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

---

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.

[Beefmeister]

Nice to see they bothered with new press shots

[rtz62]

First thing that strikes me when I look at the rear passenger space is that I hope the chauffeur doesn’t hit a stationary object at speed. Why? Well it might be the way the image is shown, but that touchscreen on the rear of the front seats looks a mighty long reach away, and I can only wonder what would happen if the passenger was leaning forwards at the point of impact (im sure there’s must be a wireless remote as an option?)
My immediate thought was that this carries a ludicrous price label, but then, customers for whom the Auto iography etc isn’t bling enough head off to that car butherer Kahn, and have their bolides turned into abominations..

[leakymanifold]

This is a great move by JLR. They need to move the FFRR up market where possible to capture the froth at the top. They can charge more than an S-class because people in a RR would look down on people in an S-class. That's what people are willing to pay for. The further the FFRR goes up market the more room JLR have with their other products. It's open to debate but i think it makes sense for JLR to focus on premium and ignore the lower end of the market e.g. BMW 1/2 series, Audi A1, A3 as these almost inevitably weaken the product value if not in terms of product perception but in customer service as your Audi A8 gets serviced alongside an A1 1.2tfsi

[Krikkit]

That looks bloody lovely if you had to be a rear-seat passenger. Would make a great run-around for being taken to/from the private jet.

rtz62 said:

First thing that strikes me when I look at the rear passenger space is that I hope the chauffeur doesn’t hit a stationary object at speed. Why? Well it might be the way the image is shown, but that touchscreen on the rear of the front seats looks a mighty long reach away, and I can only wonder what would happen if the passenger was leaning forwards at the point of impact (im sure there’s must be a wireless remote as an option?)

I'm sure the pre-tensioning seatbelts will sort it out...

[loudlashadjuster]

Beefmeister said:

Nice to see they bothered with new press shots

rtz62 said:

First thing that strikes me when I look at the rear passenger space is that I hope the chauffeur doesn’t hit a stationary object at speed. Why? Well it might be the way the image is shown, but that touchscreen on the rear of the front seats looks a mighty long reach away, and I can only wonder what would happen if the passenger was leaning forwards at the point of impact (im sure there’s must be a wireless remote as an option?)

My Skoda comes with rear seat/remote control for media, sure JLR will have that covered.

[JoBlack]

There's a little chinese midget oddjob who deploys from the centre arm-rest to manage the enterainmeent and drinks service. He's only covered by warranty for 3 years though but you'll be able to get more reliable pattern replacement from a chinese human trafficker on ebay for 1/3 the price of the LR Dealer.

[ZX10R NIN]

Just lovely.

[scenario8]

I hope a gentle nudge to highlight a spelling error in the final paragraph is tolerable. The Louvre.

I’m sure the car is awesome etc. Probably a fraction outside my P11d options, mind.

[F40LM]

Very nice but more money than a Mulsanne Speed MY17 ex-demo?????

[thelawnet1]

V8 FOU said:

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

claret is served at room temperature, pleb.

[rtz62]

loudlashadjuster said:

My Skoda comes with rear seat/remote control for media, sure JLR will have that covered.

Er, the point I’m making, and having dealt with quite a few rtc’s over the years where people have suffered bad injuries (usually worse than when seated ‘nornally’) when leaning forward in their seat I think that although JLRs seatbelt mechanisms will be top notch it doesn’t alter the fact that the passengers body would be leaning forward at point if impact.
Of course, I’ll bow to the better knowledge of PH’ers who will no doubt snipe at that comment, but I’ve seen enough life-altering accidents over the years to never want to see another, and also of the kind I’ve described.
Having said that, I’m sure they wouldn’t impact the front seat, as it’s now that far away from the rear seat...

[Krikkit]

thelawnet1 said:

V8 FOU said:

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

claret is served at room temperature, pleb.

Is that room temperature in Kensington, or room temperature in Hong Kong? Very different.

[thelawnet1]

Krikkit said:

Is that room temperature in Kensington, or room temperature in Hong Kong? Very different.

aren't both places air conditioned these days?

[Agent XXX]

thelawnet1 said:

claret is served at room temperature, pleb.

You'll find that the very best reds of Bordeaux should be served up at between 60 and 65 F (15.5 to 18.3 C)

I doubt many of you would consider 15 deg C to be a comfortable room temperature, pleb.

[TooMany2cvs]

I love the way the headline says "six-figure"... It's fairly hard to keep a new FFRR under six figures, isn't it?

<looks at config>
£80k entry level SWB (£113k for entry level LWB)
Oh, wait, that's for v6... £87k for v8 (£110k for the lower-powered SWB petrol v8 - the higher is damn near another grand for each of the extra horses)
Oh, wait, that's just the entry-spec... £94k for SE (£106k for TDV8 autobiog). And that's before you hit the options...

The one in the article isn't just into six figures. It's damn near a whole entry-level FFRR into six figures...

[Phil Dicky]

So our resident powerfully built director wants to be chauffeured in a 4x4 obviously needing LWB, until the Rolls-Royce Cullinan arrives he has no other option, Land Rover will sell boat loads

[audidoody]

I'm definitely buying one of these, For cash. In 2022 when they hit £26,000.

[TooMany2cvs]

Phil Dicky said:

So our resident powerfully built director wants to be chauffeured in a 4x4 obviously needing LWB, until the Rolls-Royce Cullinan arrives he has no other option, Land Rover will sell boat loads

Are we forgetting the Bent Aygo?

[thelawnet1]

Agent XXX said:

You'll find that the very best reds of Bordeaux should be served up at between 60 and 65 F (15.5 to 18.3 C)

I doubt many of you would consider 15 deg C to be a comfortable room temperature, pleb.

actually that was the original room temperature, pre central heating.

one just wears more clothes.