550hp Velar SVR to be the quickest Range Rover to date

The JLR high-performance SUV is due internationally in October with a supercharged V8 engine.

Published On Mar 16, 2018 07:00:00 AM

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550hp Velar SVR to be the quickest Range Rover to date

The standard Range Rover Velar on sale in India.

The carmaker has created its quickest SVR model yet by squeezing in a supercharged 5.0-litre V8 into the Velar. The Velar SVR – as the car is expected to be named – will go on sale in October as a potential rival to the BMW X6 M. The newest SVR mixes Land Rover's off-road ability with savage performance.

Sources at our sister publication, Autocar UK, confirm that this hot Velar test car uses a 5.0-litre V8. It's likely that this motor, Jaguar Land Rover's most prevalent supercharged motor, is in the same state of tune as the Range Rover Sport SVR, producing 550hp and 680Nm of torque and giving the Velar SVR the ability to get from 0-100kph in around 4.2sec.

Even though the Velar SVR – which has most recently been spotted testing at the Nürburgring – will be cheapest model so far, from JLR's Special Vehicle Operations (SVO) high-performance division, it is also likely to rank as the quickest, due to its smaller size and lighter weight. The aluminium-based Velar will receive a host of SVR weight-saving measures to bring its kerb weight down to about 1,800kg. Admittedly, that does not make it a featherweight but it would be a significant 465kg lighter than the X6 M and close to 500kg less than the Range Rover Sport SVR.

SVO's engineers are still finalising the car's chassis set-up. This will include new performance settings for the air suspension – including a firmer, sportier mode designed for enthusiastic driving. Beneath the camouflage, the test car’s rear bumper looks to have gained a diffuser between two new exhaust exits and it also has new, lighter wheels.

Along with the BMW X6 M, the Velar SVR has another rival (and a stable mate), which is due to arrive in June – the Jaguar F-Pace SVR. That car is expected to get the same V8 albeit in a more potent F-Type SVR specification, producing 575hp and an acceleration of 0-100kph in less than 4.0sec.

Despite their similarities, the SVR F-Pace and Velar will each focus on slightly different areas of the market. The Jaguar will prioritise on-road performance and the Velar will retain more of its off-road ability.

While there is no word on Land Rover bringing the Velar SVR to the country, the India-spec model is sold with a 184hp, 2.0-litre petrol, a 179hp, 2.0-litre diesel and a 300hp, 3.0-litre diesel engine. Prices range between Rs 78.873 lakh and Rs 1.37 crore (ex-showroom, India).

Also see:

2018 Range Rover Velar India review, test drive

2018 Range Rover Velar video review