Mark L
Well-Known Member
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- 2,693
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- Tamworth - Staffs
So today I had the honour and pleasure of being invited to the Land Rover research & test centre in Gaydon for a 3hr experience drive of the new 2013 Range Rover Sport. 
The afternoon kicked off with a 10 minute brief & intro, swiftly followed by a 28 mile road drive of a 3.0 TDV6 which had a route mapped out for you to follow on the sat-nav system. The only people in the car were yourself and your +1.
After that, you stepped out of that and straight into a 510bhp, 5.0 V8 Supercharged version where an instructor performed a quick demo of its lane changing capabilities at high speed. He then took you through the next part of the course before you eagerly jump into the drivers seat and proceed with the following. This is where you start uncontrollably grinnng like a happy fool...
The first part of the high speed testing began with a 0-80-0, full accelerator then stand on the brakes exercise.
The 0-60 time is 5s (It most definitely is... ) and the stopping distance from 80-0 took a mere 35 meters! The braking capabilities were as impressive as the acceleration!
After that, we were then onto the slalom section which saw entry into the first set of cones at 50mph, accelerating steadily and as fast as you dare up until the last set of cones at which I came out of at exactly 100mph!
This then led us nicely onto the main high speed part of the course where you sit on what is essentially a motorway system. You stick to 'lane 2' and get up to 70mph. You then hold 70 on a sweeping left hand bend before accelerating up to 90mph where you still stick within lane 2 and hold 90 on the next sweeping and equally as tight a bend before exiting it and being told to reach what ever speed you like on the main straight. I got up to 148mph (it is capable of a restricted 155mph) before being told to start braking and then completing the circuit.
By now, you're contemplating what your organs are worth and how many of these organs it is possible to live without in order to become an owner of one of these 80k+ Motherships...
You now pootle back to base, get out of the happy fool cabin and straight into another TDV6 (again, unassisted) where you play 'follow the leader' through a relatively tame off road course whereby you exercise the Low Range and Hill Decent controls of the vehicle.
The afternoon is then capped off by a 2 course meal and soft drinks.
So overall, a damn amazing day out with an outstanding bunch of staff in a vehicle which is at the very height of Land Rover technology.
Sadly but understandably, there was a strict no photography policy, as the place was absolutely heaving with 'zebra striped' test vehicles in various states ranging from ex factory condition to borderline twisted lumps of scrap!
If anybody gets a chance to attend this RRS launch experience, cancel everything and get over there. It is simply awesome.
I'm now off to the For Sale section to pawn my liver and kidney!
The afternoon kicked off with a 10 minute brief & intro, swiftly followed by a 28 mile road drive of a 3.0 TDV6 which had a route mapped out for you to follow on the sat-nav system. The only people in the car were yourself and your +1.
After that, you stepped out of that and straight into a 510bhp, 5.0 V8 Supercharged version where an instructor performed a quick demo of its lane changing capabilities at high speed. He then took you through the next part of the course before you eagerly jump into the drivers seat and proceed with the following. This is where you start uncontrollably grinnng like a happy fool...
The first part of the high speed testing began with a 0-80-0, full accelerator then stand on the brakes exercise.
The 0-60 time is 5s (It most definitely is...
) and the stopping distance from 80-0 took a mere 35 meters! The braking capabilities were as impressive as the acceleration!After that, we were then onto the slalom section which saw entry into the first set of cones at 50mph, accelerating steadily and as fast as you dare up until the last set of cones at which I came out of at exactly 100mph!
This then led us nicely onto the main high speed part of the course where you sit on what is essentially a motorway system. You stick to 'lane 2' and get up to 70mph. You then hold 70 on a sweeping left hand bend before accelerating up to 90mph where you still stick within lane 2 and hold 90 on the next sweeping and equally as tight a bend before exiting it and being told to reach what ever speed you like on the main straight. I got up to 148mph (it is capable of a restricted 155mph) before being told to start braking and then completing the circuit.
By now, you're contemplating what your organs are worth and how many of these organs it is possible to live without in order to become an owner of one of these 80k+ Motherships...
You now pootle back to base, get out of the happy fool cabin and straight into another TDV6 (again, unassisted) where you play 'follow the leader' through a relatively tame off road course whereby you exercise the Low Range and Hill Decent controls of the vehicle.
The afternoon is then capped off by a 2 course meal and soft drinks.
So overall, a damn amazing day out with an outstanding bunch of staff in a vehicle which is at the very height of Land Rover technology.
Sadly but understandably, there was a strict no photography policy, as the place was absolutely heaving with 'zebra striped' test vehicles in various states ranging from ex factory condition to borderline twisted lumps of scrap!
If anybody gets a chance to attend this RRS launch experience, cancel everything and get over there. It is simply awesome.
I'm now off to the For Sale section to pawn my liver and kidney!
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