear instructions via the cluster display, and uses the Park Distance Controls, Flank Guard and Camera systems (where fitted) to help warn the driver of objects in close proximity during the manoeuvre.  Multiple shuttles back and forward may be required to complete the manoeuvres safely and accurately.

Advanced Land Rover customer support features

The new Range Rover Sport offers a number of advanced new Land Rover customer support features, with a range of valuable services to enhance safety, convenience and security.  The features, which utilise a telematics module and mobile SIM chip, plus the vehicle’s GPS locator, include:

• Emergency Call – provides the ability to notify emergency services either automatically, in the event of a crash, or manually via an in-car button, with the current location to ensure an appropriate response. A trained operator will call through to the vehicle while emergency services are dispatched.
• Land Rover Assist Call – in the event of a breakdown, an in-car button is provided to contact a trained Land Rover Assist operator, automatically providing the current location to ensure the optimal response time.
• InTouch App – provides a solution for Apple or Android smartphones enabling customers to locate their vehicle (and get directions back to their car), check fuel level and range, and see any alerts (e.g. Washer Fluid Low).  Customers can also log all their journeys and have them automatically e-mailed to them, to enable company expenses to be completed.  The App also allows customers to locate their preferred or nearest dealer, manage theft alerts or contact Land Rover Assist (if they are no longer with their vehicle).
• Stolen Vehicle Tracking – in the event of a suspected break-in to their vehicle, customers will automatically receive a notification.  If the vehicle has been stolen, customers confirm this with Land Rover’s secure operating centre which will coordinate with local enforcement authorities to track, immobilise and recover the vehicle.
• Wi-Fi Hotspot – provides a high bandwidth Wi-Fi hotspot so passengers can use the internet on smartphones and tablets from a single data contract.  The hotspot uses the antenna on the roof to deliver excellent connectivity.

Powerful braking and enhanced active safety technologies

The new Range Rover Sport has been engineered with a powerful all-disc braking system for confident stopping in all conditions, featuring (on more powerful models) six-piston lightweight Brembo front calipers for enhanced performance and reduced weight.

The generous disc diameters of 380mm front / 365mm rear (or 360mm front / 350mm rear on less powerful models and those fitted with 19-inch wheels) provide huge thermal capacity, capable of achieving outstanding stopping performance, whether solo or towing a trailer.

The Electronic Park Brake (EPB) activates directly on the rear brake calipers, and has been carefully optimised to provide smooth and refined automatic disengagement when the car moves off.

Stopping power of the new Sport is complemented by a comprehensive suite of active safety technologies, designed to enhance braking, stability and traction.

The full suite of active safety features on the new Range Rover Sport includes:

• Dynamic Stability Control (DSC)
• Roll Stability Control (RSC)
• Electronic Traction Control (ETC)
• Trailer Stability Assist (TSA)
• Hill Descent Control (HDC) and Gradient Release Control (GRC)
• Hill Start Assist (HSA)
• Engine Drag torque Control (EDC)
• Anti-lock braking system (ABS)
• Electronic brake force distribution (EBD)
• Emergency brake lights (EBL)
• Emergency brake assist (EBA)
• Corner Brake Control (CBC)

Engineered for maximum occupant protection

The All-New Range Rover Sport has been engineered to meet and exceed the most stringent global safety standards, and was developed in parallel with the new Range Rover which was recently awarded a maximum five-star safety rating by the independent testing organisation Euro NCAP.

The Sport’s optimised body structure protects occupants using an incredibly strong and stable safety cell, which is complemented by a comprehensive system of airbags and restraints.

The crash structure was created using state-of-the-art computer simulation tools, which allowed engineers to conduct a significant number of ‘virtual’ crash tests long before physical prototypes were available.  Vehicle crash performance has been verified during a rigorous programme of 70 full vehicle crash tests and over 20 sled tests.

Designed to minimise peak impact forces and intrusion into the safety cell, while delivering maximum occupant protection, the aluminium body structure includes key features such as the use of high strength AC300 aluminium within the crash structure and a composite reinforced B-post area to maximise side impact protection.

The occupant safety package includes driver and passenger airbags, side curtain and thorax airbags (including an extended curtain airbag which covers passengers occupying the third row seats), and active front seat belts linked to the vehicle’s emergency braking functions.

Pedestrian safety has been given a high priority, with a carefully optimised design for the front-end, bumpers, bonnet and cowl area to minimise potential injuries.  Key measures include a raised bonnet A-surface, bonnet and bumper profiles optimised for energy absorption, along with the careful optimisation of the coupling of surface parts with under-body structures to maximise energy absorption.