2015 Range Rover Sport SVR revealed

The Range Rover Sport SVR is Land Rover's most powerful and dynamic model ever. 
 
After teasing crowds at the UK's Goodwood Festival of Speed in concept form, Land Rover has revealed its production-ready Range Rover Sport SVR performance SUV. 
 
The new Sport SVR will battle with the Mercedes-Benz ML63 AMG and Porsche Cayenne Turbo at the high horsepower end of the luxury SUV market. 
 
Boasting the same 405kW/680Nm 5.0-litre supercharged V8 as the Jaguar F-Type R Coupé , the SVR gains 30kW and 55Nm over the standard Range Rover Sport V8 Supercharged. 
 
The power and torque gains come courtesy of a recalibrated engine management system and retuned supercharger bypass valve which increases maximum boost pressure. 
 
Land Rover claims the SVR can rocket from 0-100km/h in 4.7 seconds and reach an electronically limited top speed of 260km/h. 
 
Despite the increases in power and performance, the SVR's combined fuel economy figure mirrors that of the standard Range Rover Sport V8 Supercharged at 12.8L/100km. 
 
An 8-speed automatic gearbox with paddle shifters is carried over from the standard V8 Supercharged, though shift times have been reduced by up to 50 per cent through software upgrades. 
 
The SVR also gains an active exhaust system with electronic valves that open at around 3,000rpm to deliver a fruiter note. A fuel cut-off system also activates during upshifts to provide a more visceral and audible shift. 
 
Land Rover has even deliberately tuned the active exhaust to produce loud crackles and pops on the overrun. 
 
The Range Rover Sport's standard four-wheel-drive system has been tuned to make the SVR more engaging and agile than existing variants. Up to 100 per cent of the engine's power can be sent to either end, while a revised rear locking differential – which can react quicker than in the standard car - is enhanced by a brake-based torque vectoring system. 
 
Compared to the standard Sport chassis, the SVR adopts 20 per cent firmer rear subframe bushes, while the standard air suspension system has been modified for improved handling. 
 
Adaptive dampers and hydraulically controlled active anti-roll bars are also fitted standard and presumably necessary to manage the hefty 2335kg curb weight. 
 
Much of the hi-po Range Rover's development was carried out at the infamous Nurburgring Nordschleife circuit in Germany, which it lapped in 8:14 – quicker than any other production SUV and about the same as a BMW 1 Series M Coupe. 
 
Despite the SVR's on-road focus, Land Rover insist the Range Rover's renowned off road capability has not been sacrificed. Ground clearance and wading depth both equal the standard Sport, and you still get the low-range transfer case and Land Rover's Terrain Response traction control system. 
 
The standard wheel and tyre package includes 21-inch SVR-specific alloys wrapped in all-season tyres, while more road-focused 22-inch items wearing Continental SportContact 5 tyres are available as an option.  
 
In terms of styling, the SVR features a redesigned front bumper with larger air intakes, while the side 'gills' and bonnet louvers have been restyled. 
 
A more aggressive rear bumper housing quad exhaust tips has also been added along with flared wheel arches fore and aft.  
 
Inside, the high-performance model gains 16-way electrically adjustable sports bucket seats and aluminium trim with carbon fibre available as an option. 
 
The Range Rover Sport SVR will go on sale locally during the second quarter of 2015, slotting above the existing $161,600 V8 Supercharged variant.