Land Rover South Africa has revealed the new Range Rover Sport SV – the flagship of the line-up.
For the first year of production, the super SUV will only be available to select clients around the world in SV Edition One spec, and all units have already been allocated to customers.
Additionally, the arrival of the SV has prompted an update to the existing Sport line-up, bringing with it a new plug-in hybrid drivetrain and improvements to the Pivi Pro infotainment system.
A new power dimension
The SV is exclusively powered by a new 4.4-litre twin-turbo mild-hybrid V8 petrol engine, which grants access to an incredible 467kW and 750Nm, making it the “most powerful Range Rover” to date, said its builders.
This is 44kW and 50Nm more than the previous generation Sport SVR’s supercharged 5.0-litre V8, and the result is that the new model is able to sprint to 100km/h in as little as 3.7 seconds before capping out at a maximum speed of 290km/h.
The powertrain can’t take all the credit, however, as the automaker has also managed to shave 76kg off the SUV’s weight through the implementation of things like carbon ceramic brakes, and a carbon fibre bonnet.
Customers can also opt for 23-inch carbon fibre wheels – the first to ever be fitted to a production vehicle – which reduce weight by almost 9kg per corner for a total of 35.6kg.
Other enhancements include an active locking rear differential, and a combination of hydraulic interlinked dampers, height-adjustable air springs, and pitch control, which remove the need for conventional anti-roll bars.
The SV rides about 25mm lower than the other Sport models, depending on the driving mode selected, as the 6D Dynamic suspension adjusts the chassis and intelligent all-wheel drive and steering response to various conditions.
For the tyres, the carmaker has opted for Michelin Pilot Sport All Season 4 tyres measuring 305mm in the rear and 285mm in the front, which allow the SUV to deliver lateral acceleration in excess of 1.1G.
The unique eight-piston Brembo Octyma front calipers are the largest ever fitted to a Range Rover, and can be customized in red, yellow, bronze or black.
An exclusive new SV driving mode then ups the ante by optimising the steering, eight-speed automatic gearbox, throttle response, suspension, and exhaust note to deliver the most visceral driving experience possible.
SV exclusivities
The standard Range Rover Sport’s front end has been scuplted to provide better airflow on the SV, and the quad tailpipes on the active exhaust system were given carbon fibre tips to enhance one of the rear’s main focal points.
A similar carbon fibre treatment has been afforded to the front bumper blades, the grille surround, bonnet vents, and side vents.
Likewise, the cabin features an exclusive set of carbon fibre-backed Performance Seats with model-specific logos, while the gearshift sees a black ceramic coat for a cool-to-touch feel.
The translucent gearshift paddles on the steering wheel boast more pronounced thumb grips, too, and the upholstery features a seamless “3D Knit to form” textile.
Sound is delivered via an all-new Body and Soul Seat (BASS) multi-dimensional audio system courtesy of SUBPAC – the same technology used to record many of the world’s top artists’ songs – which links to nothing less than a 29-speaker Meridian Signature Sound system.
Updates to the line-up
The biggest change to the existing Range Rover Sport line-up is the replacement of the P510e plug-in hybrid (PHEV) powertrain with a new P460e setup.
The new PHEV’s biggest selling point is its improved electric driving range, which now clocks in at 121km as opposed to 113km.
Power-wise, the P460e is able to produce a grand total of 338kW and 800Nm, courtesy of the updated hybrid layout working in tandem with the brand’s 3.0-litre, six-cylinder, Ingenium petrol engine.
The other change made to the Sport series is an update to the infotainment system, which now runs the latest Pivi Pro software.
As a result, on the central screen, sidebars with easy-to-use sliders have now been added for convenience when operating the climate and volume controls, and haptic feedback sensors are included for an added level of communication with the driver.
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