When you narrate the story of your life you're presenting an autobiography. It's a personalized chronicle only you can tell. And when it comes to choosing the pinnacle of the Range Rover lineup, it's an Autobiography that best delivers the narrative of your automotive lifestyle.Though the recently introduced, super high performance SVR is now the priciest Range Rover Sport model it’s this Autobiography that’s considered the flagship. The $12,500 that separates it from the Supercharged model affords exclusivity through a mélange of comfort, convenience and aesthetic upgrades ranging from 16-way adjustable front seats to 21” wheels with red painted brake calipers. But what doesn’t change is what makes it go like there’s no tomorrow. It’s the brand’s hallmark 5.0-liter supercharged V8 and it remains one of my favorite engines of all time and here it’s mated to an 8-speed automatic. Referring to the Sport as the Jaguar of SUVs is completely apropos. Because this latest generation Sport underwent liposuction the aluminum-crafted, direct-injected, 510-horsepower bastion of bravado has never felt so good. So much power mixed with so much capability; that precisely defines the Range Rover Sport - an uncompromising SUV with a dynamic range as expansive as the terrain it can traverse. The Jaguar-like sounds from the supercharged V8 will make you giddy while going off road is handled in the legendary Land Rover level of expertise. It's everything you could want an SUV to be.The Sport is ready to pounce at any time and will take off to 60mph in a scant 5.0-seconds. Hesitation is not in its vocabulary. The only downer to this kind of crazy sound and speed is the premium-only gas mileage of 14mpg city /19mpg highway. It also accepts E85 at the rate of 11mpg combined. An auto start/stop system aides in the cause. But I know, as they always say if you can afford the car you can afford the gas. When you open the door this red leather interior instantly generates a reaction. And it seems to be divided by gender; men love it. Women hate it.It no doubt clashes with the Montalcino Red exterior but if you’re into the wow factor, this Pimento leather is a no-brainer. And the Sport really brings a level of style and sophistication inside with an athletic fit commensurate with its purpose. It exudes superior craftsmanship and quality. And because it’s a Range Rover, Sport models do not concede their off-road DNA in any way and as such the 4-wheel drive manipulations are plentiful via the Terrain Response system with five selectable setups including Auto and Dynamic. And with the air springs, ride height can be altered to provide even greater ground clearance. So though it looks too well-dressed for wading through nearly 3’ of water, the brilliance of the Sport is that it can. What’s more, the ride quality feels equally well composed over rocky terrain as it does cruising down the highway. The Sport’s cabin remains quiet with the exception of times when you summon the fury of the specially tuned exhaust and intake sound symposer. And the aluminum-bodied Sport benefits from its light weight to raise the ante on SUV handling, capable of far more than just running straight ahead.But the cabin remained the focal point of discussion this week and red or not, its midsize proportions give it a just right kind of feel from the front seats all the way to the cargo area. The TFT gauge display looks great, there’s customizable ambient lighting, a Range Rover emblem projects onto the ground at night and an optional 23-speaker Meridian sound system is pure ear candy. A full-length panorama roof and 4-zone climate control add to the sereneness. The electronics interface is also improved though suffers the same fate as many others – a brutally slow processor and not enough stand-alone buttons. The entry point for this level of awesomeness is $93,490 while this one stickers for $97,905. And while the Autobiography buys things like a raised top speed of 155mph, what it really provides is an extra layer of exclusivity.

The concept of a really fast SUV is nothing new but the bevy of ultra-luxurious, super high-performance sport-utes available to those with deep pockets is at an all-time high. This new Range Rover Sport SVR is the next in line to take your 100 grand in exchange for sports car capabilities. Jaguar Land Rover’s lineup is gaining traction with an expanding portfolio on both ends of the product spectrum including this new model from the recently created Special Vehicle Operations unit. Like its high-end competitors, SVO vehicles are exclusive, low volume versions of existing models but the group has also turned out some collectible cars that aren’t even street-legal. With an MSRP of about $124,000 for my loaded tester, this Range Rover Sport SVR provides about $60,000 worth of distance between you and the guy with the base SE model. It looks to Jaguar for inspiration under the hood with a 550-horsepower version of the brand’s legendary 5.0-liter supercharged V8, allowing them to brand the SVR as the fastest Land Rover vehicle ever capable of a 0-to-60mph time of 4.5-seconds – a half second improvement over the Sport Supercharged model and a stirring achievement considering its 5,148 pounds – though relatively trim thanks to its aluminum unibody. Gas mileage surprised me averaging a hat-tip worthy 17.5mpg. And just like the audacious-sounding F-Type R, the SVR uses an electronically controlled active exhaust system to produce sounds that’ll wake up the neighbors. Take your foot off the gas and the snap, crackle and pops can be heard long after you zoom by. Want to fly under the radar? You can just switch it to a quieter mode. Besides the cool SVR badges, this range-topping model adds unique 21” wheels, blue-painted brake calipers with Brembos in the front, and a host of body enhancements including huge air intakes for the intercoolers and 6-piston brakes, a blacked-out grille with Range Rover script, unique side moldings, a pronounced rear spoiler, and gloss black diffuser. Despite these differences, the SVR still appears a bit understated to the unwitting. The cabin is spectacular, continuing the black theme with performance-oriented front seats replete with quilted centers, reflective piping and the SVR logo. If you’re driving with 2 more in the back, those seats could use more side bolstering so as not to slide around. Mine has the optional Ebony headliner and carbon fiber veneer creating the perfect atmosphere for a racy SUV. The electronics are dreadfully slow and outdated but if you can overlook that peeve, your senses will thoroughly enjoy the SVR experience.To build a pedigree, SVR models receive their own tune for the locking rear differential and torque vectoring, better mimicking the agility, grip, steering and reduced understeer nature of the sports car it wishes to be. In dynamic mode with all of its senses heightened, the SVR and its specifically-tuned Active-Roll Control software keep the body level and composed during spirited driving. It all works through an 8-speed automatic with downshift rev-matching, manual mode, and a plethora of driving programs tailored for whatever lies ahead. Though the SVR has serious instantaneous power, connected steering and polished backroad moves it isn’t willing to give up its go anywhere SUV reputation which is a blessing and a curse. Having recently driven BMW's version of an SUV on steroids the X6 M, the comparisons between the 2 were inevitable. And here's the skinny. The SVR gives you the full Monty of Range Rover's legendary 4WD tools in addition to playing its role as a sports car. It's a neat combo of extraordinary dynamic capability but if you want the pure raciness of a performance car in an SUV body the BMW is the one you'll want. You sit up high, the air springs can take you ever higher and if off-road is where you’re headed the SVR will still oblige – just remove the lower section first if you’re really going for it. Permanent 4-wheel drive with a 50:50 torque split, low range and aggressive crawl ratio with all of the bennys of the Terrain Response system are a reminder that the SVR isn’t just an SUV for show. But because it wears all-season, low-rolling resistance tires and still adheres to Range Rover’s strict standards, it doesn’t drive nearly as adroitly or with as much intoxicating fun as the X6 M. My tester adds in the optional Meridian Signature Audio system which will delight audiophiles and the Driver Assistance Package with lane departure warning with traffic sign recognition, perpendicular and parallel park assist and a 360 degree camera.It’s tight on storage space up front, particularly with the optional cooler in the front console otherwise the SVR provides ample midsize space. And I aks where are the cooled seats? I like the SVO idea and the Range Rover Sport SVR is a credible early effort for those who want the fast with their mud.