Skip to main content

Tech-heavy 2014 Range Rover Sport won’t drive itself (but comes close)

Range Rover Sport 1
Image used with permission by copyright holder

Check out our full written review of the 2014 Land Rover Range Rover Sport.

At a private event held the day before the 2013 New York Auto Show, Land Rover removed the velvety curtain off its all-new 2014 Range Rover Sport.

The iconic SUV has been completely revamped for the 2014 model year, with Land Rover talking up a number of enhancements including an improved power train, body and interior design, a drastic weight reduction (800 lbs worth!) and a host of new customer-oriented onboard tech.

Range Rover Sport 3
Image used with permission by copyright holder

The 2014 Sport has been imbued with a number of driver assistance technologies including enhanced park assist, blind spot monitoring, and active lane departure warnings.

A new traffic sign recognition system will also makes its way into the new Range Rover Sport, which utilizes a forward facing camera and front-mounted sensors to inform the driver of the current speed limit, road closure signs, and passing regulations, all through a high-res LCD display nestled between the instrument cluster.

Land Rover will also introduce an enhanced version of its adaptive cruise control system in the 2014 Range Rover Sport. Drivers will be able to set the desired speed and following distance. The Range Rover Sport will even come to a complete stop during traffic, with the driver needing only to tap the accelerator to resume cruise functions.

Range Rover Sport 4
Image used with permission by copyright holder

Finally, a new reverse traffic detection system called Flank Guard will up the luxury SUVs’ distance sensor count from four to six. These sensors will be able to detect potential side impacts during tight maneuvering, such as in parking garages, near pillars, and other physical obstacles.

Flank Guard will warn the driver via an audible beep and works in conjunction with the vehicle’s central cluster display to indicate proximity of objects and hazards.

Drivers will have a choice between 340 horsepower supercharged V6 or a 510hp supercharged V8.

Range Rover Sport 2
Image used with permission by copyright holder

Land Rover says the V6 will scoot from 0-60 mph in 6.9 seconds and pumps out 375 horsepower, while the V8 will make the same dash in less than five seconds.

Base price for 2014 Range Rover Sport SE will start at $63,495 with that figure rising to $79,995 for the supercharged V8 version.

Amir Iliaifar
Former Digital Trends Contributor
Associate Automotive Section Editor for Digital Trends, Amir Iliaifar covers the ever increasing cross-section between tech…
Mercedes-Benz G580 first drive: old-school off-roader goes electric
2025 Mercedes-Benz G580 from three quarter view.

American car buyers mostly know Mercedes-Benz as a luxury brand. But for decades, the automaker has also produced the tough, rugged G-Class (also known as the Geländewagen or G-Wagen), an SUV not afraid to get its leather upholstery muddy. And now, this iconic Mercedes is going electric.

The 2025 Mercedes-Benz G580 with EQ Technology — the final name of the SUV previously known as the EQG — isn’t the first electric off-roader. The Rivian R1S and R1T and GMC Hummer EV have proven that electric powertrains and off-roading are a great combination. But the electric G-Wagen is different because it’s based on an internal-combustion model — and a very traditional one at that.

Read more
Honda believes hydrogen semi trucks will make the case for fuel cells
Honda hydrogen fuel-cell semi truck.

Honda remains committed to hydrogen fuel-cell vehicles, but the market for those vehicles remains limited. So Honda is looking at other uses for fuel cells -- including commercial trucks.

To show how that could work, Honda converted a semi truck to fuel-cell power, replacing its diesel engine with three fuel-cell modules. Together, the three modules produce a combined 321 horsepower, and can propel the truck to a top speed of 70 mph. There's enough onboard hydrogen storage capacity for a 400-mile range with a full load, Honda claims.

Read more
Mercedes-Benz G580 vs Rivian R2: Is the much cheaper Rivian actually better?
2025 Mercedes-Benz G580 from three quarter view.

Mercedes-Benz has finally taken the wraps off of the new "Mercedes-Benz G580 with EQ Technology." Yeah, it's a mouthful, but it's basically a new electric G-Wagon. It looks a lot like the G-Wagon you know and love, but with an electric powertrain and a battery. It's not the only electric SUV out there, however, and there are some great ones -- like the Rivian R2.

Both the Mercedes G580 and the Rivian R2 have a lot going for them, but they also approach the electric SUV slightly differently. Is one better than the other? I put the two head-to-head to find out.
Design
The approach that the two vehicles take to design is quite different -- and you might like one better than the other.

Read more