You could hear it a long time before you could see it. The distinctive throb of a V8 engine pulling hard from low revs metamorphosed into a harder edged yowl as a dazzling set of driving lights crested the rise to the Karusell at Germany's Nurburgring race track. The vehicle may have been plastered with duct tape to disguise its detailing but it was obvious by the car's poise through the corner and the giveaway lower roof line that this was no ordinary Range Rover. It was some time later that we realised what we'd been watching that chilly September morning had been a Range Rover Sport.

Perhaps the 'Range Stormer' concept vehicle that was first aired at the 2004 Detroit Motor Show had primed us for something a little more extreme in its execution, but the Range Rover Sport isn't the head turner many expected it to be. In fact, only the more trained eye will be able to differentiate between one of these and the existing luxury Range Rover flagship. Park the two vehicles side by side, however, and the changes become a good deal more obvious. As well as the lower roof, the wheelbase is also a good deal shorter, giving the Sport a far more pugnacious look than the majestic Range Rover. Prices start at £35,750.

The wheelarches are subtly flared, thin side vents sit behind the front wheels and there's a sharp swage line that runs along the car's hips. The windscreen is sharply raked back and the perforated front grille looks like a set of expensive kitchen knives. The biggest change from the show car is the move from three doors to five and if there was a feeling that the design has been unacceptably watered down, the detailing of the Range Rover Sport could well change your opinion. It's beautifully executed.

It's also a landmark vehicle for a company with a whole lot more autonomy. Just five years ago, Land Rover could never have built a car of this kind. Their owners at the time (BMW) didn't want a sports crossover vehicle like this poaching sales from their all-conquering X5. It was only as recently as 2000 that plans were first laid for a chassis platform that would spawn two very different vehicles. The first was the Discovery3 and the second was this, the Range Rover Sport. Both ride on a monocoque chassis and double wishbone suspension that offers far better on-road ride and handling than any previous Land Rover product.

"This isn't just a typical Chelsea tractor. It's a Land Rover product"

The Range Rover Sport features an even more focused set up. The steering rack has been replaced by a quicker item, offering more road feedback and quicker responses. To help cut the pitch and roll that quick changes of direction tend to generate, Land Rover have also upgraded the springs and dampers and lowered the car's roll centre. Perhaps the most innovative feature of the Sport's underpinnings is Dynamic Response, a set of anti roll bars that can be engaged or decoupled according to demand. Standard on the flagship supercharged model and an option on the other models in the range, Dynamic Response also decouples when off roading in order to allow greater wheel articulation.

The engines are worth examining. Naturally the one that will garner the most column inches is the 4.2-litre supercharged V8. In case it's already popped a lightbulb in your head, the engine is based on the Jaguar AJ-V8 unit although it has been adapted for use in a Land Rover product. This involves waterproofing, adjusting the engine's torque response and fitting additional oil baffles to allow it to operate reliably at unusually steep angles. With 390bhp on tap, this is a very serious piece of engineering and will generate 410lb/ft of torque. It's enough to propel the Range Rover Sport through 60mph in 6.8 seconds and on to a top speed of 140mph. The maximum velocity would be a good deal higher were it not for the tyre rating. The Continental rubber features tread that extends high onto the sidewalls as if to remind rivals that this isn't just a typical Chelsea tractor. It's a Land Rover product.

Two other engines are also offered, both diesels. There's the biggest seller of the range, an entry-level 190bhp TDV6 common rail turbodiesel, again of Jaguar origin. Alternatively, the top diesel unit is the potent 272bhp TDV8. Trim levels on the TDV6 range from S through SE and HSE to HST, with only the top HSE and HST trims offered on the TDV8 and the supercharged V8 petrol engine.

Under normal conditions, drive is split 50:50 between the front and rear axles although it can instantaneously switch according to demand. The Sport also gets the Terrain Response system first seen in the Discovery3. This is virtually akin to having an expert sitting alongside you, helping to get the best out of the vehicle, on or off road. The driver chooses one of five terrain setttings via a rotary knob mounted on the centre console. There's a general driving programme plus one for slippery conditions (dubbed 'grass/gravel/snow') and three specialist off road modes (mud/ruts, sand, rock crawl). The system will then automatically select the optimum setup for the electronic controls and the traction aids. This encompasses ride height, torque response, hill descent control, electronic traction control and transmission settings.

The interior of the Range Rover Sport is a little more conventional than the Discovery3, with many of the controls angled towards the driver. Although rear seat space isn't the greatest, the payoff is the biggest boot in its class. An aluminium hatch with separately opening rear window glass is a neat finishing touch. Land Rover are bullish about the Range Rover Sport's prospects, expecting it to shift around 35,000 units a year in a turbulent market sector. They could well be pleasantly surprised.

TOP 5 RANGE ROVER SPORT DEALS

The results below show the top RANGE ROVER SPORT deals on buyacar

	Land Rover Range Rover Sport 2.7 TDV6 SE 5dr Auto Off Road
	ETR	Mthly £718	Saving £3,251	Price £39,839
	Land Rover Range Rover Sport 2.7 TDV6 S 5dr Auto Off Road
	ETR	Mthly £635	Saving £2,832	Price £35,658
	Land Rover Range Rover Sport 4.2 V8 Supercharged HST 2008.5 5dr Auto Off Road
	ETR	Mthly £1,122	Saving £5,144	Price £58,746
	Land Rover Range Rover Sport 2.7 TDV6 HSE 5dr Auto Off Road
	ETR	Mthly £820	Saving £3,742	Price £44,748
	Land Rover Range Rover Sport 4.2 V8 Supercharged HSE 5dr Auto Off Road
	ETR	Mthly £1,066	Saving £4,752	Price £54,838

typical 11.13% APR

PCP finance quote over 48 months,  10,000 miles pa,  deposit of £1000