Range Rover to get RS series

According Khabar Khodro , Land Rover engineers are working on ultimate performance versions of the new Range Rover Sport and the Evoque, tipped to wear a new ‘RS’ badge.

The Evoque RS is expected to be launched first, possibly even by the end of the year, but it is the Range Rover Sport RS mule that has been caught by our spy photographer as it underwent performance testing at the Nürburgring in Germany.

Sources say that its 5.0-litre V8 supercharged engine will have at least the same 542bhp as the Jaguar XKR-S, XFR-S and XJR. That’s 39bhp more than the new Range Rover Sport’s supercharged V8. Land Rover will be looking for a 0-62mph time of 4.5sec.

This RS prototype is well disguised, but it can be seen that the model will have a unique front bumper design, with the foglights replaced by large air intakes. There are also changes to the rear bumper.

Bigger wheels than the 21-inch units already fitted to the Sport are unlikely, but a more powerful braking system seems certain.

The Range Rover Sport RS is tipped to be launched next year, some time after the Evoque RS is revealed. The Evoque RS will be powered by a 300bhp version of the Evoque’s current 2.0-litre turbo petrol engine.