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2006 Range Rover Sport Supercharged: The Bourne Supremacy
I'm certainly not secret agent Jason Bourne, tackling the world of international espionage. Yet, when you have at your disposal a supercharged Range with the power of a rhino, the speed of Thoroughbreds, the toughness of Under Armour gear, and the DNA of fine British motoring, then you certainly feel like someone close to Mr. Bourne. Land Rover loaned Automotive Rhythms a Java Black Range Rover Sport Supercharged for an extended period of time to see just how invincible the new sporty •Ute is. Reference Senior Road Test Editor Gary Joseph's initial impression of the British Bully. Plus, we added a few upgrades to the Range to enhance both its looks and intelligence.
The Run Down
The smaller and sportier Range Rover Sport (RRS) is by no means a step down from the larger, full-bodied Range Rover. It's not like going from the Mandarin Oriental to the Marriot Courtyard because both vehicles command the same attention and respect. Especially since the RRS is empowered with the Jaguar-borrowed 4.2-liter supercharged V8 with 390 horses, a six-speed automatic transmission with "Command Shift” electric sport shifting, and permanent four-wheel drive. Additionally, our $76,050 ($70,250.00 MSRP) vehicle was delivered with 20x9.5” wheels, Brembo front brakes, two-toned running boards, rear entertainment system with screens in the headrests, Bluetooth technology, navigation, Sirius Satellite Radio, and a 550-Watt 13-speaker harmon/kardon LOGIC7 surround sound system.
 We took delivery of the Range in January, and clocked 4,500 miles thus far. Complimentary maintenance service is not until 7,500 miles and each 7,500 mile interval thereafter. Hey, we kept it on the Jersey Turnpike for runs back and forth between New York and D.C. The upside is that the drives are easy, smooth and entertaining. Time flies by every time. The downfall is the number of times we've had to throw Shell V-Power premium gas into the tank. And with gas prices running over $3 again, sometimes I wish we chosen the HSE model (MSRP: $57,250) with the naturally aspirated 4.4-Liter V8 and 300 horses as our long-term rig. The other downside of long drives in the RRS is the tight squeeze in the back. Save the back seat for the young and young at heart.
Flip My Whip™
 Even though the RRS is as sweet as pie comes, we've added a few custom features. The Automotive Rhythms Flip My Whip™ campaign for the Range began in January when we decided to showcase it for a week in the Urban Restyln' Salon at the 2006 Washington Auto Show. It was worshipped by every onlooker who strolled through. The number one "cause and effect” factor was the Ascot Collection grille from STRUT, the "Cartier” of the grille industry. The $6000 entrþe is more than jewelry for your ride, it's a long-term investment for anyone seeking to dethrone their competition. Consisting of a woven, crimped mesh primary grille, a front air dam intake and two side vents, the STRUT ensemble is as pure as Platinum. Go to Strutwear.com to check out their gear. We couldn't install the lower piece due to the fact that our RRS has Adaptive Cruise Control ($2,000 option), which uses sensors in the front, ultimately blocking the installation of the lower grille. Anyhow, we were more than happy just to have one piece of the STRUT collection since it gives the RRS a whole new look.
Next up are the 22x9.5” Rennen H2 rims, which are black with a polished lip and five chrome inserts. MSRP runs $2,000 for the set. Visit www.rennenauto.com. We wrapped the H2's in a set of 285/35 R22 Michelin 4x4 Diamaris Street/Sport Truck summer tires. The Diamaris are designed to give your SUV simultaneous wet and dry traction. We specially like the rim protector bead which helps prevent curb scratches on our Rennens. On www.TireRack.com, each tire goes for $371, so our set including a spare would be $1,855.
 Since the RRS Supercharged rips through traffic with ease, we had to protect ourselves by installing a $1,700 Bluetooth enabled CALIBRE Radar System from K-40 Electronics. The protection device features two Bluetooth receivers (front & rear) a remote and LED panel for warnings. CALIBRE senses all FCC allocated police frequencies including X, K and Ka Superwide. But you'll need the optional $299.95 Laser Diffuser to protect against laser guns, which almost all law enforcement departments use these days. We have yet to receive a ticket, but K-40 will refund you for a period of time if John Law drops the big hammer on you. See www.k40.com.
So far, our "flipped” Range has been seen at the Washington, New York, and Baltimore Auto Shows and at Hot Import Nights in Virginia. Expect it at a few more top showcases this year.
The Land Rover Experience
Once you begin touring in a Range for a few weeks, the more it becomes absurdly difficult to step into another SUV. There are but a scant few SUV's that will maintain that same feeling of royalty that comes with Range Rover ownership.
 The AR long-term RRS is outfitted with an "Ebony Black” interior and cherry wood door inserts and center console trim. The robotic center stack is very busy but user friendly, and will never bore you. From its touch screen to phone controls, the vehicle is loaded. With Bluetooth I am able to sync my Treo 700 to the vehicle so I can talk hands free through the audio system. A six-disc in-dash CD changer is convenient, but the six-disc DVD changer is in the cargo area, so hopefully you will have your selections chosen by departure time. However, the DVD system is not the simplest to operate. It's just too confusing, as there are too many procedures to set it up. If you need to haul some cargo, split folding seats takes only seconds to fold flat to open up space. Six airbags are available for safety and the RRS sport is equipped with an invisible force field to notify you of any objects trying to breach the exterior of the vehicle. This is a great asset when parking!
Catch us back on the streets as we plan to tour more shows and influence more crowds. It's The Urban Automotive Experience!
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Christen Loves the Range Rover Sport |
After Strut |
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Before Automotive Rhythms |
At Hot Import Nights with Kimatni |
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Kimatni & Senator George Allen with the Sport |
Kimatni & D.C. Mayor Anthony Williams |
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Ahni Luv before Strut |
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