Range Rover Sport SVR debut

Land Rover will debut the 543bhp Range Rover Sport SVR – the fastest car the firm has ever built – at the glamorous Pebble Beach classic car show in California on 14 August.

Power comes from a tuned version of the 5.0-litre V8 fitted to the standard Range Rover Sport, to get the car from 0-60mph in just 4.5 seconds on its way to a 162mph top speed.

The SVR completed hours of testing at Germany’s gruelling Nurburgring and is one of the fastest SUVs ever to lap the circuit – taking just 8 minutes and 14 seconds to cover the tough 14-mile course.

The SVR keeps the standard car’s four-wheel drive, for all-weather grip, while its eight-speed automatic gearbox has been optimised for performance. New to the SVR is a sports exhaust with a two-stage valve system that allows it to cruise quietly, but sound like a race car under hard acceleration.

Buyers can choose to fit their SVR with 22-inch alloy wheels and performance road tyres or 21-inch alloy wheels with all-season tyres, for excellent off-road grip. Fitted with the latter, the SVR should be just as capable off-road as the standard car and it keeps its height adjustable suspension and clever Terrain Response 2 electronics. As with the standard Sport, the SVR can wade through water up to 850mm deep and pull a maximum of 3,000kg.

Exterior changes include restyled bumpers and side skirts. Inside, the SVR gets a bespoke interior with body hugging sports seats.

John Edwards, MD of Land Rover’s Special Operations, said: “The Range Rover Sport SVR is a natural progression beyond the core vehicle’s outstanding on- and off-road capabilities and leading-edge design. Its exhilarating performance will satisfy a particularly demanding customer set.

“A thorough range of revisions specially developed by Land Rover’s Special Vehicle Operations combine to make this premium derivative even more distinctive both inside and out, as well as taking its dynamic capabilities to the next level without impacting on comfort, refinement or all-terrain versatility. The Range Rover Sport SVR is truly the world’s most capable performance SUV.”

The SVR will be priced at £93,450 when order books open in October. The first cars will be delivered to their new owners in the first half of 2015.

For our review of the standard Range Rover Sport, visit the Carbuyer Land Rover reviews page.