Range Rover Sport 2023 - 360 MAGAZINE

Welcome to the artistic landscapes, vintage tapas cuisine, cultural energy, and trendy fashion of Madrid, the Spanish capital known for its constellation of Renaissance and contemporary art, elegant boulevards, and sprawling royal monuments. Whether you’re visiting the historic city with family, friends or your spouse, be sure to do so with the keys in hand of an all-new 2023 Range Rover Sport. Similarly, my memorable time here was a global test drive experience of the newest British SUV while searching for exciting activities to satisfy my adventurous spirit.

Boarding in Virginia, the trip transitioned from Washington Dulles International Airport to Adolfo Suárez Madrid-Barajas Airport via a direct 6.5-hour business class flight on United Airlines. After landing in the morning, head to Central Madrid in the back seat of the New Range Rover Sport luxury car and its luxurious cabin. The mobile lounge will lull you into a 45-minute nap with soothing sound before arriving at The Madrid EDITION, your innovative design hotel accommodation during European vacations. Before checking in, take a quick walking tour to take in the lively scenes and local energy to get your blood flowing after the long flight. Next, find a cafe for tea, fruit, and pastries as you admire Madrid’s sunny blue skies, eclectic neighborhoods, and historic buildings. Afterward, your beautifully appointed apartment-style suite will be ready to refresh, unwind, and regroup.

Wake up to the lively echoes of conversation and laughter in Spanish, prompting you to join in the fanfare as you walk through one of the city’s most famous landmarks, Puerta del Sol, a busy and picturesque plaza in the heart of the capital. Spanish. Shopping is ubiquitous, as are restaurants, pubs, and lounges as you prepare for the next day of exploring. Of course, the nightlife is active almost every night, so be sure to conserve energy. Next, head to the Casa de Valencia to satisfy your soul with the symbolic and authentic Valencian rice paella. Oh wow, you’ll eat until the sun comes up if you get the chance!

After a sound sleep, wake up revitalized for your trip to the countryside in the 2023 Range Rover Sport First Edition P530 V8, the hub of four powertrain options for the majestic SUV. But first, head to the state-of-the-art gym for an immersive fitness workout, as it has all the equipment needed to complete your rejuvenation. Next is the driving time. Land Rover prides itself on its dynamic British aesthetics and design philosophies thanks to the genius of Creative Director Gerry McGovern, who embodied the new Sport with intelligent controls, technological aggression, modern materials and sustainable Ultrafabrics. On the way to Soto de Mozanaque in Alcobendas, Madrid, my driving partner and I chose a Firenze Red Range Rover Sport First Edition glorified by a contrasting black roof and gloss black 23” 10-spoke imperial wheels. Tucked into 285/45 R23 Pirelli Scorpion Zero tires, the larger co-engineered rubber keeps the vehicle grounded and fills the wheel wells well for added definition. The A-pillar, window surrounds, grille, badging, rear diffuser and tailgate spoiler are also blacked out.

The SUV is enthusiastically agile, powerful and ultra-quiet inside and out until you put the pedal to the metal while the seductive growl emanating from the four pipes takes precedence. Powered by a 523-horsepower 4.4-liter twin-turbocharged V8, acceleration from 0 to 60 mph in 4.3 seconds is immediately at your disposal from each gear of the 8-speed automatic transmission. Plus, scenic out-of-town roads were dignified with All-Wheel Steering, Intelligent All-Wheel Drive, Dynamic Launch Mode, Dynamic Air Suspension, Dynamics Response Pro, and a First Edition Electric Active Differential. . Essentially, it felt like the Range Rover Sport was driving itself.

Arriving at the majestic grounds and country retreat of Soto de Mozanaque, owned by the Duke of Alburuqrque D. Juan Miguel Osorio Bertrán de Lis., we relaxed, inhaled the purified rural air, and ate a delicious vegan lunch. Visions of freedom came to mind as I took in the postcard views of the manicured lawn and garden. With roots dating back to 1731, the wedding and corporate event space was originally built as a pleasure palace and hunting lodge. Its Soto Mozanaque golf course is also pushing to become a Rider’s Cup location. While here, media guests were able to reveal the exalted interior of the Range Rover Sport First Edition, which features stripped-back design parts, a 29-speaker, 1,430-watt Meridian Signature audio system, 22-way adjustable and massaging seats, forged carbon fiber accents and a center console cooler. Advanced technology is provided by Cabin Air Purification Pro (CAPP), the dramatically improved in-house designed 13.1” Pivi Pro infotainment system, 3D surround camera, a ClearSight rearview mirror and 60 software updates over the air (SOTA). SOTA should alleviate some of Land Rover’s previous quality issues and prevent owners from visiting a dealer. CAPP minimizes odours, bacteria and allergens, such as the SARS-CoV-2 virus, using PM2.5 filtration and nanoe X technology.

Once a few hours of meditation had passed, our next stage directed us towards Madrid’s famous Golden Triangle of Art, such as the renowned Prado Museum (Museo del Prado), the Reina Sofía National Art Center Museum (National Art Center Reina Sofía) and the Thyssen-Bornemisza National Museum (Museo Nacional Thyssen-Bornemisza). My attention was focused on Prado, as it is considered one of the best in the world for original paintings. The director of the museum arranged a private tour for us to witness the magical illustrations of Francisco José de Goya, the highly respected and prolific Spanish romantic engraver. Another collector’s item on display is the Adoration of the Magi by Hans Memling. Painted around 1479, the Prado Museum acquired the oil on panel triptych in 1847. My time here was filled with cultural expression through these pristine pieces of art. Likewise, the Prado Museum’s restoration laboratory highlights and corrects original works dating from 1881, the year of Picasso’s birth.

After a long and exciting day, it was time to return to the white-themed decor of The Madrid EDITION for a tranquil spa treatment, decompress in my fabulous suite, and mingle in the urban lobby before venturing out to dinner at the Amazon Restaurant. This Amazonian-themed establishment was buzzing with vibrancy thanks to the lively hosts, lively DJ, and delicious Asian, Mediterranean, and Brazilian dishes. Our small group had a wonderful evening that went by quickly due to the vibrant atmosphere. I think I spent more time dancing in my seat than I did eating. And yes, I waited patiently for another good night’s sleep in my chambers. The next day, enjoy a wonderful Spanish breakfast before a morning walk to blend in with the locals as they rush to work. Then grab a table at any of the hundreds of cafes at your disposal to people watch.

For the rest of my stay, I focused on the happenings in the city center as I cruised the streets of Madrid and headed an hour north of Madrid to tour the grounds of Hotel Caserío Aldeallana in a 2023 Range Rover Sport Dynamic SE P400. The boutique estate boasts hundreds of acres, a courtyard, a chapel, and a 5-bedroom historic home to accompany the quaint rooms for those seeking weekend getaways with Mother Nature. I didn’t visit the property overnight, but went for lunch and to witness the Range Rover Sport’s off-road capabilities. The plug-in hybrid features a 3-liter V6 engine with 434 horsepower and an electric motor good for 48 EPA-estimated electric miles. A fully electric Range Rover will arrive in 2024.

“The exceptional New Range Rover Sport sets new standards as the ultimate luxury sports SUV, building on seventeen years of unique customer appeal,” said Thierry Bolloré, Jaguar Land Rover Chief Executive Officer. “It is the latest incarnation of our vision to create the world’s most desirable modern luxury vehicles, effortlessly blending new levels of sustainability with the distinctive qualities that have made Range Rover Sport so popular.”

Traveling on road tires, the PHEV derivative had no qualms about driving through deep trenches, around rocks, up steep hills, and downhill as the SUV slid down inclines without the driver needing to brake. We also demonstrated the capabilities of the new off-road adaptive cruise control and all-wheel steering with 7.3 degrees of rear yaw to showcase the SUV’s agility. Vivid cameras show true-to-life views so you can position the Rover correctly during specific manoeuvres, and Adaptive Dynamics and Terrain Response 2 adjust the vehicle to various road surfaces and conditions based on your needs. Finally, after littering the Rover with dirt and mud, it was time to head back to town with Sport mode engaged to manipulate the ZF transmission using the paddle shifters.

We headed to the Mercado de San Miguel back in town for various treats. Spanish gastronomy is presented in the historic building that houses the food market through 20 stalls that offer flavors from all over Spain, from Galicia to the Basque Country. Before leaving Madrid, I visited a theater show, walked through one of the local parks, shopped enthusiastically, including an outing to watch retailer Antigua Relojería SA, and celebrated football victories at Sports Pub Madrid.

Starting at $83,000 in the US, the 2023 Range Rover Sport presents its loyal fans with sophisticated luxury, electrifying power, focused refinement and impeccable technology. And what better way to nomadic explore the beauty of Madrid, Spain, than with Britain’s most refined next-level SUV? It is quite appropriate for all your exploratory endeavors. So build the newest member of your family HERE.

Kimatni D. Rawlins in Madrid for the 2023 Range Rover Sport press campaign via 360 MAGAZINE.