Range Rover Vogue Supercharged a big beauty

The new Range Rover Vogue Supercharged reminds you of the old-style Hollywood hero - big, square and handsome. These are also the kind of terms you would use to describe an elephant and this automobile certainly is a beast that looks imposing enough to shift almost anything out of its way.

It can even manage to shift the opinions of people who detest SUVs.

A friend who drove one couldn't stop praising it later. "I had avoided such SUVs, thinking it would require a lot of effort," he confessed. "But this is easier to manoeuvre and steer thanI had imagined."

His wife apparently loved the fact that it has a dual-view screen inthe centre of the dashboard. Why?It allowed her to watch a DVD while only the sat-nav system was visible to her husband - no fear of his attention straying while she was watching her favourite movie. As features go, this must be the one that tilts the scales for the wives. For the children, too, little touches such asthis take it beyond the simply square. The2011 Range Rover HSE has a slightly modified face with a lot of chrome, a grille that looks like the blades of a newfangledfive-blade razor, mysterious-looking front wing vents and tail lamps that look like something straight out of Blade Runner.

At first glance you may feel it's not much of an off-roader, and this feeling is reinforced when you drive the car and realise that it is pretty fast.

The speed is courtesy of the bumped-up supercharged 5-litre V8 engine that produces 510bhp and 625Nm of torque and, according to the Land Rover brochure, accelerates from 0-100km/h in 6.2 seconds. It's certainly quick for its size. I didn't time it. Why would I in an SUV? Still, it certainly felt very nimble - especially at the signals.

Driving this six-speed is simplya matter of planting the right foot, and hearing the muted roar of the V8. You won't even feel the car taking off. It feels featherlight at the wheel.

This Range Rover is also ‘supercharged'. What that actually means is that it is fitted with a supercharger - a mechanical pump that sends compressed air into the engine. The simple equation: more air equals more power.

A supercharger is different from a turbocharger. A turbocharger uses exhaust gases to drive a turbine; the supercharger is driven by a belt that's attached to the engine.

What superchargers do are a great job of delivering low-end power on demand. This is what really getsa big SUV up and moving. Andthe Range Rover ‘supercharged' certainly moves. But you hardly feel anything as computers buffer all that weight and power. You are isolated from the speed and driving this car takes no effort whatsoever. There is absolutely no strain for the driver, even on long distances.

It may not be great fun for a driver's driver though, because with the almost seamless automatic six-speed transmission, it doesn't feel like any gears are being changed at all. The Range Rover HSE feels remarkably refined, can seat five adults without anybody getting the cramps. The suspension soaks up everything the road can throw its way. The spacious, upright driving position allows a panoramic view of the cars all around, which is an excellent thing in a city full of cars. This then is where it is in its element, you would think. And you would be right, until you take it off-road and realise it does surprisingly well there too.

This Range Rover has done away with the conventional dials for the speedometer and rev counter.A 12.3-inch widescreen TFT panel now shows what the car is doing. When you switch on to one ofthe off-road modes on the Terrain Response System dial on thecentre console, the screen will showa graphic of the car with each of its wheel positions revealed.

Land Rover's Terrain Response system remains as advanced as ever with selectable off-road modes depending on where you are planning to head. Ruts, sand or rock climbing, Terrain Response has got a mode for you. But during the four days of driving I did - some of them along the dirt roads and sands of Dibba - I didn't feel much difference between the mud, snow, sand and automatic settings. It was only in the wadis off Khorfakkan that I felt there was any need to change the setting to ‘Rock Crawl' to navigate the huge rocks that covered the trail.

The Bosch system provides sensing and power for the army of dynamic control systems fitted to the Range Rover, including Hill Descent Control (HDC), Electronic Traction Control (ETC) and Dynamic Stability Control (DSC). It also incorporates Electronic Brakeforce Distribution (EBD) and Emergency Brake Assist (EBA) that provides additional pressure to the braking system. The traction and stability control systems work well together. Out on the open highway the Range Rover affords a clear view. With time at the wheel you can start enjoying the drive as you get used to the fact that you don't have to watch the cars in the front with an eagle eye as you have about a kilometre of clear. Whether the car directly behind you can see anything at all is debatable.

The weight and suspension travel of a big SUV often weigh against it when it comes to safe driving, but when you drive the Range Rover you get the feeling nothing could go wrong. Despite its weight of 2,700kg, it handles itself pretty well.

The high centre of gravity means there is some body roll, but it never seems out of control.

The whole package is elegant, classy and screams quality. The cabin feels like it is built around you - solid comfort, rather like old money. Your tactile senses are rewarded with great material choices everywhere, from the smooth, leather-wrapped dashboard to the brushed aluminium accents and trim to the substantial steering wheel.

It is easy on the eyes, too. The centre console is very cleverly designed. The rest of the cabin is similarly tasteful and elegant. Sliding louvred doors cover the cup holders up front, hiding them from view until they are needed. The second row gets great leg and headroom.

Advanced technology inside the cabin includes a comprehensive in-car entertainment and information system, and the availability of a twin screen DVD system.

The top-of-the-range sound system uses 14 speakers and is powered bya 12-channel digitally controlled amplifier. Each channel produces 50 watts to create a ‘surround sound' stage within the vehicle. Other features include a comprehensive navigation system including on-road and off-road modes and Bluetooth capability.

Under the front centre armrest is a cooler that can hold a few cans of soda and keep them cold.

The cargo area is accessible by opening the hatch or just lifting the hinged rear window.

Finally, what you have been waiting for… The price: Dh425,000. Butthen again, by now you probably know that indulging your senses usually doesn't come cheap!