Friday 15th February 2019

Land Rover Discovery SVX cancellation confirmed

The JLR cutbacks claim another victim, as the V8 Discovery's return is officially nixed

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While it's sometimes difficult to keep track of JLR's recent projects, the Discovery SVX was one that lingered more fondly in the memory than most. Why? The chunky, burly, butch off-road aesthetic was certainly part of the appeal, with a 525hp V8 providing the rest. And then some. Who wouldn't have fancied charging across rough terrain in something like this?

Sadly, it would now appear that's never going to happen. Autocar is reporting that, like the Range Rover SV Coupe, the Discovery SVX will now no longer see production. The simple reason being that the V8 engine isn't going to be homologated for any Discovery in the range; no engine means no SVX.

Which seems something of a shame, because the car had every chance of being a fitting flagship for the Disco. That said, Land Rover has suggested that the SVX badge will continue in other models, fulfilling the aim of being the rough and ready SVO car, alongside racy SVR models and super-luxurious SVAutobiographies elsewhere in the range.

Perhaps the SVX's day will come with the new Defender; goodness knows there's appetite for those cars with a V8 engine and some lairy off-road modifications. But the SVX-rated Discovery isn't going to happen, folks - shame. Still, if you fancy a V8 Disco and want to make a real all-terrain warrior of one, this 2001 car is only £3k...

[Macboy]

Loss making company sees sense, cancels project that would not make any money. The end.

[daveco]

This makes perfect sense.

The new SVO 550hp Velar can fill this aspect of the market, and LR are launching the straight six hybrid RR sport for those who want something a bit more frugal that is petrol powered.

[ucb]

goodness knows there's appetite for those cars with a V8 engine and some lairy off-road modifications

I have serious reservations about that suggestion. It may strike many a keyboard warrior as a great idea but it clearly doesn't make any noise with those actually purchasing

[Ursicles]

Makes a lot of sense to cancel a project that would see hardly any sales - another vanity project.

Stick to what 90% of your mkt want to buy, and focus on hybrid tech rather than shoe-horning a huge V8 into a car for championship footballers to buy.

[myhandle]

It’s quite embarrassing for a company to keep cancelling projects like this. It suggests that there are some very serious problems within the organisation and hence drastic moves IE cancelling models already confirmed for production are being taken .

Can anyone else think of other examples of cars reaching the confirmed-for-production stage and then being cancelled? The only other one that springs to mind apart from the aforementioned Range Rover Coupe is another JLR car, the CX-75.

[daveco]

myhandle said:

It’s quite embarrassing for a company to keep cancelling projects like this. It suggests that there are some very serious problems within the organisation and hence drastic moves IE cancelling models already confirmed for production are being taken .

Can anyone else think of other examples of cars reaching the confirmed-for-production stage and then being cancelled? The only other one that springs to mind apart from the aforementioned Range Rover Coupe is another JLR car, the CX-75.

They will suggest other models for those buyers that have put down deposits etc for this car, surely?


I know I'd take a 550hp Velar over a 525hp Discovery, especially if they chuck in a discount for my troubles

[anonymous-user]

Ursicles said:

Stick to what 90% of your mkt want to buy, and focus on hybrid tech rather than shoe-horning a huge V8 into a car for championship footballers to buy.

Or enthusiasts/petrol heads. It's a shame but there used to be a time when people on here championed anyone running a V8. I love them!

[anonymous-user]

myhandle said:

Can anyone else think of other examples of cars reaching the confirmed-for-production stage and then being cancelled? The only other one that springs to mind apart from the aforementioned Range Rover Coupe is another JLR car, the CX-75.

Top of head I can think of two, both of which were heavily trailed to media etc.

RenaultSport Clio RS16

Alfa MiTo GTa

I imagine there are other examples.

[st4]

myhandle said:

It’s quite embarrassing for a company to keep cancelling projects like this. It suggests that there are some very serious problems within the organisation and hence drastic moves IE cancelling models already confirmed for production are being taken .

.

There are though...

Doubt this would be a big money spinner here. Maybe stateside but they all buy superior Ford Raptors etc there.

[David87]

Had wondered what had happened to this car. Seems like it was unveiled ages ago! The new Discovery really is a dog though, so for me this didn't do an awful lot to make it more appealing.

[Fire99]

myhandle said:

It’s quite embarrassing for a company to keep cancelling projects like this. It suggests that there are some very serious problems within the organisation and hence drastic moves IE cancelling models already confirmed for production are being taken .

I tend to agree. I'm not saying the SVX was a particularly good idea for a production model but this impression of the car being announced as a production model and then cancelled, in a time when JLR have already cancelled other projects, does not appear good. PR is suggesting they're not in the best financial shape and this is like a very heavy wheel rolling down a hill. It is in danger of gaining momentum!

Bad news can snowball and I don't think JLR need any more cancellation announcements right now.

[RS MOJO]

This was canned (albeit not publicly) back in the summer before the current "crisis". I know as I had actual customers (not footballers) wanting to put actual money down to order one!
The upside of the troubles in China etc is we are getting more supply of cars here in the UK. Sticking the new 3.0 Ingenium in the Disco can only help drive sales in the current market, as most people are too blinkered by the media and believe they need a petrol when they do 20k miles a year and tow etc! horses for courses and all that...

Still a shame as i would have loved the 5.0 V8 in a Disco (albeit in standard "sleeper" form without throwing the accessories catalogue at it)

[jack_86]

Cancels a car more in line with its herritage, but brings out a v8 550hp velar that they are struggling to sell as it is! Makes total sense.

[ghost83]

RS MOJO said:

This was canned (albeit not publicly) back in the summer before the current "crisis". I know as I had actual customers (not footballers) wanting to put actual money down to order one!
The upside of the troubles in China etc is we are getting more supply of cars here in the UK. Sticking the new 3.0 Ingenium in the Disco can only help drive sales in the current market, as most people are too blinkered by the media and believe they need a petrol when they do 20k miles a year and tow etc! horses for courses and all that...

Still a shame as i would have loved the 5.0 V8 in a Disco (albeit in standard "sleeper" form without throwing the accessories catalogue at it)

Any good discounts on velar and sports?

[300bhp/ton]

Macboy said:

Loss making company sees sense, cancels project that would not make any money. The end.

I suspect it's more that fact that this and the new Defender are likely quite similar.

The SVX was hardly an expensive model to make and could very easily have been added as an option. Even without the V8 engine....

[Leonard Stanley]

Yup, entirely logical. Nothing to see here. Everything is - and will continue to be - amazing.

[RS MOJO]

ghost83 said:

Any good discounts on velar and sports?

PM'd you.

[gregd]

Have they canned the 3 litre petrol engine in the Disco too? They also seem to have really slimmed down the number of colours available since launch. I'm one of the "hanging onto my Disco 4 as I'm just not sure about the new model" people.. Had you been able to buy a reasonable powerful petrol one in green I'd be more tempted..

[Macboy]

300bhp/ton said:

Macboy said:

Loss making company sees sense, cancels project that would not make any money. The end.

I suspect it's more that fact that this and the new Defender are likely quite similar.

The SVX was hardly an expensive model to make and could very easily have been added as an option. Even without the V8 engine....

I don't agree. This was a niche product and the Defender, whenever it comes, was unlikely to have anyone who'd ordered an SVX wailing and gnashing their teeth that they had been duped. I would imagine that the cost of the project (especially the all-essential V8) versus the potential returns was marginal at the start and much of the project was being spun on "halo". Once the bean counters really got their teeth into this as they have with everything "Halo" and PR is worth precisely nothing.

[Megabeast]

Ten years ago race legend Pete Littler created a one off which JLR could have copied. A 500 BHP F1 racing Pectel ecu’d Jag 4.2 S/C engined beast shoehorned into a Disco mark 1 with bespoke role cage and much more. Currently for sale at www.woodlandcc.co.uk at a mere snip of £49K!