Fastest ever Rangie released

Land Rover has officially launched its quickest ever Range Rover in Australia, priced from $218,500 (plus on-road costs) and powered by a mammoth 405kW/680Nm supercharged 5.0-litre V8.

That makes the new Range Rover Sport SVR — the first model to come from Jaguar Land Rover's 'Special Vehicle Operations' department – 30kW more powerful, 55Nm torquier and $36,500 more expensive than the previous Rangie Sport flagship, the $182,000 Autobiography.

Yet more than 60 SVRs have already been ordered locally, with the waiting list now approaching six months.

JLR says the 2335kg (kerb) SVR is able to accelerate to 100km/h in 4.7 seconds on its way to an electronically limited top speed of 260km/h. The all-wheel drive behemoth is also credited with a rapid Nurburgring Nodschleife lap time of 8:14 – a new record for an SUV.

In spite of its immense acceleration and proficient handling the Sport SVR retains the off-road ability of the derivative model. Land Rover Australia's Brett Lewis-Driver told motoring.com.au the go-fast model retains its 850mm wading depth, 272mm ground clearance and 546mm of wheel articulation, resulting in "no off-road compromises".

The latter point is especially impressive considering the SVR's uprated spring rates, stiffer subframe bushings, sport-focussed adaptive dampers and the 20 per cent increase in cornering g-forces (now 1.3g) now possible.

Land Rover says the permanent all-wheel drive system remains largely unchanged from the 'regular' Sport's Terrain Response 2 set-up, even providing a low-range (crawl) ratio of 2.93:1. Just like the derivative the system it offers six settings for all manner of terrain including General, Dynamic, Grass/Gravel/Snow, Mud/Ruts, Sand and Rock Crawl.

The Range Rover Sport SVR rides on 21-inch wheels as standard and is shod with 275/45-series Continental SportContact 5 tyres. An optional 22-inch wheel combination ($4800) is available wearing 295/40-series hoops.

Beyond the hardware, however, it's the SVR's electronics that are also of interest, pointing to developments that will continue into future models. Electric steering headlines the act while Torque Vectoring by Brake (TVBB), electronic stability control and Dynamic Active Rear Locking Differential (which now locks earlier to shift torque to the wheel with more grip) are also recalibrated for the SVR, as is the close-ratio ZF 8HP70 eight-speed auto that now offers upshifts 50 per cent faster than the Sport V8SC.

A four-lobe Eaton supercharger, direct and spray-guided fuel-injection, variable camshaft timing and low-friction internals bestow the SVR with a combined fuel consumption tally of 12.8L/100km and CO2 emissions of 325g/km.

Bringing the SVR to a halt are six-piston blue-painted Brembo callipers clasping 380mm rotors. The front brakes are cooled by carbon-fibre scoops visible through the fascia's the gloss black lower grille. And there's no escaping the incredible soundtrack of the high-flow quad-outlet exhaust.

Buyers have a choice of seven exterior colours (metallic paint ranges between $2100 and $4200), a carbon-fibre engine cover ($4100), Santorini Black contrast roof (no-cost), Windsor leather seat trim and four upholstery combinations. The vehicle is specified as standard with turned aluminium trim details, but is available optionally with carbon-fibre inlays.