Monday 30th March 2015

Range Rover SVAutobiography

New York debut for 550hp, £150K Range Rover from Special Vehicle Operations

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We all know there's been many customers clamouring after a more expensive Range Rover for a while now. There's now a JLR subdivision with a remit of very special flagship products. Combine the two and this is the result.

Too posh for a picnic blanket? Fixed that...

The Range Rover SVAutobiography is described as taking the Range Rover "to even greater heights of design sophistication and levels of luxury execution." To that end the rear seats (look at them!) have a chiller compartment, powered deployable table, solid aluminium coat hooks and deep twist pile mohair carpets.

And if that isn't enough, have a look at the 'Event Seating' at the rear. And you thought the split tailgate was just useful for shopping... They may look like shoe shine seats but are apparently designed to "appeal to those who appreciate the duality of Range Rover's 'business and pleasure' characteristics." So once hedge fund deals are complete from the rear pews, one can enjoy the polo (or something) from the Event Seating. Marvellous.

Whoever has the privilege of the driver's seat will enjoy knurled aluminium across the dash. Oh, and 550hp. Yep, the SVAutobiography is available with the 5.0-litre supercharged V8 in its more powerful format, as found in the Sport SVR and F-Type V8. The SDV6 diesel hybrid and SDV8 diesel are also available but, really, who wants to be seen in an SVAutobiography hybrid?

This one's for the backseat drivers

The 'Duo-tone' paint seen here is optional, designed to "create true distinction and individualism". Normal colours are available for those who don't fancy a Santorini Black upper body and one of nine finishes for the lower. All SVAutobiography Rangies though will have a unique polished chrome grille, new badges and, for the supercharged V8, four exhaust pipes.

The SVAutobiography is being launched at New York with a MY16 update to the rest of the Range Rover line up. The supercharged V8 SVAutobiography costs £148,900 and is on sale in the summer. Form a most orderly British queue now.

[arkenphel]

Wow, that's nice!

I even like the paint job!

[Usget]

Vulgar but... sort of good vulgar.

[swisstoni]

A wild ride for the 3rd row passengers.

[mrclav]

The interior in that looks like an absolutely lovely place to spend time.

[Impasse]

Yes.

[Twin2]

So apart from the engine it's an Autobiography Black with child seats on the tailgate?

[unsprung]

Obviously crafted by hand... like a fine piece of furniture. And it is likely to be moved as often.

[Remagel2507]

Impasse said:

Yes.

Clarkson will be loving that, he's always said the best thing about the FFRR is that he can sit down on the split folding tailgate

[P4ROT]

Reminds me of this:

[Shaw Tarse]

Impasse said:

Yes.

It's a no for me.
(Obviously I'm in the market for one)

[NomduJour]

Think I'll stick to just sitting on the tailgate, those look a bit Fritzl for my liking.

[oldtimer2]

That two tone colour scheme works well - better than the roof option. No doubt we shall be seeing even more of this sort of stuff as Bentley and Rolls gear up to enter the SUV market.

[djdest]

It looks like a shapeless blob to me

[ajmcampbell]

Hmm... a bridge too far? Knurled bits don't sit comfortably with rest of the int design... trying too hard to emulate Bentley when they had their own minimalist thing on the go.
Exterior add ons also look a bit Halfords, excepting the lovely wheels, which seem to be the only ones that don't look bland or fussy on the L405.
Rear seats look very bolt on, not a fan. Also misses the point as you want to be able to squeeze a third on the tailgate, as you normally can. Fellow guns would therefore think you rather selfish and a bit flash in this!

Edited by ajmcampbell on Monday 30th March 11:27

[NomduJour]

djdest said:

It looks like a shapeless blob to me

For a bit of perspective, the new Bentley Qashqai:

[Loobuz]

love the paint job!!!

[PhantomPH]

I really like that. In all honesty, pain it in a single colour and it looks like any other RR from outside. And I like a Rangey.

I always find it amusing when PH conforms to a stereotype, tho. So narrow. In a world where an 'expected' spec 911 costs £100k, R's, Astons, 911's are a not un-common sight on our roads and RRSports (that average spec pushes up past £80k) are ten-a-penny, you really don't have to be a 'toff' to have a £150k RR. Hell an RS6 like the one I can see from my desk, costs over £100k...for an estate Audi!!

What that is, is a beautifully spec'd RR....and the price is actually not all that crazy.

Edited by PhantomPH on Monday 30th March 11:44

[passenger]

I want one of thes for Le Mans this year please?

[djdest]

NomduJour said:

djdest said:

It looks like a shapeless blob to me

For a bit of perspective, the new Bentley Qashqai:

Yeah, just as crap. As are all other modern school run machines.
Any way, going back to the RR... look at the bumpers. Oh, its not got any. There is literally nothing on the car to give it any shape or character

[SydneyBridge]

passenger said:

I want one of thes for Le Mans this year please?

You would not need a tent if you had one of those at Le Mans- would be very comfortable to sleep in and entertain in...