Tag Archives: Range Rover

News

Chery Tried to Recreate Range Rover’s Legendary Heaven’s Gate Stunt – It Didn’t Go Well

Back in 2018, Range Rover pulled off one of the greatest pieces of automotive marketing ever recorded: a Range Rover Sport, piloted by a Le Mans–winning driver, conquering the 999 steps up to China’s Heaven’s Gate. The video—now sitting at 6.7 million views—was equal parts engineering flex and cinematic bravado, cementing itself as one of the brand’s most iconic “because we can” moments.

Naturally, someone was going to try it again.

Enter Chery, China’s fast-rising automaker, with a brand-new SUV called the Fulwin X3L—a hybrid off-roader whose design pays significant homage to the latest Land Rover and Range Rover silhouettes. In its top configuration, the X3L makes an impressive 422 horsepower, which Chery evidently felt was enough to warrant a headline-snatching spectacle of its own.

So the company brought a bright yellow example to the foot of Heaven’s Gate, lined it up with the ancient staircase, and hit record.

Spoiler: It didn’t reach the gate. Or even close.

Ground-level footage shows the Fulwin X3L powering up the steps with enthusiasm—until about the midway point, where enthusiasm turns into hesitation. The SUV begins to bog down. The driver digs deeper into the throttle, trying to claw toward the next landing. Instead, the X3L loses traction, slides backward, and violently impacts a stone barrier.

A shower of debris follows, some of it tumbling off the cliffside. The SUV, thankfully, stays put. The dignity? Less so.

Chery’s Explanation: Blame the Rope

Within hours, Chery issued a polished apology. The company explained that the November 12 test was “interrupted due to an unexpected incident” that drew “widespread attention”—corporate-speak for this was supposed to go viral for different reasons.

According to the automaker, a safety rope meant to serve as an emergency safeguard detached, became tangled in one of the X3L’s wheels, and drained power—leading to the backward slide and crash.

It’s unclear why a stunt meant to showcase power and capability needed a safety rope in the first place, but we digress.

A Historic Staircase, Now Slightly More Historic

Heaven’s Gate isn’t just a scenic photo op—it’s home to a centuries-old stone staircase leading to the 1,700-year-old Tianmen Cave, a sacred and heavily protected cultural landmark. Which means Chery’s failed stunt didn’t just dent an SUV; it damaged heritage infrastructure that predates the internal combustion engine by more than a millennium.

So yes, Chery does indeed have more apologizing to do.

Chery’s Fulwin X3L is probably a perfectly competent hybrid SUV. But engineering credibility isn’t earned by recreating someone else’s viral stunt—especially if the result is a high-profile, slow-motion failure on an irreplaceable historic monument.

Range Rover wrote the playbook at Heaven’s Gate.
Chery tried to photocopy it.
Unfortunately, the machine jammed.

Source: hongkong.newsupdates via Instagram

NEW CARS

2026 Range Rover Sport SV Carbon

The new Range Rover Sport SV Carbon has arrived, and if you thought the standard SV was already a well-tailored battering ram, this one has been put on a strict carbon-fibre diet and told to dress only in the most exquisite materials possible. It’s essentially Range Rover’s performance flagship… but now it’s wearing a bespoke, carbon-weave dinner jacket.

It completes the line-up alongside the “just fast” Range Rover Sport SV and the black-tie-optional SV Black. But the Carbon edition? That’s for people who enjoy the finer things — like forged wheels the size of manhole covers, exhausts wrapped in stealth-spec carbon, and an optional bonnet that looks like it’s been pinched straight off a Le Mans prototype.

The standard fit is a Forged Carbon Exterior Pack, which wraps the Active Quad Exhausts in carbon detailing that’s so sultry, it’s practically whispering in Italian. If you prefer your fibres arranged with military precision, there’s the Twill Carbon option, complete with its signature diagonal weave — the sort of thing that would make a Swiss watchmaker weep with joy.

The wheels? A dainty 23 inches across, forged for lightness, and hugged by Anodised Black brake calipers. Want to go full lunatic? You can spec ultra-lightweight carbon-fibre wheels — which are essentially like fitting a supermodel’s ankles to a rugby player. And if stopping is as important to you as going, Carbon Ceramic Brakes are on the menu, in Blue, Yellow, Carbon Bronze, or Black. Pick the colour that best complements your yacht.

Inside, it’s less “cabin” and more “boutique hotel lobby that happens to move very, very fast.” There are four interior themes, from Windsor Leather in shades like Ebony or Rosewood/Ebony, to a leather-free option made from Ultrafabrics™ — presumably for the type of owner who also demands their champagne be ethically sourced. Carbon detailing spreads across the dashboard and even the back of the seats, because who wants to look at boring plastic when the valet opens the door? Moonlight Chrome accents and SV-branded illuminated treadplates are also there, because of course they are.

And yes — under the bonnet, there’s carbon too. The SV engine cover sits above a 4.4-litre twin-turbo V8 mild hybrid that coughs up a staggering 635PS and 800Nm. Top speed? 180mph. That’s supercar pace, except this thing has the road presence of a private jet taxiing through traffic. The trick 6D Dynamics Suspension — with hydraulic interlinked air suspension, pitch and roll control — means it corners like something much smaller, much lighter, and much angrier.

Then there’s the Body and Soul™ Seat technology. It doesn’t just play music — it lets you feel it. You don’t just hear Beethoven’s Fifth; you become Beethoven’s Fifth. It’s like your seat’s giving you a private concert while you annihilate a B-road.

Range Rover says the SV Carbon is the “ultimate expression of lightweight performance.” Translation? It’s a Range Rover Sport that’s been to the gym, the spa, and the tailor — and now it’s ready to steal your parking spot while looking better than you ever will.

The new model will make its world premiere on 13 August at Range Rover House during Monterey Car Week.

Source: Land Rover

News

Range Rover Sport Embraces a New Era of Luxury with SV Bespoke Commissioning Service

In an era where individuality is the ultimate luxury, Range Rover has taken a bold stride forward. The brand’s acclaimed SV Bespoke commissioning service—previously reserved for its flagship Range Rover—is now available for the first time on the Range Rover Sport. This marks a new chapter for the luxury performance SUV, opening up an extraordinary breadth of personalisation possibilities for discerning clients around the world.

Crafted to Reflect Personality

Range Rover’s SV Bespoke offering goes far beyond conventional options lists. At its core lies a philosophy of tailored luxury—vehicles as unique as their owners. The SV Curated Bespoke Palette includes up to 230 exterior colours in gloss, matte, or satin finishes. For those seeking the extraordinary, the SV Bespoke ‘Match-to-Sample’ service allows virtually any colour to be recreated with remarkable accuracy.

Clients may also opt for distinctive elements like an Exposed Carbon Fibre Bonnet and bespoke roof and mirror cap finishes, while every SV Bespoke gloss paint job now benefits from a new ‘glass-like’ finish. Achieved through a thicker top-coat lacquer and meticulous hand polishing, the result is a surface of unrivalled depth and clarity.

Interior Personalisation Elevated

The Range Rover Sport SV’s interior is no less expressive. Buyers can choose from over 1,500 unique combinations, including a wide range of 15 rich colour options such as Navy, Brogue, Pimento, and Raven Blue. With contrast stitching, bespoke embroidery, unique veneers, and personalised treadplates, SV Bespoke invites owners to curate an atmosphere that speaks uniquely to them.

Exclusive finishes for 23-inch wheels and new brake caliper hues—Xenon Blue and Silver—join a suite of subtle yet striking details. Clients can also select from 22 distinct combinations of the signature two-piece Range Rover script, now available in hand-forged precious metals with matching paint inserts.

Nocturne: The First of Its Kind

The first Range Rover Sport SV to emerge from the SV Bespoke programme is the evocatively named Nocturne, which debuted at Range Rover House in Mykonos. Inspired by the deep indigo twilight of the Mediterranean sky, it features a Bespoke Indigo Gloss exterior, hand polished to mirror-like perfection. Narvik Black mirror caps and a contrast roof lend it a refined edge.

Performance cues come via the Exposed Carbon Fibre Bonnet, Satin Twill Carbon Fibre accents, and Thunderball 23-inch wheels finished in Champagne Gold Satin. Inside, Ebony and Lunar Windsor leather, Light Cloud contrast stitching, Satin Forged Carbon trim, and tactile ceramic controls bring tactile opulence to the cockpit.

Global Commissioning, Personal Touch

To bring this bespoke experience closer to clients, Range Rover has launched a network of Commissioning Suites in luxury hubs including London, Antwerp, Munich, Vancouver, Beijing, Tokyo, and Dubai—with five more coming in 2025. These suites offer curated, in-person consultations with SV Bespoke experts, though virtual commissioning is also available for convenience without compromise.

A Growing Demand for Distinction

The introduction of SV Bespoke for the Range Rover Sport follows growing global demand for ultra-personalised vehicles. As Martin Limpert, Global Managing Director of Range Rover, explains:

“Clients are increasingly looking for crafted details and true distinction. With SV Bespoke, we have the unique opportunity to co-create vehicles that reflect our clients’ personalities in a truly authentic way.”

The SV Bespoke commissioning service is now available on Range Rover Sport SV and Autobiography models. With it, Range Rover continues to push the envelope in the luxury automotive space—blending artisanal craftsmanship with cutting-edge performance to deliver vehicles that are not just owned, but authored.

Source: Land Rover