Jaguar Land Rover's ongoing development of hybrid and electric models has not precluded the British manufacturer from rolling out a new super- and turbocharged inline-6 engine…

The Range Rover Sport HST is a special-edition model that comes with some glitzy exterior pieces and some lavish interior choices. The HST allows for achoice of 2alloy wheel designs and 5exterior colours:Santorini Black, Fuji White, Indus Silver, Firenze Red and Carpathian Grey. What's more, the HST is distinguishable by its red brake calipers, with a grey anodised option also available.

Inside, the HST's 16-way adjustablefront seats feature an updated colour pattern with suede cloth detailing on the steering wheel and transmission lever, Satin Chrome gear shift paddles and an HST badged fascia.

The major specification detail for this model, however, is the engine… an all-new in-line 6-cylinder super- and turbocharged engine, which replaces the previous V6 unit. The new unitdevelops peak outputs of 294 kW and 550 Nm and accelerates the HST from 0 to 100 kph in 6.1 seconds.

The electric supercharger is able to spool up fully in just 0.5 seconds. By reducing low-end lag, the electric supercharger then hands off to the twin-scroll turbocharger. The engine is also equipped with a mild hybrid system that aids accelerationwhen the Range Rover pullsaway from a standstill.

Nick Rogers, Jaguar Land Rover's executive director of product engineering, explains the change: "Inline 6-cylinder engines are inherently better balanced than V6 designs and our all-new Ingenium unit builds on that promise to optimise efficiency in all operating conditions.

Advanced features, including an electric supercharger, ensure distinctive Range Rover Sport performance and responses, while the intelligent MHEV (hybrid) system harvests energy to improve fuel economy and reduce emissions."

Unfortunately the engine, in hybrid application, will not make it to South Africa, although it will likely be brought over in another JLR product in the not too distant future.

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