Land Rover continues the development of the
range-topping Velar SVR, with test cars starting to peel off their camo wraps,
giving us a better look at their angrier bodywork. The upcoming Range Rover
Velar SVR will use the company’s supercharged 5.0-liter V8 with around 550 hp.
Given its smaller size, the Velar SVR is expected to be faster than its big
brother, the Range Rover Sport SVR, which uses the same powertrain.
JLR’s Special Vehicles Operations division is also
reportedly working on an updated SVR version of the Jaguar F-Pace, which is
expected to offer close to 600 hp and a sharper character, leaving the Velar to
play the role of the most luxurious offering.
The exterior of the Range Rover Velar SVR will
feature the usual aggressive touches, including a new front bumper with bigger
air inlets, deeper side sills, a rear bumper that incorporates a sizeable rear
diffuser and the quad taillpipes, bigger wheels with stickier tires and of
course a rear spoiler.
The high-tech cabin of the Velar is set to get a
pair of body-hugging front seats, along with more vivid color options and
plenty of Alcantara. JLR’s SVO division will also apply a range of
weight-saving measures to the Velar SVR but do not expect a featherweight SUV,
as weight is expected to be around the 1,800 kg mark.
The chassis will feature a revised air suspension
setup, which will include the necessary performance-oriented settings. Land
Rover is expected to retain some of the Velar’s off-road abilities, in a bid to
further differentiate it from the F-Pace SVR, which has set its target firmly
at the Mercedes-AMG GLC 63 and Alfa Romeo Stelvio Quadrifoglio.
Land Rover is expected to reveal the new Range Rover
Velar SVR in the coming months, possibly at the Detroit Motor Show this
January.
