Land Rover Range Rover Sport SVR

Range Rover Sport SVR at a glance

From Goodwood to Pebble Beach: how the SVR began

Jaguar Land Rover set up Special Vehicle Operations in 2014 to build high-performance and bespoke versions of its cars. The SVR was its first product, and the name stands for Special Vehicle Racing. A prototype ran at the Goodwood Festival of Speed in June 2014, and Land Rover announced the production car at Pebble Beach in August 2014. Deliveries began in 2015.

The starting point was the second-generation Range Rover Sport, revealed in March 2013, one of several models in the Land Rover catalogue. Its aluminium body made it about 181 kg lighter than the first generation, and the SVR used that lighter base to add pace without losing the Range Rover's comfort and off-road skills.

Supercharged V8: power, torque and performance

The supercharged V8 is the same family of engine used in the Jaguar F-Type R. For the SVR, the eight-speed automatic was recalibrated to shift 50 % faster, and in sport driving it keeps the torque converter locked from second gear. An active exhaust with valves opens at high engine speeds for a louder note.

By our calculation, the 2018 update added 18 kW, and the SV that replaced it added another 44 kW, an increase of 10 %. The SV also changed the engine: it uses a 4.4-litre twin-turbo V8 instead of the supercharged 5.0. To see what those numbers mean for a heavy SUV, try the 1cars power-to-weight calculator.

The Nürburgring lap and what it proved

Land Rover sent the SVR to the Nürburgring Nordschleife in 2014. It lapped the 20.8 km circuit in 8 minutes 14 seconds. The company claimed this as the fastest time for a production SUV, one second quicker than the Porsche Macan Turbo's 8:15.

The time mattered for the brand's image. Range Rovers had always been about comfort and off-road ability, and the SVR showed they could also run with sports SUVs on a circuit.

Chassis, wheels and off-road ability

The SVR kept the full Range Rover Sport off-road hardware. Permanent four-wheel drive splits torque 50/50, a two-speed transfer case gives a low range, and an active rear differential helps traction. Air suspension lets the driver raise or lower the body, and the old 1cars review gave a ground-clearance range of 50 to 235 mm across the settings.

Land Rover also retuned the roll control and the Terrain Response system. The old 1cars text noted Brembo brakes.

Design and cabin

From the outside, the SVR differs from other Range Rover Sports in detail rather than shape. It has a larger lower grille and bigger air intakes for cooling, side vents, a rear spoiler and diffuser, and four exhaust tips. The 2018 update added silver quad exhausts and an optional carbon-fibre bonnet.

Inside, the main change is the pair of sports bucket seats in front. In the Carbon Edition, the SVR Performance seats are 30 kg lighter than the standard seats. The rear bench is shaped for two, and the centre seat is best for short trips. The old 1cars review described leather with carbon-fibre trim and a 12.3-inch screen.

Prices: what the SVR cost

In the UK the SVR started at 93,450 pounds sterling in 2014, about €117,000 at the exchange rate of that year.

The SVR Carbon Edition of 2020 was a later special version with carbon-fibre detailing and the 423 kW engine. Used prices today depend more on condition and mileage than on year, so a well-kept early car can be better value than a tired late one.

Range Rover Sport SVR vs rivals

Compared with the Porsche and BMW models, the SVR is the one that keeps a low-range gearbox and the deepest wading ability. It is less agile on a winding road, but more versatile. For a numbers-based side-by-side check, use the 1cars comparison tool.