The Range Rover Sport was Land Rover's first performance SUV, designed to be more refined on the road than its competitors yet retaining outstanding off‐road capability.

More compact than the Range Rover, it used the T5 platform first seen on Discovery 3, and making its debut was the Dynamic Response System to optimise body roll and handling. The range was topped by a 4.2 litre V8 supercharged model, whisking it to an electronically-limited top speed of 140 mph. All models were fitted with an intelligent six-speed automatic gearbox, which adapted to the driving style.

This Range Rover Sport was the first production model, fitted with the V6 diesel engine, destined for the German market.