Range Rover Sport SVR prototype: official spy photos issued

By Tim Pollard

First Official Pictures

25 June 2014 10:33

Land Rover has taken the unusual step of issuing its own spy photos of the new Range Rover Sport SVR - a muscled-up, 543bhp version that's been breathed on by Jaguar Land Rover's new Special Ops division.

A new Range Rover Sport SVR prototype will be thrashed up the Goodwood hillclimb at this weekend's Goodwood Festival of Speed and these photos are the first conclusive proof that the Range Rover Sport SVR will join the line-up later in 2014.

The SVR name is the first confirmation of a go-faster badge for future fast Land Rovers. The Special Vehicle Operations team, announced earlier this month, will work on a range of high-performance derivatives which will wear the SVR badge.

Judging by this Range Rover Sport, SVRs will be pretty extreme. It's the fastest and most powerful production Land Rover ever made and if you strip away the disguise you'll see a pretty aggressive aero package, a lowered chassis and numerous styling tweaks to make the SVR stand out from the crowd on the school run.

Land Rover has confirmed it will be powered by a 543bhp version of the 5.0-litre supercharged V8. It's an engine familiar from many iterations of fast R-badged Jaguars, and it's known for its relentless pulling power and sonic thrills.

Don't go expecting many sales, however; Special Ops will focus on low-volume, high-margin business - and dire CO2 and mpg figures will limit the SVR to a wealthy person's plaything.

If you're going to the 2014 Goodwood Festival of Speed this weekend, you'll see the RRS SVR in action. It will do demonstration runs in the First Look category up the hillclimb on Friday 27, Saturday 28 and Sunday 29 June.

It's not the only Land Rover you'll see at Goodwood. The usual event off-roading will be offered (give it a go if you've not done it before; being driven up seemingly vertical inclines in a Disco or Range Rover on a tailor-made off-road course is a great laugh. And it's free!).

And Bowler will be demonstrating the Defender Challenge car at the off-road course.

By Tim Pollard