Michael McAleer goes cross-country in the new supercharged Range Rover.
Range Rover has long been the epitome of aristocratic off-roading. Long before anyone uttered those three little letters, SUV, it was seen as a serious rival to the likes of the Mercedes S-Class and BMW 7-Series. It's most attractive feature was an ability to fit in as well on the forecourt of a five-star hotel as to pursuing errant yews around one's estate.
But of late there's been an influx of wannabes. This has coincided with the rapid growth in SUV popularity among the landless, suburban middle classes.
Range Rover is now finding itself in the same dilemma as some of the other classical British brands, most notably Burberry. While they are a mainstay of traditional upperclass country values, they've a loyal following among the 'new money'. What once was the favoured vehicle for the British royals is now as likely to ferry a skeletal model to the latest fashion shoot, or a 'blinged-up' rapper weighed down by 100-weight of gold jewellery to the nearest LA nightclub.
Faced with such disparity, the only answer is to make the most of it and in some way cater for both. Hence the arrival of the mesh-grilled supercharger.
It's also an admission that while its 35-year history holds it in good steed with the public - maintaining its image, its class, its pedigree - it has to move with the times. While retaining the traditional shape and stature, the revised Range Rover features minor tweaks to the outside. Two side fins become three, the light clusters are slightly altered and on the supercharged version, wire mesh is the order of the day on the front and side vents. It could be seen as a defining split between its two audiences, the normally aspirated country set and the supercharged world of 'bling'.
Yet there are more practical differences with the lastest models, most of all under the bonnet. Here, the BMW petrol engines have been discarded in favour of the Jaguar-sourced 400bhp 4.2-litre. The Jaguar connection through parent Ford and the Premier Automotive Group (PAG) division, is also the reason they could access the supercharged version, seen in its other guise in the Jaguar XJ. The rest of the range will get the naturally aspirated 305bhp also from Jaguar. The diesel engines will remain the same TD6 versions. Prices start at €86,950 for the TD6 SE. Petrol models start at €106,950. The supercharged version costs €145,900.
In the shadow of the Pyrenees, we got the opportunity to put both versions to the test over a variety of motorway, dirt track and sheer mountain terrain.
The supercharger offers up a tasty snarl when you push down your right foot and, even with the added sound-proofing in the latest model, the work done to get the engine acoustics right has paid off. If it suffers from anything, it's the natural laws of physics. On long motorway bends, you feel the engine could offer so much more if only it could get closer to the ground. A high centre of gravity hinders its performance. Despite the reassurances of a host of electronic gadgetry to keep you on the straight and narrow, the thought of two-and-a-half tonnes of metal on the loose is sobering to even the most power-drunk drivers.
Off-road it's another matter. The Range Rover takes its cues from its sibling, the new Land Rover Discovery, and is capable of many an incredulous feat, descending sheer drops or even climbing wall-like ascents.
We crossed ravens on a bridge made of a couple of telegraph poles, climbed down the side of hills with the Range Rover seemingly stepping from one rut to the next in order to prevent us toppling over, and even drove into and over a regular stone wall, all without complaint and to the jarring sound of the brakes and electronics doing their work as we merely pointed the wheel in the right direction and held on.
There have been some minor tweaks to the Range Rover range, largely to do with entertainment and Sat-Nav offers. All add to the feeling that it remains the luxury off-roader on the market. It's the limousine of the 4x4 set. But it must face up to the challenges from the likes of the Germans. It also has the chance to make more of its well-thought of brand. Hence the introduction in the next few months of the new Range Rover Sports, an entry level model directly targeting the likes of the BMW X5, Mercedes M-Class and Lexus RS. The Land Rover Discovery has done well, but it really needs the street credibility of the Range Rover name tag to fight off these premium brands. With prices in the region of €70,000, it will bring a host of new customers to the marque.
It's never easy to move with the times while retaining your heritage. Yet so far Range Rover has managed to do both, and keep both country set and city slickers happy. The addition of the supercharger would seem to further secure its position.