Land Rover Range Rover Sport III

The most capable Range Rover Sport has arrived and with prices starting at 84,530 Pounds plus additional cost, it's less expensive than the ultra-luxurious Range Rover. Made to tackle everything Mother Nature throws at it, it looks like the all-new Range Rover Sport is ready to make its first impression.

2023 Land Rover Range Rover Sport

2023 Land Rover Range Rover Sport

Don't think of the Range Rover Sport as the athletic version of the Range Rover because they're both from a totally different league. While the ultra-expensive Range Rover is built to cater to elitists with grace and power, the Range Rover Sport is built to deliver the most dramatic performance everywhere.

Starting with the design, the all-new Range Rover Sport looks like an Evoque on steroids but thankfully, it's not as odd-looking as its superior because it's all in the name of subtlety with a chance of obviousness...until you opt-in for the Dynamic variant which features Satin Burnished Copper details, Matte Graphite lettering, and specially-made bumpers, making it half-subtle, half-obvious.

2023 Land Rover Range Rover Sport interior

The new interior is broadly similar to the normal Range Rover, except for the specially-made steering wheel to differentiate it. As expected, the minimalist interior can spell bad news for speedo boys behind the wheel because of the touch screens some might find it challenging to poke the screen just like what they do with their smartphones. There's also a Cabin Air Purification Pro which keeps the interior away from mold and viruses alike, including the you-know-what, and the Pivi Pro with smartphone connectivity and Amazon Alexa. In terms of space, it's roomier than the previous Range Rover Sport despite the fact that it's offered as a five-seater as standard. Fair enough.

2023 Land Rover Range Rover Sport

Just like its upscale brother, the new Range Rover Sport is surprisingly livelier to drive and more comfortable than before, thanks to its MLA architecture, and it features the most sophisticated air suspension ever made. Called Dynamic Response Pro, it takes advantage of its sat-nav to read the road ahead and optimize it for better response. It even comes with All Wheel Steering and Terrain Response 2, which features a series of configurable programs suitable for almost every road condition.

Under the bonnet, the all-new Range Rover Sport features a powerhouse of six and eight-cylinder engines, both petrol, diesel, and PHEV for the first time. The most powerful of the range, the P530, features a BMW-sourced 4.4L V8 Twin Turbo engine that produces 530HP of power, 750Nm of torque, a 0-60mph time of 4.3 seconds, and an electronically-limited top speed of 150mph. There will be a fully electric variant coming soon.

As expected, the new Range Rover Sport possesses the most advanced driving aids offered in this luxury SUV such as Adaptive Cruise Control with Steering Assist, Power Assisted Doors, Clearisght Interior Rear View Mirror, 3D Surround Camera, and many others.

From the Arabian sands to the streets of London, it looks like the all-new Range Rover Sport showcased its true potential as one of the most dramatic luxury SUVs to drive. Despite its cheaper price tag, it managed to make its brother proud in every way, and looks like we are getting anxious to have one someday.

Photo: Jaguar Land Rover

Land Rover Range Rover V

Welcome to what is known to be the first Range Rover of the post-Brexit era. The fifth generation of the most luxurious and most capable SUV emerged from Britain. While it stays faithful to its predecessors, the all-new Range Rover is built to tackle the challenges of the new normal with various ways and means to get the 1% hooked on this luxury offroader. So, what's it all about the all-new Range Rover? Let's investigate.

Priced at 94,400 Pounds plus additional costs, the fifth-generation Range Rover is the first Range Rover of the post-Brexit era as most observers knew it. At first glance, most observers will think that the Range Rover of the post-Brexit era is going to be awful than its pre-Brexit predecessors but truth be told, looks like the post-Brexit Range Rover is still as pretty as its previous model, the last pre-Brexit Range Rover. Although the rear design is a bit of a letdown to some because it looks more like a Lynk & Co as expected.

In tune with the times, the new interior shows that the Range Rover has entered the era of minimalist interiors, which is bad news for speedo boys behind the wheel because of the touch screens some might find it challenging to poke the screen just like what they do with their smartphones. On the plus side, there is a button that adjusts the volume located below as well as the dials for the aircon positioned below the touch screen. Believe it or not, the new Range Rover's aircon features Cabin Air Purification Pro which keeps the interior away from mold and viruses alike, including the you-know-what.

If the touch screen is the least of your problems, the new Range Rover features Pivi Pro with smartphone connectivity and (gasp) Amazon Alexa. That's right. There is an Alexa in the new Range Rover and those who are sitting in its sweet spot should cover their ears right away because when the driver gets a date with Alexa, it's going to be noisy.

Speaking of space, the Range Rover, being a luxury SUV, is suitable for four, five, and seven passengers, and thanks to its new platform, it's roomier than the previous model. Opt-in for the long-wheelbase variant and the Range Rover is about as classy as its main rival, the Mercedes-Benz GLS. Although too expensive for family use, it's fit for escorting all kinds of wealthy clients, even the Royal Family. This is a high-value luxury offroader made to cater to the 1% like a true professional. Explain all this to Boss Madam.

Running on the new MLA-Flex architecture, the new Range Rover is surprisingly livelier to drive and more comfortable than the previous Range Rover and it features the most sophisticated air suspension ever made. Called Dynamic Response Pro, it takes advantage of its sat-nav to read the road ahead and optimize it for better response. It even comes with All Wheel Steering and Terrain Response 2, which features a series of configurable programs suitable for almost every road condition. Most observers say that the all-new Range Rover puts on-road performance its top priority and as a matter of fact, they're right. It feels nice to drive on the road but when taken off-road, it's still classic Range Rover stuff, thank goodness.

Under the bonnet, the all-new Range Rover features a powerhouse of six and eight-cylinder engines, both petrol, diesel, and PHEV for the first time. The most powerful of the range, the P530, features a brand new 4.4L V8 Twin Turbo engine which replaces the old model's 5.0L Supercharged V8 engine, which is a bit of a shame for most loyalists. This new engine produces 530HP of power, 750Nm of torque, and can tow as much as 3,500kg. A PHEV and fully electric Range Rover will join the lineup later on.

Because it's now powered by the EVA 2.0, the all-new Range Rover possesses the most advanced driving aids offered in this luxury SUV such as Adaptive Cruise Control with Steering Assist, Power Assisted Doors, Clearisght Interior Rear View Mirror, 3D Surround Camera, and many others.

Despite the odd-looking rearview, the all-new Range Rover is taking shape to become the best Range Rover ever made, although it might seem rough to get some attention from the motoring world. After all, this is the first all-new Range Rover to emerge from the post-Brexit era and amid the naysaying, the new model is still the alpha of the luxury car market and looks like the 1% are on the roll now, signing their checks and getting their hands on this all-new Range Rover.

Photo: Jaguar Land Rover

Forza Horizon 4 - Velar

The Range Rover Velar is a rather unusual member of the Range Rover family that some people suggest that it's more road-oriented than being a real Range Rover. Having won this car from the recent Horizon Winter Playlist, I had my dibs on this unusual Range Rover addition.

So, what's it all about this Range Rover Velar? 

Named after a dummy company responsible for the pre-production testing of the first-ever Range Rover, the Velar uses the same underpinnings as the Jaguar F-Pace and it slots above the Evoque. Under the hood,  the Velar offers almost the same choice of petrol and diesel engines as its close relative, the Jaguar F-Pace, with the most powerful in the range for the time being is the one with the Supercharged 3.0L V6 petrol engine producing 380HP of power and 450Nm of torque. To retain the same Range Rover capability as its relatives, the Velar comes with  the available Terrain Response 2 and All Terrain Progress Control, It even comes with Intelligent Driveline Dynamics, which uses artificial intelligence to determine torque distribution, traction, and dynamics while being connected to its Dynamic Stability Control system, Torque Vectoring System and the Active Locking Rear Differential.

It's obvious that a certain someone said that the Velar doesn't behave like a proper Range Rover because first, it's not good on the track. Second, spacing's not big enough for big dogs from Canada. Third, not as agile as a horse. And fourth; you'd better be off with an F-150 Raptor instead. Reminds you of something, huh? 

Anyway, the Velar is quite the dark horse of the Range Rover lineup because while it's not as good as its big brother, the real Range Rover, it's good offroad only when you want to and on the road, it behaves like its F-Pace equivalent. Not bad but perhaps it can do better like most crossovers should in the name of being all-rounders. Yes, it's road-focused but it's almost a Range Rover full stop and you can spend the rest of the week exploring other places with this dark horse.

In the spirit of translating theories into actions, I flew first-class to LEGO Valley where I took the Velar for a little demonstration while up against other SUVs in an all-out torture to see which SUV stands tall. Let's get this party started, shall we?

That was a real torture but I can't believe the Velar survived the act.

The Velar may definitely not the best SUV to keep if you're in a mood for trekking outer worlds but for the fun of it, it's not really a bad crossover full stop.

Wish I want to conclude this impression but because of a certain someone, I had a brainwave because with its main rivals in the roster, I think the Velar wants to take on a real experiment, something that reminds me of a certain TV show I just saw with these three crossover pitting each other with disastrous results.

Check that out very soon because the Velar is ready for a real test. A test that is worth checking out!

Second Generation Range Rover Evoque

From the beginning, the Range Rover Evoque is the baby Range Rover that does almost all the things that its big brother can do and despite being smaller than the Range Rover, the Evoque is surprisingly great on and off the road. In its second generation, the all-new Evoque picks up where the previous one left off by delivering more style, more tech, more performance, and more Evoque for those looking for a fashionable crossover that is not afraid to get its pretty face dirty.

2020 Land Rover Range Rover Evoque

At first glance, the new Evoque is almost the same as the previous model it replaces but everything around it are all new inside and out. Starting at 31,395 Pounds plus on road costs and now available as a five-door only, the new Evoque continues the same recipe that the old Evoque possess, making it an all-round fashion icon that not only works in the posh towns of London, Paris, and Tokyo, but also on the dirties places on earth. It's like Queer Eye meets Extreme Job but there's nothing too extreme about the new Evoque of course.

2020 Land Rover Range Rover Evoque

2020 Land Rover Range Rover Evoque interior

As mentioned, the styling looks more of an updated version of the original Evoque almost a decade ago whereas the rear view is reminiscent of its relative, the Range Rover Velar and despite its familiar looking design, it remains a headturner and I think they are wise to retain such looks for the second generation. On the inside, the new Evoque borrowed some ideas from the Velar and once you look on the dashboard, they're all digital inside and out, especially the steering wheel! With all screens and no buttons, except for the push engine start, the new dashboard can really scare speedo boys away and pave way to a gentleman type of driver who wish to get back to his fancy flat driving one of these. It really works like an office desk on wheels and office desk aside, it now packs more room in the back compared to the previous model thanks to its new architecture lurking underneath the new Evoque.

2020 Land Rover Range Rover Evoque

In addition to added space at the back, this new platform means the new Evoque is livelier to drive and stiffer than the previous model, not to mention the addition of the most sophisticated suspension setup known to Land Rover, meaning the new model really packs some improvement on and offroad after receiving numerous feedback from existing Evoque drivers. In addition, the new Evoque comes with the Terrain Response 2 which can automatically adapt through different road surfaces with confidence and with numerous all-terrain and safety technologies as well as the first-ever ClearSight Ground View, this is becoming the most technologically advanced Evoque ever made and with that, there's no point of arguing that it's got the bravado and the intelligence to tackle just almost everything nature throws at.

Under the bonnet, the new Evoque is offered with a choice of a 2.0L diesel and 2.0L petrol, all come with a 48-volt mild hybrid system for slightly better efficiency compared to the previous model. Since this is made in a country that is about to leave the EU soon, most Europeans would rather shy away from the diesel and go for the petrol version for the time being but if they believe the new Evoque deserved better than the current offerings, there will be entry-level versions as well as the first ever Evoque Plug-in Hybrid heading its way soon so fingers crossed, people.

The new Evoque may look the same as the old one but its becoming the best Evoque ever made thanks to its improved tech capable of handling through all ends of the earth with pride and prestige as what the old model did. This is something everyone will feel jealous for and despite the luxury car pricing, there's no stopping them from getting the most technologically advanced Evoque ever made. All comers welcome.

Photo: Jaguar Land Rover

Forza Motorsport 7: Stars at 70

The year 2018 will be remembered as three car companies celebrating their 70th anniversary this year; Land Rover, Lotus, and Porsche, and today, we shall see which one will be the shining star for the next seven decades and to do that, I found a venue that fits to the timeline of these carmakers; Silverstone.







Ah, Silverstone. Born in 1948 from the remnants of an RAF airfield, this track hosted their first grand prix in 1950 and it was forever known as a battleground for the British Grand Prix for many years and beyond. This venue makes it the perfect battleground for three of the most iconic carmakers celebrating their 70th birthday this year. Representing Land Rover is the Range Rover Sport SVR, then for Lotus, it's the Exige S, and for Porsche, the 911 GT3 RS.







Before pitting these three for a one-lap shootout, I took some sighting laps to get to know these machines. Starting on the SVR, Land Rover managed to transform the Range Rover Sport into something else no SUV has ever done before. Known to be one of the fastest SUVs to lap round the Nurburgring, it sets the bar for SUVs everywhere and despite its weight, the raw power of its supercharged V8 and its sporty dynamics mean that this SUV is not afraid to take on corners and upon driving this machine several times, I'm already familiar with its behavior.

The Exige S has gone through several upgrades but rest assured, this hardcore V6-powered track toy remains something that shouldn't be underlooked. It may have defined the philosophy of what a Lotus should be, value aerodynamics over performance, but despite the added supercharged V6 engine on the middle, the Exige remains what a Lotus should be, to be fast elsewhere on the track. A long time ago, I tested it against a hardcore Mustang somewhere and I was amazed that it managed to outrun a GT350 in a rather close margin. This Exige became one of my favorite Lotuses to drive in the game ever since I laid my hands on one.

The 911 GT3 RS is the result of what happens when you give supercar levels to a sportscar that is so brilliant everywhere. Taking a break from all that yelling and exploding things, driving the 911 GT3 RS is all about getting yourselves back at where you're good at, driving the stuff you love and by being as old-school as an 80's superhero show and as hardcore as an extreme track toy, it's becoming the best 911 ever made for purists elsewhere, despite the gearbox woes. You can really clear your mind with everything that doesn't involve driving and enjoy it until you are satisfied.

So, now that I'm familiar with these machines, these representatives are ready to find out which carmaker feels great after 70 years and since Silverstone was been with us for 70 years now, this will be a shootout to remember so let's grab some beer and nachos because it's time for these stars at 70 to show the world what they can do. Roll the tape.



After all three cars showcasing the best that their makers can do, here are the results:

SVR - 2:40.165
Exige - 2:33.704
991 GT3 RS - 2:21.353

Which means, the best carmaker that feels good after 70 years is none other than...Porsche!







Like the city of Rome, Silverstone wasn't built on a day and the same goes for these cars because they took several man hours trying to perfect these machines before emerging them on the roads and tracks at the hands of their potential owners. Land Rover perfected at the art of going places while Lotus remains sticking to the simple recipe that impresses the owners over their lightness principles and Porsche catered different kinds of customers with their offerings inspired by the sportiness of the 911.

Sharing same ages, their differences are what made these carmakers great. So here's for another seventy good years of perfecting such machines for such purposes. You deserve this year to shine, gentlemen.

FH3 Hot Wheels: Hunter SPECTRE

The Range Rover Sport SVR has been proven to be track-capable and offroad-ready Range Rover ever made for the discerning few and it's been featured in 007: SPECTRE where it met its fate with the snow plane during a snowy pursuit in Austria. If the RR Sport SVR has been proven to do almost everything at its disposal, what would happen if I sent the SVR to the most extreme challenge yet; the Hot Wheels Thrilltopia?



As we know, the Jaguar Land Rover team are very skillful in the art of PR marketing by doing some insane stuff when they launch a new car. They drove a Range Rover through a bridge made out of paper, their new Jag can drive through wires, an F-Pace can do insane loop-the-loops, there are so much insane stuff they ever made in honor of their new cars but for this, the Range Rover Sport SVR, what else to do with it than setting this track-honed sports utility vehicle on the wonderful world of Hot Wheels? Drive it, of course.



At stock, the RR Sport SVR feels pretty good to me, especially when I drove this one round Blizzard Mountain on frigid conditions, but because this is Hot Wheels, is a tough world out there so this hunk of British bulldog needs to get prepared for the worst outcome or else, get left behind in a stomping tantrum of high horsepower. In short, the hunter becomes the hunted. With all that taken care of, the Range Rover Sport prepares for an all-out war with the other SUVs and it's my job to do the impossible for the SVR or my name ain't Hunter SPECTRE. Get it?



Well, not much of a hunter myself but the hunter turned all of its competitors into its prey for tea and for the Range Rover Sport SVR, it managed to do the bold just like all of its relatives in the Jaguar Land Rover lineup done in the past. Needless to say, I want some more of the SVR because this has been one of my favorite SUVs since it got featured in SPECTRE. Like the dinosaur guarding Thrilltopia, this Range Rooney's a primal in every tangible way and it's the ideal SUV to turn the hunters into the hunted so watch out, naughty folks.

Range Rover Velar

Since the beginning, the Range Rover has been served as the flagship of the Land Rover lineup, but now, the Range Rover has been expanded into numerous models under its helm. There's a Range Rover Sport, which remains the only Range Rover model to have seven seats, and there's the smaller Range Rover Evoque that combines style and practicality at such size. Now, the Range Rover family welcomes their newest addition; the stylish and yet functional Range Rover Velar.

2018 Land Rover Range Rover Velar

2018 Land Rover Range Rover Velar

There is one major reason why they called their newest Range Rover addition the Velar because this coupe-crossover's name harks back to the codeword used on the first Range Rover, which is basically a three-door SUV in the beginning. The goal of the Velar is capture the inspiration of the first Range Rover in terms of design while offering five-door practicality you would expect on a posh crossover. That's just statements from Land Rover themselves but under keen observation, the Velar's sizing is bigger than the Evoque but slightly smaller than the bigger Range Rovers, making it more of a middleman to the family than a chieftain of the tribe, even good-looking.

2018 Land Rover Range Rover Velar interior

2018 Land Rover Range Rover Velar interior

Despite being smaller than its big brothers, the Velar's interior is about as cozier as a Jaguar XF in so many ways but what's revolting about the Velar's interior is that the dashboard's jam-packed with touch panels rather than buttons because every luxury carmakers know that the future of dashboards belong to touch panels and the thing about the use of touch panels is when your hands get smothered with too much finger foods, you'd better pack some hand sanitizers before touching those. That's a top tip but even though the dashboard's littered with too much touch panels from top to bottom, it's surprisingly accommodating and spacious as well. You'll find many great ways to enjoy it.

2018 Land Rover Range Rover Velar

Now, let's look what is like to drive the Velar and under the hood, the Velar offers almost the same choice of petrol and diesel engines as its close relative, the Jaguar F-Pace, with the most powerful in the range for the time being is the one with the Supercharged 3.0L V6 petrol engine producing 380HP of power and 450Nm of torque. With the 8-speed automatic gearbox, which is standard on all models, it does 0-60mph in 5.3 seconds and top speed normally limited to 155mph. That sounds quick even by SUV standards and then there's its signature Range Rover capability. Of course, for those who want more pull for their buck, there's the 300HP 3.0L V6 diesel engine delivering 700Nm of torque.

Of course, while there are most SUVs that can do all kinds of jobs better than the Velar, this new crossover sets the class apart with its legendary Range Rover capability inherited from the entire family tree. Like the available Terrain Response 2 and All Terrain Progress Control, these handy-capable features allow the Velar to tackle almost all corners of the world; be it the Sahara desert, the Australian Outback, the African jungles, Patagonia, be any place as long as you are looking for a shortcut that will lead you to your point of interest quicker than luxury saloons. Then, there's the Intelligent Driveline Dynamics, which uses artificial intelligence to determine torque distribution, traction, and dynamics while being connected to its Dynamic Stability Control system, Torque Vectoring System and the Active Locking Rear Differential. And then, there's the electric power-assisted steering which adds a bit more feel every time a driver steers the Velar but sometimes, it can be prone to understeering and this calls for more painkillers when your arm aches from steering this crossover. It maybe an SUV but with that level of dynamics, the Velar really feels like an luxury saloon in so many angles and it's the ideal crossover for people who don't want to be late for their dinner reservations with their dates.

Speaking of dinner reservations, the Velar offers a wide range of advanced driver assistance systems, either standard or optional to ensure its preparedness on today's traffic conditions. From the Autonomous Emergency Braking, Lane Departure Warning, Lane Keep Assist, Driver Condition Monitoring, Traffic Sign Recognition, Reverse Traffic Detection, Adaptive Cruise Control, 360° Parking Aid, and Park Assist.

Should you buy it? Well, prices start from 44,575 to 84,195 GBP, so it isn't cheap for a luxury crossover of this size but for the new Range Rover Velar, it's all about the style, the interior, the choice of engines, and the legendary Range Rover characteristics you'd expect from the family tree. If the RR, the RR Sport, and the RR Evoque turn the world into their sandbox adventure, the Velar can and that really is a welcoming addition to the Range Rover family.

Photo: Jaguar Land Rover

FH3 Blizzard Mountain: Range Rooney Holiday

Although I had finished Blizzard Mountain, I'm always more than welcome to come back to do some R&R in the winter wonderland in case I need to get my hands full on the Horizon business and while spending some free time in the frozen funland, I think it's time to call in an old friend to do some business.



And look what I have. It's the good ol' Range Rover I've been saving on the holiday vacation and while it has some bents and bruises since the very start, it's still very usable and serviceable to do some goodwill on and off the road.

So what am I going to do with this on a place like this? Well, I've called on some of the best Land Rover and Range Rover owners across the Land Down Under and take on Blizzard Mountain like there's no freaking tomorrow. This is the turning point to demonstrate just how off-road capable these Land Rovers and Range Rovers are.



I am very familiar about how this latest Range Rover works as well as its 5.0L Supercharged V8 and its latest version of its Terrain Response so I shouldn't have to worry about driving one and for a place like Blizzard Mountain, this can be a walk in the park for this luxury offroader like the Range Rover. So, here goes...





Ah, nothing like having a little holiday than taking a Range Rover on Blizzard Mountain for some rest and relaxation. Another way to beat the crud out of our everyday stress.

Forza Horizon 3: [Censored] to [Censored]...sorta

Sorry about the title but it's a clear reference from the latest Grand Tour episode titled [Censored] to [Censored] where the boys compare three British SUVs and going on their German-Austria road trip from Wank, Kissing, Petting, the Austrian village with the curse word on it, and all the way to Nuremberg. We saw the Jaguar F-Pace, the Range Rover, and the Bentley Bentayga into action and if I was just wondering if I can do the same comparison right here Down Under on Forza Horizon 3.







I already tried three of British SUVs in the past and I am already familiar with the way they behave for me because while the F-Pace excels in its handling capabilities because this is the lightest of the three, the Bentayga is the all-powerful heavyweight that shows its inner tyranny in the house of cards, and the Range Rover is all about offroad capabilities unlike any other, even though I found out that it's the heaviest of the three British-made SUVs.

Since this is Australia, it's impossible to recreate the comparison on the said Grand Tour episode but I found a piece of Grand Tour somewhere Down Under and that was called "Grand Tour Sprint", so famously called because it has the words "Grand Tour" on it and that remind anyone of the car show the former Top Gear trio were on it. Special, isn't it? And that gave me the ideal time to put these three British SUVs to the test round the Grand Tour Sprint because...it's like conducting science experiments with test subjects, only this time in cars.







To ensure a fair-playing field, I've stripped most of their upgrades to their respective tuning files so they can pick them up later after this experiment. Oh, and I also stripped off the special designs that I made because...I don't know why but this is science and no fancy accessories are allowed during the conduction of such a scientific process.

Now it's time to find out which of these three British SUVs is the best and no, there won't be any underwear, pets, sunglasses, and canned beans involved in the making of this experiment. No way. It's time to settle things once and for all and see which SUV is the best. Remember, no shortcuts because this is cheating just like what happened in the Grand Tour episode.

And so, the boxing bell has rung...



At the end of their Grand Tour sprint, I have the times;

F-Pace: 2:52.139
Range Rover: 2:41.862
Bentayga: 2:37.457

Here's the point; the F-Pace, because of its supercharged 3.0L V6 engine that produces less than the other two heavyweights, is the slowest of the three while the Bentayga, due to its tyrannical power output for a 12-cylinder SUV, is the fastest of the three, and in the end...hmmm...James May is absolutely useless.

So, the Bentayga is the fastest of the three and it's very hard to say what the dopey old idiot was doing behind the wheel because while it looks heavy inside and out, it's surprisingly fast and handles like a grand tourer, well just about. I assured that the Bentayga behaves like the good old Continental GT with the added muscle to upset the Range Rover in the race of luxury SUVs and in a straight-line performance, it would easily beat both the Jag and the Range Rover by a wide margin of reach but what could possibly go wrong with the Bentayga anyway?

Anyway, enough talk right now and time to close the case, proving that the ultra-expensive Bentley Bentayga is the best of the three SUVs and this Grand Tour episode really needs a rewrite.

FH3 Blizzard Mountain: Ghost of SPECTRE's past

The Blizzard Mountain has full of references festival-runners can come up with their near-endless imagination, and with the year 2017 signals the 55th anniversary of the James Bond films, it will take a lot of time before the franchise returns with new and exciting ways to keep the tales of the legendary British spy alive and well. In the meantime, festival-runners who are fans of the Bond films can picture so many Bond references to come up with and nothing is more so that revisiting the snowy ghost of SPECTRE's past, the Range Rover Sport SVR.

In the movie, a group of SPECTRE goons captured Dr. Madeleine Swann and then pursued by Bond in a snow plane at a snowy Austrian landscape. Sadly, there's no snow plane chasing you down and this isn't Austria, which is easily confused for Australia. This is Blizzard Mountain but driving the SVR as seen in the film is as close as you can get from the SPECTRE goons.

It has the same supercharged 5.0L V8 engine as seen from the Jaguar F-Type R and it produces 550HP of power and 502ft-lb of torque. Now a V8 engine like this sounds unfriendly to heretic environmentalists and polar bears alike but when you listen to it, it roars like a beast on the cold winter night and those who experienced it after the snow plane sequence on SPECTRE can have a clear expression of what's like to drive one of the cars reserved for SPECTRE. Now we're like living in a life of international crime with this one unless Bond can gut us out in the open.

Speaking of which, while the Range Rover Sport balances legendary Range Rover offroad capability with track-honed performance that upsets the little hatches, the SVR pushes the envelope on the other side. I presumed that the SVR is a track-focused Land Rover that trades its offroad capability to track-minded characteristics but seeing one in SPECTRE in action, it defies the point I made, knowing that despite its track-honed capabilities that lapped the Nurburgring in a blistering fast lap time for SUVs, it's still a Range Rover and I shall demonstrate it, knowing that I'm on a double dare that I can win this race with no studless tires equipped. I know it's hard to drive through Blizzard Mountain without it but by relying on the Range Rover's Terrain Response, I am trying to see if this Range Rover Sport lives up to its name or die trying.

Heh. It's worth the slippery risk but it feels like finding the lost remote nearby in the first try but I've been warned that if I keep this up, I'm in for some serious trouble until I find the answer to the hardest question. It's like setting the remote-finding challenge to the hardest level, if you know what I mean.



Still, with the Range Rover and the Range Rover Sport, the Brits know how to make a legendary offroader that conquers almost all odds on and off the road with its ever-evolving capabilities that shaped these SUVs into the ones we're familiar with since the first Range Rover was born.

In a place like Blizzard Mountain, a winter wonderland full of so many Bond references you can imagine all in the name of 007's 55th anniversary, reminiscing the snowy scene from SPECTRE in the Range Rover Sport SVR is the best thing to do for Bond fans elsewhere.

Buick Cascada and Land Rover Range Rover Evoque Convertible

We have two guests who are either late to the party or came here for the very first time. One is somewhat Euro-American and the other is quintessentially British on the other side. So, let's meet up with the open-top slowpokes who came to the open-top party too late or too early.

2016 Buick Cascada

First, let's meet with the latecomer known as the Buick Cascada. Well, basically this is imported from Europe's Opel division and Australians can expect this as a Holden sometime. Anyway, when the Euro-sourced Cascada arrived in America, it seems that its welcoming party got cancelled. VW's Eos and Golf Cabriolet are long dead as are Chrysler's old 200 Convertible. Which means, this car is running unopposed you can't even compare this one to a Mazda Roadster because...that's too cheeky.

Anyway, while Buick's open-top newcomer came here on its own free will, let's get some answers while this car catches some fresh air. Like its European equivalent, the Cascada has the same underpinning as the Verano, meaning that its got some clever Euro-tuned dynamics for a sporty handling that gets the driver into grooves. Under the hood?a 1.6L turbocharged petrol engine generating 200HP of power and 206lb-ft of torque while delivering an EPA-estimated Fuel Economy Highway of 27MPG. Of course, it's mated with a six-speed automatic gearbox.

Other features? Well, this open-top Buick comes with a host of tech such as Buick Intellilink, rear park assist, automatic headlamps, forward collision alert, lane departure warning, RainSense wipers, and so much more.

The price? It's 33,990 Dollars for the base 1SV while the top-of-the-range Premium costs 36,990 Dollars. Like I said, it's running unopposed because there are no front-wheel drive convertibles in the market that can compete against the Cascada in the North American market. It's a shame really because while it maybe late for the party, the Cascada tries to reinvent itself from the ground up. So, what about the newcomer who came to the party for the first try?

2017 Land Rover Range Rover Evoque Convertible

The world's first open-top convertible from Land Rover, called the Range Rover Evoque Convertible, and remember, you saw this one first because I'm not mentioning about the Cr_ssC_br__l_t (vowels blocked for search query reasons) from a distant past because the Evoque Convertible is the first of its kind and that's the end of it.

Based on the recently-facelifted Range Rover Evoque Coupe, the Convertible features similar stuff from the coupe with the clever Z-folding roof system which can be operated at speeds of up to 30mph. Think of this first-ever convertible crossover is a mixture of a visit to the Caribbean beach to the African safari because this crossover changes everything...well, sorta.

The Evoque Convertible maybe heavier than its hardtop equivalent but its offroad capability still works its charm even with the roof up, meaning this sport utility convertible loves to play rough, rain or shine. On the road, it looks pleasantly head-turning because despite being hunky, the Evoque Convertible still looks attractive, roof up or down. In rough terrain, drivers wouldn't mind getting muddy or wet while driving with the roof open. For a stylish, yet adventurous, luxury convertible, the Evoque Convertible is available with either a 2.0L TD4 diesel or a 2.0L Si4 petrol engine, all mated with the brand new 9-speed automatic gearbox as seen on the facelifted Evoque range. The petrol variant is capable of reaching 0-60mph at 7.8 seconds and onwards to 130mph.

The Evoque Convertible starts at £47,500 OTR and just like the Cascada from Buick, it's running unopposed. It's kinda shame really but when you are going to compare these guests who are either late to the party or came here for the very first time, it will be humorous enough to see the late bloomers edging out together. So, which of those late bloomers would you choose? These convertibles maybe late for the party but it would be a blast to give them a try.

Forza Motorsport 6: SVR!

Those who witnessed last year's Bond movie 007: SPECTRE might remember the part that Hinx's men kidnapped Madeleine Swann and being pursued by Bond in a snowy Austria. One of the cars the henchmen drove is none other than Land Rover's most powerful SUV in the range; the Range Rover Sport SVR. Now, I got the chance to be what is like to be one of the SPECTRE goons by taking behind the wheel of the new SVR via Forza 6's Top Gear Car Pack.



The second-generation Range Rover Sport was premiered at the 2013 New York Auto Show and the new model is now a a performance-oriented SUV that clings out to its namesake in terms of offroad capability and sporty handling.

The ultimate version of the Range Rover Sport is the SVR, created by the Special Vehicle Operations, and the high-performance version is the quickest of its class with its 0-60mph time of 4.5 seconds and top speed of 162mph, thanks to its 5.0L Supercharged V8 engine that produces 550HP of power and 502lb-ft of torque, mated with an 8-speed automatic gearbox. Apart from that, the SVR features performance-oriented upgrades to its dynamics such as enhanced suspension and steering, Active-Roll Control, and the new Adaptive Dynamics with Magnetorheological dampers. Such upgrades had resulted to its Nurburgring lap time of less than eight minutes and fourteen seconds, one of the fastest SUVs to lap round the track.

Inside the world of James Bond, the Range Rover Sport SVR appeared in 007: SPECTRE and it was driven by Hinx's men upon kidnapping Madeleine Swann and being pursued by James Bond in a snow plane on a snowy Austria.



Having a little taste Bond villainy, I was going to think that the Range Rover Sport SVR is out of synch in the world of Forza due to its weight that all SUVs suffer but because the Range Rover Sport shares the same weight loss as the standard Range Rover, this car is not afraid to take on corners. In fact, it kinda reminds me of the Top Gear episode when the normal RR Sport lapped quicker than the hot Mini. Just how amazing is that? Anyway, since this is the SVR and this is one of the fastest SUVs to lap round the Nurburgring, this super SUV can barge through any given track like a normal car. It's kinda fun to drive, you know what I'm saying?



Anyway, no time to reminisce that SPECTRE moment in Austria because it's time to do some serious business at the Top Gear Test Track because I'm going to compare the brand new SVR against...



...this one. A normal supercharged Range Rover. It will be like a sibling rivalry to decide who is the superior of the two. All right, let's get cracking!


Both of these Range Rovers are benefitted to their weight loss courtesy of their aluminum bodywork, resulting to even better handling, but whereas the normal Range Rover is focused on comfort, the Range Rover Sport is focused on sportiness and with the SVR model, there's no telling how precise this heavyweight is and with performance-oriented upgrades to the dynamics as well as added power to its V8 engine, this car gets the job done and I have managed to record the lap times.

The normal Range Rover did it in 1:33.598 while the RR Sport SVR did it in 1:30.345. In conclusion, with that kind of track-oriented record, I gotta say that this should be their next favorite SUV to keep on driving in FM6. The new Range Rover Sport SVR is one of Britain's finest examples that gets the respect it deserves from being one of the fastest track-capable SUVs elsewhere, even in the world of Forza.