Tuesday 28th November 2017

Six-figure SVAutobiography gets 565hp

The refresh of the largest and most expensive Range Rover gets its reveal at the LA show

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No variant of the Range Rover signifies the model's emergence as a virtual limousine better than the long-wheelbase car - a machine chiefly built to satisfy the back seat-occupying Chinese market - and no trim level compliments its autocrat-carrying function better than the SVAutobiography, revealed today ahead of its debut at the LA show.

This million-tonne collusion of leather and electric motors is hand-built by Land Rover's Special Vehicle Operations at their Technical Centre in Warwickshire and is priced from £167,850 with the firm's 4.4-litre SDV8. But for anyone really hoping to rival the forthcoming Rolls-Royce Cullinan, it'll be the 565hp 5.0-litre V8 from the SVR that'll be required.

Naturally this nudges up the price a little more - to a mind-bending £177,030 - or around £30k more than you'd pay for the V12-equipped Mercedes-Benz S600 L AMG Line. Why would you do such a thing? Well, Land Rover will hope to convince you with a redesigned cabin; one that now includes power-closing rear doors, over 1.2m of legroom and airline-style rear seats that now feature a 40-degree recline capability.

Along with electrically deployable rear tables and integrated 10-inch touch screens, there is also the prospect of a fridge between the rear seats which will reportedly hold two bottles of wine. "The Range Rover SVAutobiography is the epitome of luxury, comfort and refinement. Our standard-bearer for quality and precision exemplifies the attention to detail and sophistication that has been a hallmark of our most luxurious SUV stretching back almost 50 years," said Chief Design Officer, Gerry McGovern.

Well, yes. But almost 50 years ago, the Range Rover was exhibited at the Lourve not based on its luxury, comfort and refinement - but because it was considered an "exemplary work of industrial design". Doubtless the new SVAutobiography is a quicker and more relaxing way to get to the office, but it does rather make us yearn all the more for a modern Range Rover truly worthy of Spen King's original vision.

 

[V8 FOU]

Wine refrigerator?
I do hope it can be adjusted to the correct temperature for my claret, or I'm out.