The Range Rover lineup of SUVs from Land Rover has always been the pinnacle of power, capability, and luxury on four wheels. The Evoque, the Velar, the Sport, and the flagship Range Rover have always had their own distinct personalities, never once compromising on power and luxury. While the flagship Range Rover is a massive yacht on four wheels, the Sport is a smaller, condensed version of the car that doesn’t skimp on anything despite its size. The lineup has always been known for its many engine types and options, and in 2019, Land Rover gave the Range Rover Sport a new HST trim.
Standing for Hybrid, Supercharger, and Turbocharger, the Range Rover Sport HST, from its very name, grabs attention. After all, such a powerful moniker must also deliver, and we’re glad to say that the HST trim did just that. As such, it gave an already-remarkable SUV quite a few more things to like, and here are 10 reasons why we definitely appreciate the Ranger Rover Sport HST trim.
10/10 The New Ingenium Gasoline Engine Finally Brought Straight-Six Goodness To The Range Rover Sport
The Range Rover Sport HST trim introduced a new gasoline engine in the Range Rover Ingenium lineup of power mills. Where previous motors had been V8 or V6 units, the HST came fitted with a straight-six engine, ushering in a new era of refinement and balance for the Range Rover Sport.
The new Ingenium inline-six engine replaced the V8 and V6 options, along with introducing a mild-hybrid system to the Sport which made the SUV more optimized and efficient than ever before.
9/10 The Range Rover Sport HST’s Mild Hybrid Tech Improved Its Efficiency
Over the past few years, Land Rover has been investing heavily in a greener future. In that vein, they have been making their state-of-the-art luxury SUVs more efficient than ever before.
In the Range Rover Sport HST, the new engine, paired with mild-hybrid electric power not only delivered the performance that was expected of a Range Rover SUV, but it also gave the SUV a phenomenal fuel economy of 30.5 MPG.
8/10 An Electric Supercharger In The Range Rover Sport HST Eliminates Turbo Lag
Traditionally, the terms ‘turbocharger’ and ‘turbo lag’ go hand-in-hand. That would have been true for the Range Rover Sport HST as well, had it not been for the clever inclusion of an electric supercharger by Land Rover.
Powered by a 48V system, an electric supercharger works with the six-cylinder engine, spooling fully in just half a second to maximize the boost pressure. Effectively, this technology bids goodbye to turbo lag, letting the Land Rover Range Rover Sport HST go fast as soon as you hit the pedal, and not a second later.
7/10 The HST Model Made The Land Rover Sport Faster Than Ever Before
The Range Rover Sport HST’s Ingenium flat-six engine helped the SUV churn out a massive 395 horsepower, along with 406 lb-ft of torque. Add to that the twin-scroll turbocharger, and that made the Sport HST quite a bit faster than it had ever been.
Up until the introduction of the Range Rover Sport HST, it had been the HSE Dynamic trim that had been at the top. With a 380-hp 3.0-liter V6 engine, the HSE Dynamic went from 0 to 60 mph in 6.8 seconds. However, the Range Rover Sport HST shaved almost a second off of that time, reaching the 60 mph mark in just 5.9 seconds.
6/10 The Range Rover Sport HST Came With Unique Interior And Exterior Design Elements
It wasn’t just the new Ingenium straight-six engine that was exclusive to the Range Rover Sport HST model initially. To show that the SUV you’re driving does have a turbocharger, a supercharger, and a hybrid system, the HST trim came with unique styling elements to set itself apart.
This included bespoke badging, along with carbon fiber on the hood, the front grille, the side vents, and the tailgate. Furthermore, the Range Rover Sport HST trim also has vibrant red brake calipers, a subtle hint at the massive power and efficiency of the HST trim.
5/10 The Exclusive Six-Cylinder HST Trim Prompted More Performance From The Range Rover Sport
While a hybrid system brought efficiency to the Range Rover Sport, the other two initials in the HST stood for Supercharger and Turbocharger. This naturally meant more power for the bespoke SUV, and the name proved itself to not just be superficial.
With 395 horsepower and 405 lb-ft of torque, the Range Rover Sport HST stands as one of the more powerful options in its segment. The engine now had massive amounts of air intake thanks to new technology, which made it perform better than ever before.
4/10 The Range Rover Sport HST’s Start-Stop System Conserved Wasted Energy
The Range Rover Sport HST comes with a great 48V battery, which doesn’t just power the car, but also stores some energy. Working in tandem with Land Rover’s Start-Stop system for the Range Rover Sport, the engine and the electric motor it was paired to, switch off automatically whenever the SUV is stationary.
Furthermore, this system also harvests energy from the vehicle whenever it decelerates or brakes, storing that energy in the 48V battery pack. The SUV’s sophisticated system then uses the conserved energy through torque-assist redeployment. Not only does the Start-Stop system ensure the engine never runs idle needlessly, but it also reduces the engine’s overall workload.
3/10 Continuous Variable Valve Lift Technology Helped The New Ingenium Engine Breathe Tons Of Air
Land Rover employed Continuous Variable Valve Lift Technology for the Range Rover Sport HST, which reduced engine-pumping losses. The system works on the inlet valve, improving the amount of air that the engine can take in.
Resultantly, the engine of the HST Sport breathes as efficiently as possible, regardless of what condition it runs in. Overall, it brings down CO2 emissions, as well as increases fuel economy.
2/10 The Range Rover Sport HST Brought Down Emissions By A Whopping 75 Percent
Land Rover remains pretty serious about making its entire lineup easier on the environment. Plus, it also takes away any guilt their customers might have for driving a massive SUV. Thus, the HST, with its 48V mild-hybrid system, not only improved fuel economy but brought down the SUV’s carbon emissions massively.
Compared to the outgoing V6 gasoline engine that the HST replaced, this meant lower carbon emissions and a huge 75{da793fdcd3fe679df000853cab620e3a76d4f41f7c86540cc967171bbb315377} reduction in particulate emissions. For those who want to take care of the environment while also driving around in a luxury barge, this was a great fit.
1/10 The Cabin Of The Range Rover Sport HST Comes With A Special Color And Unique HST Badging
If you have exclusive badging and styling elements on the exterior of your Range Rover Sport HST telling the world about its supercharger and turbocharger, why not on the inside as well? The Range Rover Sport HST’s seats came with a regal red upholstery, complementing the exclusive red calipers on the massive tires outside.
Suede-cloth detailing on the steering wheel, along with more of the red that adorns the interior, feel quite welcome inside the cabin. Of course, you also get bespoke badging on the interior, and Satin Chrome gear shift paddles heighten the luxury of the experience.
