ATL presents 2014 Range Rover Sport

Sheldon Williams, Gleaner Writer

Last Tuesday, the 2014 Range Rover Sport was officially launched on the east lawn of Devon House, St Andrew. Weeks after Automotives was invited to a private viewing of the SUV at ATL Automotive's headquarters on Oxford Road, New Kingston, the much storied British-made SUV was unveiled to the public.

Guests were greeted with the sight of two of the vehicles mounted on platforms, surrounded by wrap-around lights. Those were half of the four imported so far, with one already sold. With guests yearning to get a feel of the vehicles, introductions ahead of the general viewing were kept concise.

Brimming with confidence in the vehicle's capabilities, Range Rover Brand Manager David Hastings told guests "some cars will turn your head. But this new Range Rover will make you walk into a utility pole", to much amusement.

dramatic and powerful

"When it comes to design, Land Rover's design director Gerry McGover says it's dramatic and powerful. It's got 'drive me' written all over it. It's the fastest Range Rover ever made and the new design had to reflect that, with an even sportier appearance," Hastings outlined.

ATL Automotive's general manager, Sam McKenzie, said the company's mandate is to always give customers more than they expect. "We selected these brands because they are brands of the future. These are iconic, luxurious British brands that the British people have enjoyed for decades. Now they're ready to take on the world," he said.

Guests were also reminded about the 2014 Range Rover Sport's record-breaking exploits. The company is so confident in the Sport that it has embarked on a series of challenges around the globe. The vehicle has earned the distinction of breaking the record at Pikes Peak International Hill climb in Colorado, USA, doing the 12.6 mile, 14,115 feet course with 156 corners in just 12 minutes and 43 seconds.

Then, in a duel of British legends of land and sky, the mighty Spitfire aircraft lost a race to the Sport at the Goodwood Aerodrome.

Only days ago, the 2014 Range Rover Sport claimed the record for crossing Arabia's Empty Quarter, one of the harshest terrains on the planet. Starting at Wadi Adda Wasir in Saudi Arabia, the Land Rover team set out across the vast desert and emerged at the border with the United Arab Emirates (UAE) just in time for the 2013 Dubai Motor Show. The 527-mile journey took 10 hours and 22 minutes.

The new Range boasts three-litre diesel and three-litre petrol engine options and, for the first time, seven seats. At its best, the diesel accelerates from 0-60 miles per hour in 7.1 seconds, while the petrol can move the same distance in 6.9 seconds. With an eight-speed automatic transmission, the 2014 Range Rover Sport offers smoother shifting and faster response than previous models.