Land Rover showed its first ever concept car at the
2004 Detroit Motor Show in the spectacular form of the Range Stormer. Just before the
2005 Detroit Show Land Rover disappointed us all with the first pictures of the production version of the Range Rover Sport. In isolation, or up against its bigger Range Rover brother, the Sport is a neat and interesting SUV, but not a patch on the concept car that stole the show in 2004.
More Range Rover Sport body kits have appeared on the aftermarket recently and finally Land Rover has decided to take a stab at injecting a little of the concept car pizzazz in the form of a new production model. The HST is based on the top of the range Supercharged specification and shares that car's Jaguar-designed supercharged V8.
Due to be used in the 2006 Goodwood Festival of Speed, the Range Rover Sport HST was displayed at the press preview day and it certainly is distinctive. Changes include new bumpers front and rear, with the front item featuring fog lights. There are also large chrome-tipped exhausts to match the (nasty) aluminium side vents. The body appears to be extended down, but that is due to the application of body colour to the lower region, which is usually painted black. A rear spoiler and 20-inch 'Stormer' wheels complete the look.
The HST is available now for £63,000 on-the-road in a choice of five colours: Bonatti Grey, Cairns Blue, Java Black, Rimini Red and Zermatt Silver. Additional equipment includes an electric sunroof, an electronic active rear differential, unique hand-polished oak trim and obligatory privacy glass, though that seems a little at odds with the 'look at me' nature of this car.
For the few Range Rover Sport buyers that actually take their cars off-road, Land Rover claims that the HST retains the standard Sport's approach and departure angles. Owners 'just' need to remove the front chin spoiler...
Shane O' Donoghue - 29 Mar 2006