Range Rover’s modern luxury performance flagship, the 635PS mild-hybrid Twin Turbo V8 Range Rover Sport SV, recently proved the stopping performance and durability benefits of its optional Carbon Ceramic Braking system by completing a two-week track driving event at the Algarve International Circuit, on a single set of brake discs and pads.
All four of the Range Rover Sport SV EDITION ONEs used on track at the undulating 4.6km Portimão grand prix circuit in Portugal featured the optional Carbon Ceramic Braking system with SV-exclusive Brembo Octyma calipers and 440mm front brake discs, the largest in the automotive industry.
On average, each car covered 215 laps of the 15-corner circuit, adding 987km to the 1600 kilometres they had already covered before the event started.
When inspected after the drive event, the brake pads for the Carbon Ceramic Braking system still retained around 30 per cent of their usable pad life.
Every lap on track included multiple heavy braking zones, particularly into the first right-hand Corner 1 which saw Range Rover Sport SV EDITION ONE slowing from speeds of up to 241kph into the downhill braking zone, generating in excess of 1.1G – a figure it can also exceed in steady-state lateral acceleration during cornering, even on standard-fit all-season tyres.
The Carbon Ceramic Braking option also saves 34kg unsprung mass versus the standard Dual-Cast Brakes, which enables even more responsive handling, improved acceleration and enhanced ride quality.