Test Drive Land Rover Range Rover 2005 - 2009 SUV
Magnificent "eight"
Diesel Range Rover TDV8 is not just a new engine in the 2007 specification is a high-quality step forward! Inspires trepid
On Range Rover it is impossible to look without some soul trepidation. The thrill inspires the very name itself and the fame standing behind him. The thrill inspires the appearance of this car. And not so much without a small 2-meter growth, how much is a high style in which the cubic meters of this power and luxury appear before giving up. We still believe that he has no direct competitors, representatives of Land Rover are approved. Now the grounds for such statements have become even more.
In the segment of luxury SUVs there is probably a more spectacular externally model. But, firstly, there are no more efficient, and secondly, oddly enough, next to the strict restraint of the British, deliberate effects begins to play against rivals. Range Rover is the personification of nobility. A good taste is not just spectacular bypass. Taste This is primarily a sense of measure. In this regard, Range Rover is a real aristocrat in its class.
The look of this car, subjected to lightweight cosmetic correction in 2006, is now so close to perfection that when updating 2007, it remained unchanged. But the salon became even more refined and comfortable.
Electronic parking brake instead of the traditional mechanical facilitated start, automatically turning off when pressed on the gas pedal. And thanks to the liberated space, some controls were moved to more recession provisions. Together with the changed dashboard design, this circumstance made the famous landing even more commander. A double glove box with a CD changer hidden in it appeared. Additional ventilation holes reduced the noise and improved air supply, and the air conditioner has become more powerful. New seats with active head restraints are equipped not only heated, but also cooling. Side airbags are unmounted now not in the door, but in the backs of the seats. Moving when the accident along with the seats, they provide better protection. Yes, and the doors have become stronger.
Updated and list of finishing materials. Autobiography with several levels of individualization offers 1.65 million options for various combinations of body and interior colors. That is, the company can collect cars within 55 years, among which there will be no two identical.
However, all these changes in the intra-alone scale are far from the main innovation of the Range Rover 2007, the acquaintance with the main novelty at the first moment plunged into light shock.
Light shock I have already said that it came to this car not without trepidation. But, apparently, the degree of misstatement, with which I sat behind the wheel Range Rover was insufficient. On the eve of this test, I had to be quite actively communicating with a kind of business sedan with a claim for sportiness, and some settings from that ride remained in the head. Naturally, I tried them in advance to correct. I transplant from a gasoline business sedan into a large SUV with a curb weight of 2700 kg, moreover, equipped with a diesel engine, I argued (rather subconsciously). Perching on the commander's place, I groaned to the sideline of the magnificent Spanish Highway (the test took place in the vicinity of Barcelona), waited for a break in the stream of transport and, without spending time on the warm-up, turned the steering wheel that there is urine putting on the gas pedal.
The resulting further did not fit the fact that I expected from a diesel SUV mass under 3 t. Range Rover was signed on the asphalt exposure so tightly, and on the manipulation of the steering wheel with such a liveliness, which it took me a few seconds to cope with the car. I physically felt like a certain pulley in my brain began to quickly spin in the opposite direction, adjusting the settings in the sportiness direction. The benefit of the wise stabilization system helped me survive these few seconds.
Calm! This car for ministers and diplomats, warned me an experienced colleague, who was sitting on the right. It should be ride with self-esteem. I coped with the excitement (your and car), I led the Range Rover, like a large and luxurious yacht among duck highway boats. However, even with such a manner, the ride during the 100-kilometer run on the perfect highway only once again overtook some kind of mad boomer. In the speed of high-speed capabilities, we reached 200 km / h, which was triggered by an electronic limiter (one hope that the organizers paved the route on areas free from automatic radars). At the same time, I was completely confidence that in my dynamic characteristics and behavior on the asphalt, the diesel Range Rover rather resembles a gasoline sedan. Perhaps, adjusted to a higher posture, but not on weight, not on accelerating qualities and not on handling. This car is not only a diplomat, but also an athlete, not only the minister, but also an adventurist. In general, it is difficult to submit a person who would not fit this car. If only this person had enough taste to make the right choice. Well, of course, money, because delicious things can not cost cheaply. Range Rover TDV8 in Russia will cost from 11,6400 dollars. 
Quiet yes smooth Listening to the Range Rover on the asphalt, to the work of its 6-range intelligent transmission, adapting under the manner of driving and road conditions, to the engine row, I caught myself thinking that it could not be diesel, so quietly and smoothly he works in Cruising modes, so powerfully takes a quarry during overtakers. And I was not alone in my doubts.
The new diesel turned out to be so powerful and perfect that there is a big danger that the driver will take it for a gasoline version, says Mick Cameron, chief engineer of the program. At this case, the Range Rover is equipped with a Petrol Fuel Guard System system, which is based on the difference in the size of fueling pistols for gasoline and diesel fuel. The first is already longer, it deeper goes into the filling neck and affects the pins that activate the damper, blocking the path of incorrect fuel and the saving owner from expensive repair. And this is not an advertising trick. In the year in the UK alone, about 100 thousand refills are recorded by mistake. Here are as good and indistinguishable from gasoline engines modern diesel engines. And the new Diesel Range Rover sample in this sense. But the path to it was not short.
The third generation Range Rover debut took place in 2002, a year after Land Rover moved from under the BMW wing in the Ford family. Despite this, the new Range Rover first was equipped with Bavarian motors. Only in 2005, a 306-strong 4,4-liter version of the AJ-V8 motor appeared on the flagship of the British company, which changed the BMW M62 borrowed by Jaguar. And the top model was the 396-strong 4.2-liter modification of AJ-V8 with a supercharger. The last heritage of the Alliance with BMW remained a row diesel six 2.9 liters, installed on Range Rover TD6. Its capacity was 177 hp, torque 390 nm. With this motor, the car accelerated to hundreds for 13.6 C and developed the maximum speed of 179 km / h. Not too impressive.
Meanwhile, the specialists of the Fords engineering center in British Dagemée in 2004 developed a diesel AJD-V6, which soon appeared on Discovery 3 and Range Rover Sport. But even his 190 hp It was insufficient for the company's flagship, and in 2007, the TDV8 was created on the basis of the six.
Eight V6 borrowed from many technological developments, four valves per cylinder, two variable turbine geometry, common rail injection system with a pressure of 1700 bar (30% more than previous generations of diesel engines), the block of exotic compacted cast iron. If the aluminum and magnesium materials of the XX century, the compacted iron metallurgy century brainchild of the current. It is not less durable than aluminum, but has a much higher fatigue strength and rigidity. This material is allowed to create extremely compact and lightweight powerplant (dry weight 202 kg), making it possible to bring the vehicle weight distribution to the ideal 50:50.
However, the new diesel is not just a mechanical gain of two cylinders to six waste. If 6-
cylinder diesel engine has a camber cylinder 60, then it is eight 90 that is optimum for V8 from the viewpoint of balancing. Along with the cast-iron block and a number of other improvements such as hollow drive shafts and active supports to the chassis mounting, this led to a very quiet operation at all engine speeds. The new diesel is so quiet that its creators had to contend with the noise, which in conventional engines completely indistinguishable in the general din. For example, one could hear the hiss pezoforsunok who had close soundproof covers. The noise level in the cabin in comparison to Td6 decreased by 75%. But the increase in power as compared with the previous version was 54% torque 64%, ramp time of up to 100 km / h was reduced to 9.2 s, the vehicle was 42% faster accelerated in the range of 80110 km / h. Even at 1250 rev / min V8 develops 400 lb-ft more than the peak thrust TD6. A ranging 20002500 rev / min increases the torque up to 640 Nm. At the same time fuel consumption remained at the level TD6 11,3 liters per 100 kilometers. That is TDV8 has similar performance and noise as gasoline V8, while consuming no more fuel than diesel V6, which comes to replace.
Under the new engine installed reinforced Brembo front brakes, recalibrated suspension and transmission. electronically controlled center differential in 2007 will not only be fitted as standard on both gasoline, but also on the diesel version. A rear axle differential with electronic control will be optional for the diesel models, and c atmospheric V8 and standard on Range Rover Supercharged. Any Land Rover should be able to descend and rise in 45-degree steeper and ride along the slope of 35. The turbine when performing these figures of the highest off-road piloting often turns out to be lower than the level of the oil pan, which can lead to a violation of lubrication and jamming. So that this does not happen, a special vacuum lubricant system has been developed, which prevents jamming in extreme corners of work.
Enjoying the comfort, speed and greatness of its high-ranking position behind the wheel of the Range Rover, I left the commander's eye of the immense width of the hood with the signature voyage and the asphalt ribbon-rant ribbon. But, as you know, life consists not only of smooth roads. Ahead of all the bizarre outlines of the Montserrat reserved Mountains took place. We were heading to Pyrenees, where the off-road route was waiting for us with the most diverse barriers from the stone ambushes to mud drips. Here we had to appreciate another highlight of Range Rover 2007.
His only problem The Terrain Response system is already well known. Her debut took place in 2005 on Discovery 3, and for the 2007 models, it first entered the list of standard equipment of all Range Rover options. Recall that the response of the territory is designed to automatically switch settings, optimal for various types of terrain. On a large round regulator, five modes: the main, trawagavisneg, dirtwin, sand, stones. Terrain Response changes the clearance, transmission settings, installation of locks, engine responsiveness, steering wheel, the operation of the auxiliary electronics.
True jeepers do not like this system. Still, after all, she replaces all their experience! With Terrain Response, any blonde behind the wheel of the Range Rover will be able to be what the other knight of the off-road has gone years of trial and mistakes. Of course, it's a shame. However, it turned out that under the persistent leadership of the electronic trainer remains pretty space for independent creativity.
Very interesting, the modulation of off-road driving modes seemed using the manual gear shift mode. For example, the descent when using the descent control system in Rock Crawl mode (crawling on the stones) is really turning into crawling under the disgusting brake crop. This is useful in dangerous areas, but to raise the threshold of the brand of the brand where you can afford
move faster enough to switch from automatic mode in manual and raise the transfer to II or III. You can also modulate at your discretion and mode of motion on a slippery surface that makes the reaction to the press of the gas pedal softer. On the machine, it too often uses I transmission, imprint. The degree of reinsurance can be adjusted by switching gear in manual mode. Suddenly, the mode of displaying the operation of the transmission on the display was. This is not just an advertising cartoon, as thought at first. Demonstration of the actual position of the wheels is invaluable help: lying on the stones, you always know which way and to what angle the wheels are turned. After all, the safety of wheels and tires, in fact, the main, if not the only concern for the driver Range Rover. It will pass everywhere only with the rubber withstand. Perhaps the absence of a caterpillar stroke as an option and there is the only drawback of this luxurious all-terrain vehicle.
Specifications Range Rover TDV8
Dimensions, mm 4972x1956x1905
Base, mm 2710
Engine type diesel V8
Working volume, cube. CM 3630.
Max. Power, hp / rpm 272/4000
Max. Moment, nm / rpm 640/20002500
Transmission Automatic 6-Range
The drive is permanent full
Max. Speed, km / h 200
Acceleration time 0-100 km, from 9.2
Fuel consumption (medium), l / 100 km 11.3
Leonid Sitnik
Photo by the author
and manufacturer firms
A source: Magazine "Autopanoram"
