Range Rover SV Coupe unveiled at Geneva

Land Rover has revealed its first full-sized coupe SUV – but less than a thousand will be built, with prices starting at £240,000.

The limited-edition Range Rover SV Coupe has been created to celebrate its maker's 70th anniversary and tips its hat to the very first Range Rover, which was available with just three doors. The SV Coupe is decidedly more exclusive than the 1970 original, though, and adds extra style, luxury and performance to its forebear's formidable off-road prowess.

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Land Rover describes the car as a “dramatic and desirable addition to the Range Rover portfolio, featuring a seductive body design and a supremely refined interior.” Despite its strong family resemblance, the bonnet and lower tailgate are the only body panels shared by the SV Coupe and its five-door sibling. Traditional Range Rover design cues are present and correct, though, from the castellated bonnet to the signature 'floating' roof.

However, hi-tech 'pixel-laser' LED headlamps add sophistication, while frameless, power-close doors stretch two-thirds of the way towards the rear wheelarches. The waistline is continuous, with a feature line running between the front and rear headlights, and the wheelarches are subtly flared. The SV Coupe offers alloy wheels up to 23 inches, and optional body finishes include special Liquescence 'liquid metal' paint.

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Range Rover SV Coupe interior

Inside, the SV Coupe is designed to provide luxurious seating for four, in an environment described as “stunning to the eye, sumptuous to the touch” and where attention to detail is “paramount”. There are heated, cooled 20-way adjustable front seats, with individual seats in the rear that can be adjusted in 10 planes. For a more natural look, feel and scent, semi-aniline leather is used, sourced from a single long-established British tannery.

Owners can choose their "graduated diamond-quilted" leather in contrasting colours from front to rear, or can go for a single colour tone. There are several interior trim finishes available, including a new 'Nautica' finish that "fuses sycamore and walnut". The instrument panel, centre console, steering wheel, door casings and load compartment can all be embellished with polished wood veneer.

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Technology and engines

In-car technology hasn't been forgotten: the SV Coupe is home to Land Rover's InControl Touch Pro Duo infotainment system. There's a 10-inch main display with a second 10-inch 'control panel' below, to activate and adjust climate, driving and convenience features, plus a 1,700w Meridian Signature stereo is on hand for music duty.

The driver sits behind a 12.3-inch instrument display, while information such as navigation turn instructions, street names, engine revs and the current gear is shown on a full-colour head-up display in the driver's sight line. The latter can also display slope and wheel information when making use of the SV Coupe's off-road capabilities.

The latter are ensured by a 900mm maximum wading depth, permanent four-wheel drive and a locking rear differential, as well as Land Rover's Terrain Response system with settings to deal with challenging conditions. Back on the road, the SV Coupe is claimed to "provide a more driver-focused edge than the standard Range Rover", thanks to specially tuned suspension and an 8mm lower ride height, although ride comfort is said to be unaffected.

Power is a big part of the SV Coupe package and the 557bhp supercharged V8 petrol engine is the most powerful to have been put in a production Range Rover. Despite its huge size – this is a five-metre long SUV – 0-62mph takes just five seconds and top speed is 165mph where it's safe and legal to do so.

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Options and availability

Just 999 examples of the Range Rover SV Coupe will be built. They'll be hand-assembled by Land Rover’s Special Vehicle Operations facility in Ryton-on-Dunsmore in Warwickshire, and this laborious process gives extra scope for personalisation. As well as the eight standard colour choices, there are 16 optional SV Premium Palette hues and a further 100 available through the Special Vehicle Operations programme – not including ‘match to sample’ colours.

Buyers can also go for contrasting interior stitching, headrest embroidery and engraving to the door handles and tread plates, and semi-precious metals can be used for the badges.

Order books for the Range Rover SV Coupe are expected to open in the fourth quarter of 2018.