Range Rover Supercharged LWB Does It All! By Ron Amadon DAMASCUS, MD. – Do you want to take on wild off road trails while getting a massage, and listening to your favorite music, while your favorite NBA star is comfortably reclined and stretched out to the rear watching a video of his greatest plays? Or are you concerned that the heavy snow forecast for Monday means you might not make it in to the office on a “You absolutely have to be there” day? Have no fear the Range Rover Supercharged LWB is here to save the day. Luxury? Check! As you can seek from the accompanying picture there is limo like leg room to the rear thanks to the eight inches of extra length in the Long Wheelbase edition. Not to mention four zone climate control, a giant moonroof with power blind, configurable mood lighting, an 825 watt Meridian audio system, (excellent), glove soft Oxford Perforated leather on all seats, a massage function on the heated and cooled front seats that are infinitely adjustable, a Beverage Cooler Box, rear seat entertainment package, and Shadow Walnut Veneer throughout. I have probably left out some things but you get the picture. Well there is the $1,800 Soft Door Close option. Long Trip Comfortable? Check! It will make you completely forget about First Class on a jet, unless it’s your corporate Gulfstream IV. (Do a web search and check out that interior). Power? Lots! As if having a big V8 were not enough RR supercharged it to produce: 510 hp @ 6,000 rpm 461 lb-ft of torque @ 2,500 rpm Accessing it is just a wrist motion away thanks to the convenient paddle shifts mounted on the heated wood and leather trimmed steering wheel. RR estimates a 0-60 run in about 5.5 seconds with a top speed that will have you calling your lawyer to go your bail in any state in the union. The 8-speed automatic is just a gem, and the handling of this 5,320 pound vehicle is much better than you may expect. Okay you will not keep up with your neighbor’s new 918 Porsche, but there is no “big truck” wallow here either. On the highway, the interior is nearly whisper quiet and the air suspension smothers virtually all road imperfections. Aluminum? Check! It’s so in these days! The Range Rover features an Aluminum Monocoque Integrated Body/Chassis, along with aluminum Doors Fenders and Hood. Ya But Can I … ? Check! One should not forget that unless the storm is particularly intense, this is one vehicle that will get you to Grandmother’s house for the holidays even if she lives in suburban Buffalo. This may be hard to understand for those who have not experienced what a Range Rover can do off road. But I have been on board one that climbed rock surfaces with nary a slip of a tire and scampered up steep loose dirt covered hills that would even have a mountain lion digging in its claws. Full time terrain sensing four wheel drive with center locking differential, and optional locking rear differential are among the magic ingredients. All the driver has to do is select whatever surface is to be encountered and the Range Rover does the rest. Your choices are wide: General, Snow, Mud, Sand, and the always popular Rock Crawl. In company lingo there was an Enhanced Electronic Air Suspension with automatic load leveling and standard off-road and extended height selections. Take my word for it. You will get there and if you do somehow get stuck, then so is everyone else. Downside? Sort of? There will be a learning curve for first time customers to take full advantage of all the features on this SUV and hopefully, dealers will have someone on board who can walk them though most of them. The tester had some overly sensitive parking sensors that were best ignored. Expensive? Of course! Total options on the test vehicle came to $18,930 plus another $895 for delivery that bought the bottom line to $125,125. Bottom Line? If you are rich you need one! Because there is nothing else like it anywhere in the world. There is nothing that will cruise down the interstate surrounding you with luxuries you would expect in the finest resort in the world and then if you get the urge to take on the Rubicon trail, this huge vehicle says, “Pip, pip old boy, no problem.” All in all, it is proof that the brits can give us something wonderful other than pubs, Kippers, Prince William, JK Rowling, Richard Branson, Mick Jagger, and a willingness to drive on the wrong side of the road.
Posted on: Sat, 06 Dec 2014 15:31:39 +0000
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