Monday 11th August 2014

Range Rover Sport SVR - more details

£93K starting price and more confirmed ahead of public debut later in the week

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The Range Rover Sport SVR will be officially unveiled later this week at Pebble Beach (no, it wasn't at Wilton...) and following revelations about its lap time around that ruddy race track in Germany and 550hp power output we've got more impressive numbers confirmed.

Pebble Beach? No. Scotland? No. Photoshop? Yes.

Like a £93,450 starting price. For reference the (recently updated) Cayenne Turbo starts at £92,628. Pure coincidence there, of course.

It's swings and roundabouts in other comparable stats, the Range Rover 30hp more powerful but losing out on torque with its 501lb ft to the Cayenne's 553lb ft. The Range Rover is a tenth slower to 62mph and on the Autobahn the Porsche has another 10mph in hand once the Sport tops out at 162mph. Does spec sheet willy waggling matter in the grand scheme of things? Possibly more in this market sector than others.

But the Range Rover has tricks up its sleeve beyond that 'ring lap time. Unlike the more road optimised Cayenne the Sport remains true - to an extent - to its off-road heritage and maintains all the ability of the rest of the Sport range with a low-range gearbox and 'Wade Sensing'. Though probably not with the all-new 22-inch signature wheel and its 295/40 Continental SportContact tyres. As standard it comes with 21-inch wheels and 275/45 all-season rubber for a degree more off-road ability though it remains unlikely many will be joining the camo-clad boys for a spot of winching out in the wilds.

Sport SVR promises to do the biz on the road...

Tick your stereotypes off as we go but the SVR's off-road ability is probably about as relevant as that 'ring record to most owners. Refer back to earlier paragraph about bragging rights... Beyond some additional visual muscle - like the Sport was lacking in that already - Range Rover has also developed a special 'two stage active exhaust featuring electronically controlled valves' that lets you make noise when you want to but keeps things refined when you don't. Quad pipes mark it out from the regular V8.

In terms of what the SVR represents beyond that it's a significant step for both Land Rover and Jaguar given that it's the first mainstream model from the new Special Vehicle Operations department run by former Land Rover boss John Edwards. The Project Seven F-Type, Team Sky F-Type and continuation E-Type Lightweights on the Jaguar side have demonstrated its talents for one-off commissions, extremely limited run specials and heritage based projects but with the SVR we've got a product that'll appear in showrooms.

...and off it too. Apparently.

At this point we'll hand over to you to debate whether or not there's a place in the PH world for 550hp Range Rover Sports...

 

 

 

 

 

[gsuk1]

Stupid and fantastic all rolled into one!

[RacerMike]

I think it looks fantastic, and Estoril Blue is a lovely colour....although I've always had a soft spot for blue. The VW colour 'Deep Blue Pearleffect' has been a favorite of mine since it launched on the Mk4 Golf R32.

There's quite a nicely produced (if somewhat over the top!) launch video here:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qheTOY0-H9o

[dinz]

If anyone out there would like to 'lend' me £100k, then please, don't hold back!

This RRS SVR is sheer lunacy, but i'd like a slice of it

[Fire99]

It looks ooooooge!

[smilo996]

Can you put chrome spinners on it?

Will it take 30 profile hoops init?

Does it have a chilled coke box?

ow can I shut de kids up wi it?

Is there a wags gag on the equipment list, boss?

Many to be seen littering car parks and school drives this winter.

Stupid but if they had to they did a pretty good job.

[Fire99]

smilo996 said:

Stupid but if they had to they did a pretty good job.

For what it is I think it looks pretty good.

But being a bit of a Victor Meldrew, most will end up blocking school roads and taking up copious amounts of space in the local supermarket car park..

[250GTE]

Will the person who left the X6 ouside my house parked in such a fashion so as to occupy 2 resident's bays, please fking move it now.
Perhaps trade it in for one of these?
Moron.

[Dr Interceptor]

I'd take one over a Cayenne, Macan, X5M or X6M every day of the week.

I can't think of a situation though where'd I'd be in that market.

Bonkers and brilliant.

[ayrton12]

This thing is Nordschleife approved! So no argues about the performance or the necessity of this SAV..or SUV?!

[eddiesheanon]

Any rust in the Tailgate, wink wink.

[Dr Interceptor]

eddiesheanon said:

Any rust in the Tailgate, wink wink.

She's alooooominnum

[sanctum]

I've driven the regular supercharged V8 version, and was thoroughly impressed with the range of capabilities of this machine. I have a Defender for rough stuff and a lotus elise for track days, but this is a car I'd happily do both in, phenomenal.

[Dale487]

There is clearly a market with Overfinch & the like. Why shouldn't Land Rover get a slice of this?

I've seen a handful of Overfinch Range Rovers in Manchester - not sure if its the full works or just body modifications.

Not my taste.

[toppstuff]

Oh my, they have come a long way from this:



Am I the only one that yearns for a return to the purity of the original?

[DanielSan]

There's a place for anything in the world with 550bhp. The fact it's in something as ludicrous as an off reader just makes it better really. Insane but brilliant.

[RacerMike]

Fire99 said:

But being a bit of a Victor Meldrew, most will end up blocking school roads and taking up copious amounts of space in the local supermarket car park..

Whilst possibly true of the more run of the mill Range Rover Sport, it's unlikely the SVR will be bought as a family run about. It's going to be bought by people who have 3 or 4 or 5 other cars and just fancy a mental 4x4.

I suspect most will go to the Middle East, a few enthusiast owners in the UK, the occasional footballer, and quite a few people in the States.

[MrTappets]

I know I should hate this, but my god it looks good!

[Vee12V]

Next to that Dodge Hellcat 550 hp suddenly seems rather 'poor'..

[dukebox9reg]

Living around Warwickshire I've heard on few of these giving the beans going up the road. Not far of the F-Type R. Sounds epic(shifts aswell in an almost cartoon fashion).

[Atmospheric]

I like the looks and the specification - but I'll take a Cayenne T if I wanted that sort of car.