New Range Rover Sport SV Is The Most Powerful Ever
The twin-turbocharged V8, backed by a mild-hybrid system, offers 626hp.
Behold the new Range Rover Sport SV – the most powerful iteration ever. Looking just as sexy as the rest of the range, albeit in a macho-er outfit, it comes with a lot to shout about. And along with the SV’s unveil, Land Rover has taken the opportunity to introduce the updated Range Rover Sport line-up. More on that later.
A Land Rover model with an SV in the nameplate means the apparent place to start the unravelling process in the powertrain. The new Range Rover Sport SV uses the BMW-sourced twin-turbocharged 4.4-litre V8, an 8-speed automatic transmission, and an all-wheel-drive system. In the mix is a mild-hybrid system, which, besides aiding fuel efficiency, also backs the internal combustion engine’s propulsion function.
The setup offers 626hp/750Nm, about 59hp/50Nm more than the supercharged 5.0-litre V8-powered previous-gen Range Rover Sport SVR. Land Rover claims the new one can hit 96kmph from a standstill in 3.6 seconds. The sprint to 100kmph should be a sub-4-second affair. And the top speed is 290kmph.
Those are insane numbers for a high-riding people haulier. And pushing the SUV in tight bends, as SV owners would like to, can lead to some unpleasantness. So to counter that, Land Rover has equipped the new Range Rover Sport SV with its latest 6D Dynamics suspension, which uses a blend of hydraulic interlinked dampers, pitch control and height-adjustable air springs. The suspension setup helps “maintain a near-level body stance during extreme cornering and acceleration while also reducing weight, increasing grip, and benefiting comfort and refinement”.
The new Range Rover Sport SV rides between 10 and 25mm lower than its stablemates, depending on the drive mode chosen. The new suspension system works with the SUV’s chassis systems, such as all-wheel steering, torque vectoring and active locking rear differential.
Like the exclusive engine and the suspension system, the new Range Rover Sport SV is also the first in its lineage to have the option of 23-inch carbon fibre wheels, ceramic brakes (both help in shedding weight) and 305-section rubber, which are 20mm fatter than the standard Michelin Pilot Sport All Season 4 tyres. Regardless of the braking system chosen, the wheels are accompanied by unique eight-piston Brembo Octyma front callipers, the largest ever on a Range Rover. In addition, buyers can choose from various finishes, including yellow, red, carbon bronze and black.
In profile, the new Range Rover Sport SV looks hunkier. That’s courtesy of broader air intakes at the front, reprofiled lower body sides and carbon fibre-tipped quad tailpipes for the active exhaust system. The SUV also features carbon fibre elements on the front bumper, grille surround, bonnet vents and side vents. Indoors, the carbon fibre-backed SV Performance Seats are more bucket-y, and feature illuminated SV logos on their backrests. Other classy touches include the “world-first” translucent edge-lit gear shift paddles behind the steering wheel and the black ceramic on the console shifter.
And there’s more! The new Range Rover Sport SV has a 29-speaker 1,430-watt Meridian Signature Sound System backed by SUBPAC’s technology. That offers “a multi-dimensional audio experience with wellness benefits which allows front seat occupants to feel the sound”. The new system was designed in collaboration with Coventry University’s National Transport Design Centre and the School of Media and Performing Arts.
The new Range Rover Sport SV will be sold in the First Edition form for the first year. And only those who are invited by Land Rover can place an order for one during that period.
Land Rover has also updated the Range Rover Sport family by introducing more potent powertrains and new tech. The P550e, replacing the P510e, offers an electric range of 121km, comes with a new transmission and outputs 542bhp/800Nm. More power equates to a 0-100kmph sprint time of 4.9 seconds, half a second quicker than the P510e. The other change in Range Rover Sport’s powertrain department is for the P530, where the V8 now comes with a mild-hybrid system.
On the tech front, the Pivi Pro 4 infotainment system makes an entry with a 13.1-inch floating glass display as the control centre. The screen comes with haptic feedback and, as per Land Rover, offers control of 80 per cent of tasks in two taps from the home screen. Another inclusion is the support for Amazon’s Alexa and the ability to receive OTA software updates.
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