Land Rover Orlando

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Driving Impressions

All 2010 Range Rover models are powered by the same 5.0-liter V8 engine, the same engine that powers the new range of Jaguar sedans, with the latest technology including double overhead cams, 32 valves, variable valve timing, and direct fuel injection. The HSE version uses a normally aspirated 375 horsepower version with 375 foot-pounds of torque, 23 percent more power and 16 percent more torque, with about seven percent better fuel economy in European cycle testing and a seven percent improvement in CO2 emissions.

The Range Rover Supercharged is powered by an Eaton-supercharged version of the same engine that offers 510 horsepower and 461 foot-pounds of torque, 28 percent more power and 12 percent more torque than the previous 4.2-liter supercharged engine, with 12 percent better fuel economy and cleaner emissions.

All models will use a ZF six-speed automatic transmission, with Supercharged versions getting a Sport shifting mode. Land Rover says the HSE will accelerate from 0-60 mph in 7.2 seconds, and the supercharged version will do the same run in a mere 5.9 seconds, mainly due to its low, flat torque curve. Considering the vehicle's weight of nearly 5900 pounds, that's impressive, and we found it feels effortless and unstrained all the while. This truck is quite quick, and the engine sounds wonderful at full throttle, nearly soundless at cruising speeds.

We found the steering and suspension systems nearly faultless, with less and less power assist as speeds climb, and lots of assist for quick left-right moves at low speeds and off-road. This is a tall, heavy vehicle, but it handles extreme maneuvers more like a sedan than an SUV.

Our test Range Rover was the Supercharged version, and just going down the highway, it was delightful. The huge tires are very quiet, and they combine with the electronically controlled air suspension and premium Bilstein Damptronic adaptive damping shock absorbers to deliver an extremely plush luxury-car ride, sampling the roadway 500 times per second and changing shock rates accordingly, each corner acting independently of the other three.

To better handle the newfound power in the engines, the brakes have been upsized and upgraded. In consideration of its 140-mph top speed, the brakes on the Supercharged model use Brembo six-piston calipers. These brakes are extremely powerful, and very progressive and sensitive to conditions, especially when the truck is off-road or driving through water.

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