Range Rover Sport 5.0 V8 (2008)

Published: 19 December 2007 Updated: 26 January 2015

Excess all areas! Range Rover Sport not big enough for you? Then how about the new, bigger, more powerful (not to mention dirtier) new 5.0-litre V8. Land Rover engineers have been spotted testing a brace of Range Sports with the new bigger engine that will take the big 4×4 into even more rarefied markets.

Today’s model uses the 4.2-litre V8 shared with numerous Jaguar models including the XF, XJ and XK. But the glitziest models in this family are about to switch allegiance to the newer 5.0 V8. Telltale signs on these models are the quad pipes at the rear – and the rather more telling vehicle registration document. Both cars are registered with a 4997cc block.

From diesel hybrid LRX to 5.0-litre V8s

Which explains why they have no badges on the back revealing their power supply. CAR understands both the Range Rover and Range Rover Sport will gain the new 5.0-litre lump in 2008.

The news epitomises the conundrum facing Land Rover. Earlier this week, CAR Online revealed that Land Rover will fit its LRX concept with a diesel hybrid engine, and the company’s E-RAD electric rear axle for four-wheel drive. But it still knows how to serve up a big gas guzzler too, as these spy photos prove.

By Tim Pollard

Group digital editorial director, car news magnet, crafter of words

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