Sleeker Range Rover Sport Debuts at New York Auto Show

Tata Motors Ltd.'s Land Rover brand introduced its redesigned Range Rover Sport luxury SUV earlier today at the New York auto show.

The new four-door features crisp styling inspired by the company's hot-selling Evoque crossover, more power, a longer wheelbase, shorter front and rear overhangs, revised suspension and an all-aluminum monocoque body cuts vehicle weight by more than 900 lbs.

Compared to the revamped Range Rover upon which it is based, the Sport is about six inches shorter, two inches lower and 100 lbs lighter.

Land Rover says the model's Cd of 0.34 is 8% more aerodynamic than the outgoing version and delivers "dramatically" better on-road agility and ride quality. All-new electric power steering and automatic stop-start are standard. The company says the latter feature boosts fuel economy as much as 7%.

In Europe, the new Sport will be offered with a choice among two supercharged gasoline engines a 5.0-liter V-8 that makes 510 hp and a 3.0-liter V-6 rated at 340 hp and two V-6 diesels that produce 254 hp and 288 hp. All four engines are coupled to an eight-speed ZF automatic transmission.

Only the gasoline engines will be available in the U.S. The V-8 can propel the 5,100-lb. Sport from zero to 60 mph in 5 seconds, according to the company.

Land Rover intends to offer its high-performance 4.4-liter, 334-hp V-8 diesel in the sport later this year. It also plans a diesel hybrid by year-end that emits only 169 g/km of carbon dioxide and will be able to push the SUV from zero to 60 mph in less than 7 seconds.

The company notes that the lower weight of the new Sport also makes a 4-cylinder gasoline engine option possible, at least in markets outside North America, at an unspecified later date.