Not all SUV’s get pressed into service ferrying family and friends across town or down muddy, rutted mountain passes. Land Rover has managed to add a third dimension to the sport-utility concept, one that focuses more on blistering performance. 

The 2010 Range Rover Sport represents the cutting edge of Land Rover’s full-size SUV design, a vehicle that leaves a lasting impression on any driver who spends time behind the wheel.

The Range Rover Sport takes the traditional three-box Land Rover concept and renders it across a futuristic canvas of steel and plastic. The SUV appears almost exactly as you would expect an original Range Rover to look if it were stretched out as it accelerated toward the speed of light. In terms of detail, a new grille and taillamps set off the updated design and help to distinguish it from the previous model.

It is perhaps appropriate that the Range Rover Sport appears to be moving even when it is standing still, given the fact that its revised front clip is hiding one of the two most powerful engines available in a truck of any size. The LR-V8 trim is outfitted with a 375-hp, 5.0-liter V8 that also provides 375 lb/ft of torque. While those numbers might be enough to satisfy most mere mortals, true adrenaline junkies will appreciate the availability of a supercharged version of the same engine in the LR-V8 5.0L Supercharged, a model that offers an earth-shattering 510 hp and 461 lb/ft of torque. Each of these mills produces at least 25 percent more usable power than the units they are replacing while still meeting Ultra-Low Emissions Vehicle II (ULEV2) emissions standards.

Thanks to all-wheel drive and a new six-speed automatic transmission, the Range Rover Sport is capable of putting all of that power down to the pavement with a remarkable lack of drama. The fastest of the two versions of the SUV accelerates to 60 mph in 5.9 seconds, which is quick enough to get lead-footed drivers into trouble should their attention wander in the presence of speed zones. An Adaptive Dynamics system continuously measures road conditions and adjusts the suspension accordingly for increased comfort or stiffness, depending on the situation. Bigger brakes and a feature that automatically slows the vehicle down during overspeed cornering do their best to keep the Range Rover Sport under control despite its propensity for acceleration.

The 2010 Range Rover Sport offers a number of off-road goodies not typically found in the average SUV. A “sand launch control” system helps to keep the vehicle from bogging down on loose surfaces while traction control works to prevent individual wheel spin on a finer scale. Hill Descent Control and a rock crawling feature each make navigating uncharted territory a little less nerve-wracking.

The interior of the Range Rover Sport is meant to evoke a cockpit feel – not necessarily that of a jet fighter, but perhaps more along the lines of an immensely powerful speedboat. The primary palette employed throughout the passenger compartment is leather, although wood finish is also found in abundance. Clean switchgear and soft, ambient lighting help to smooth out the SUV’s interior for up to five occupants. The now requisite driver aids such as a hard-drive based navigation system and driver information screen are present and accounted for, as is an iPod interface. Those riding in this well-appointed vehicle will want for nothing thanks to the careful attention of Land Rover’s expert designers.

In addition to the strategically placed airbags that populate the Range Rover Sport’s cabin, this vehicle also provides advanced safety features that are worth noting. No less than five digital video cameras cover all angles surrounding the vehicle to provide drivers with a 360-degree view via the navigation screen upon vehicle startup. This helps to prevent accidents involving blind spots or low-lying objects. The SUV’s LED headlights can also automatically activate the high beams when the light levels surrounding the SUV drop below a specific brightness.

It is very difficult to find any vehicle that draws from the same historic levels of confidence and ability as those built by Land Rover. The 2010 Range Rover Sport truly feels like a chariot built exclusively for royalty – royalty in a hurry, that is.