Even though most SUV buyers go for smaller V6 engines, BMW and Land Rover have been fighting over a small portion of land we like to call "performance V8 SUV" ever since 2009. That's the year both the X5 M and the 5.0L Supercharged version of the Range Rover Sport came out. Now, in 2014, both companies are at it again with new generation of those now iconic cars.
Not being content with 510 PS to BMW 555 PS (likely to be 560 with the next X5 M), Land Rover is developing an even faster Sport. It's been dubbed the RS, though we honestly can't say for sure what it's called. One thing's for sure, the retuned V8 makes one glorious noise. It's almost as if the sound of the engine has been dubbed over the video.
Power is expected to be delivered by the same 542 hp (550 PS) mill in the XKR-S or the XJR. Along with a 40 PS boost, the SUV will also get stiffer suspension, which you can definitely see as the prototype goes round the carrousel. Bigger brakes, larger sport alloys and an aero body kit complete the butch look of this wannabe sportscar.
Last year, Land Rover unexpectedly revealed the hot version of the smaller Evoque was called the "Evoque Autobiography Dynamic". Before its reveal, similar rumors hinted it was going to wear the RS badge, which it didn't, so don't be disappointed the name doesn't stick. We're hoping the Sport will also adopt the bright orange and contrasting black body accents of that car, offering a hot hatch twist to the otherwise too serious and grown up color pallet.
Mihnea's favorite cars have already been built, the so-called modern classics from the '80s and '90s. He also loves local car culture from all over the world, so don't be surprised to see him getting excited about weird Japanese imports, low-rider VWs out of Germany, replicas from Russia or LS swaps down in Florida. Full profile
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