Snap! Scaled-down Range Rover

By ALASTAIR SLOANE

The mystery Land Rover in the line-up of vehicles for next year's global G4 Challenge is sure to be the one at the rear in this spy picture from the Nurburgring test track in Germany.

The vehicle is a pre-production prototype of the new Range Rover Sport and is being towed from the track by a regular Range Rover after an apparent mechanical or electrical fault.

Land Rover recently announced details of the gut-busting 2005 G4 Challenge, saying it would start in Thailand in finish in Bolivia.

It said the new Discovery will join the Freelander, Defender, and Range Rover in the event. A fifth Land Rover, yet to be revealed, will also be included, it said. It wouldn't name the model.

But the Range Rover Sport, a smaller version of the Range Rover, is almost certain to be the fifth vehicle in the G4 Challenge fleet.

The Sport is a high-performance design sitting between the Discovery and Range Rover. It will be aimed at BMW's X5 and Mercedes-Benz' new M-Class, due next year.

That's why Land Rover was testing it at the Nurburgring. BMW uses the high-speed track to develop all its cars - including X5.

Land Rover revealed it would extend its model catalogue when it unveiled the Range Stormer study at the Detroit motor show in January, the first concept in the off-road specialist's 56-year history.

The Stormer was a two-door, a scaled-down verion of the Range Rover with a low, sleek roofline and a supercharged Jaguar V8 under the bonnet.

At the time Ford-owned Land Rover hinted that work was being done on a five-door version.

The Sport is it. It is expected to go on sale in 2006, after the rigours of the G4 Challenge, in effect the new Camel Trophy, have exposed any shortcomings. It will most likely use re-engineered Jaguar V6 and V8 petrol powerplants and new V6 and V8 turbodiesel units from Ford and Peugeot-Citroen, and be priced between $80,000 and $120,000.

The Sport is understood to be sitting on a platform combining elements of a ladder-frame chassis and a car-like monocoque.

It is tipped to be a technical showpiece, with terrain response height-adjustable air suspension, an option on the new Discovery.

Terrain response controls the engine's computer, gearbox responses, ride height and driveline controls such as the deferential settings, traction control and brakes. The Sport, like the upcoming Discovery, will have a new six-speed automatic gearbox and electronic low-range. And, like all Land Rovers, it will have permanent four-wheel-drive. The Discovery will use the first of the Ford-family engines. The current Land Rover/Range Rover line-up uses BMW engines.