Muscular, aerodynamic and exuding attitude, the brand-new Range Rover Sport has been designed to turn heads in the city, but can it grab the attention of even the most preoccupied Londoner? We sent renowned street photographer Nick Turpin into the center of the capital to find out. But is there more to the Range Rover Sport than meets the eye?

Rush Hour

There is an altogether different atmosphere in the financial district of London. It's rush hour. A take-away cappuccino or espresso, a copy of the Financial Times, and a brisk walk from the tube to the computer screen are all that are on most people's agendas. We park, grab cappuccinos of our own, and observe the reaction to the car.

Of course, while people can be seduced by the styling, they've little idea how much technology is packed beneath the car's skin, and how much of it is aimed at boosting driver enjoyment and improving refinement. On-road handling is helped by Land Rover's new Dynamic Response,™ a computer-controlled active anti-roll system that senses cornering forces and then acts to reduce lean.

The air-sprung suspension is also computer-controlled to improve handling and ride. At high speed or when cornering quickly, the air springs are firm, reducing pitch. At low speed, or off-road, they offer enormous compliance, improving ride and suppleness.

An electronically controlled center differential—or e-diff—improves off-road traction and on-road handling. Electronic Traction Control (ETC) and Dynamic Stability Control (DSC) reduce the likelihood of slips and skids. The Range Rover Sport also features enormously strong, fully ventilated disc brakes, backed up by the latest-generation Bosch anti-lock brake (ABS) technology. Powerful Brembo® four-piston brakes are fitted to the high-speed Supercharged version.

As standard, the Range Rover Sport also includes Terrain Response,™ Land Rover's patented off-road technology, which enhances drivability and traction on any surface. A rotary switch allows the driver to select one of five terrain settings. The car's suite of electronic controls then optimizes the vehicle's setup for the chosen terrain, allowing you to get the best performance, irrespective of the conditions.

Morning Shift

First stop: Smithfield Meat Market. There aren't many places that are filled with energy at this time of the morning, but it's a patch of London with a dual personality, according to photographer Nick Turpin. At the crack of dawn, it represents the traditions of London. There's an energy that is at odds with the time of day, but by night the bustle of the meat market gives way to the buzz of the bars and restaurants that have followed in the wake of a ₤70 million refurbishment of the area.

It doesn't take long before the Range Rover Sport is attracting attention from the meat packers and butchers who have been working for hours. It's a car that's been designed to turn heads. And it does. The design is sleeker, more rounded and more compact than that of the flagship Range Rover—more flowing and less geometric.

The windscreen is steeply raked; the roof is sloped and lower than on the other vehicles in the Land Rover range. The glass area is also shallower, while pillars are slim, accentuating the sports styling. Big tires improve the stance and the sporty appearance.

To give the body more flow, the hood has been designed without the Range Rover's trademark castellations, while aerodynamics are improved by a deep front spoiler, side skirts and a rear roof spoiler. But what everyone here really wants to know is "How fast will it go?" Suffice to say, they're more than impressed by the 140-mph top speed.

Lunch Run

Quirky, historic, trend-settingly modern and famous for its markets, coffee shops, art galleries and designer studios, the East End of London that takes in Spitalfields and Hoxton certainly provides a marked contrast to the financial district. According to Turpin, there's a more informal crowd here. They're bolder, too: faces firmly pressed up against the windows to get a glimpse of the car's interior.

Those who designed the Range Rover Sport think of the inside as a cockpit rather than a cabin. The instruments and controls cocoon the driver. Even the gear lever is offset toward the driver to make them feel like the cockpit is designed around them.

Yet the driver sits high and enjoys the Command Driving Position, characteristic of all Land Rover vehicles. Visibility is excellent, allowing drivers (and passengers) to see over hedges, traffic and spray on wet roads. All four corners of the car are visible, making parking easy. The big glass area also offers a superbly panoramic view, its frontage only rivaled by the up-market shops of the West End and Hampstead, where we find ourselves next.

The driving position is complemented by seats that are well bolstered to provide maximum support. The switches are bold and stylish, while regularly used controls have a soft-feel finish to improve tactility. Automatic air conditioning is standard, and there are separate settings for the driver and front-seat passenger. When it comes to in-car entertainment, the Range Rover Sport has the sort of kit that any West End nightspot would be proud of: The car features a harman/kardon LOGIC 7 system that uses 14 speakers and is powered by a 12-channel digitally controlled amplifier. Satellite navigation is also offered, and includes off-road guidance. A twin rear-screen DVD player is available, as is an integrated mobile phone which employs Bluetooth® technology for remote operation.

Night Life

It's early evening and we're in the thick of things as we navigate the labyrinthine back streets of Soho and Chinatown. The fluorescent strips are flickering into life and the streets are crowded with a combination of workers on their way home, clubbers on their way out and tourists hoping to glimpse a celebrity in nearby Leicester Square. Even in this "look at me" part of London, the Range Rover Sport is attracting attention. Though, aside from the "Supercharged" badging and unique mesh grille, there's nothing to tell them that one of the car's most impressive sights lies under the hood. The top-line, 4.2-litre, supercharged V8 engine makes this the fastest product Land Rover has ever created. The figures speak for themselves: The engine is electronically limited to a top speed of 140 mph (225 km/h) and can accelerate from 0–60mph in only 7.2 seconds. The supercharged V8 is based on the engine developed for high-performance Jaguar sports cars such as the XKR, although it is completely modified to give more low-end torque and off-road capability. An advanced six-speed "adaptive" electronically controlled automatic gearbox is featured on all versions. CommandShift® manual gear-changing and a Sports mode improve driving fun and performance. The Range Rover Sport is the first-ever Land Rover vehicle engineered with a clear on-road bias. Land Rover describes it as a sports tourer that is an exhilarating drive and has excellent performance, handling and braking. At the same time it's also a refined vehicle for long-distance high-speed driving, perfect for crossing countries or continents. It's also, as we've just found out, the ideal accessory for turning heads on the streets of London.