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Range Rover and Range Rover Sport get MY15 tweaks

Land Rover has announced details on simultaneous updates to its 2015 Range Rover and Range Rover Sport models ahead of the arrival of Australian models no later than January 2015. 


Leading the suite of changes is the tweaked Range Rover's 4.4-litre SDV8 diesel engine, which produces 250kW of power as before but now offers 740Nm of torque, up 40Nm. The torque curve has also been widened to offer peak torque between 1700-3300rpm via “detailed calibration changes” (previously 700Nm from 1750-3000rpm).

Fuel economy is unchanged at a claimed combined-cycle 8.7 litres per 100km, while emissions remain at 229g/km.

In all, Land Rover says in-gear response between the fifth and eighth ratios is 6.5 per cent sharper than before, helping overtaking — as if somehow that was lacking before. The ZF eight-speed automatic transmission also gets a new torque converter with a twin-spring damper. The Evoque's nine-speeder does not fit the bigger Range Rover's engine layout. 

Range Rover's 3.0-litre supercharged V6 options retain 250kW and 450Nm, but the revised eight-speeder (a new subtly different version of that used in the SDV8) is now 6 kilograms lighter. 

Other upgrades include an update to the puddle lamps that now project each vehicles silhouette onto the ground at night. Currently they project the Range Rover logo. New to the options list are a fixed panoramic glass roof, and smaller 19-inch alloy wheels for craggy roads.

Other new options include two new colours and the availability of massive 22-inch wheels on long-wheelbase versions. Range Rover Sport buyers can also get roof and door sills in either body colour or contrasting black.

A new Intelligent Cargo Mode senses of the second row of seats are about to make contact with the front seats when folded down, and automatically moves the front seats forward,. Then when the second row are flat, it returns the front pews to their original position.

Australian buyers can also get their hands on the new Range Rover Autobiography Black LWB, which includes unique black and chrome body trim, LED tail lights, 21- or 22-inch wheel designs, new seat designs and configurable mood lighting inside. 

Land Rover Australia public affairs manager James Scrimshaw told CarAdvice this week that local versions would roll down the production lines in the UK around October and first retails will arrive by either December this year or possibly January 2015. 

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