Geneva show: Range Rover SV Coupe on way

JAGUAR Land Rover Australia has requested an allocation of up to 20 examples of the imposing two-door Range Rover SV Coupe unveiled in Geneva overnight – the most expensive and luxurious Rangie created yet, starting at around $500,000 – from a global production run of 999 units.

The Australian subsidiary of the British prestige car-maker has confirmed to GoAuto that local pricing for the SV Coupe will be “in the vicinity” of $500,000 (plus on-road costs) and that first deliveries are expected by the first quarter of next year, with exact numbers to be confirmed once requests from all other markets are gathered.

This takes it well upstream of the SVAutobiography, which starts from just under $400,000 when fitted with the 416kW/700Nm 5.0-litre supercharged V8 petrol engine and eight-speed automatic transmission – the same combination used in the SV Coupe, but which in this latest application can reach 100km/h from standstill in 5.3 seconds and run to a maximum speed of 266km/h.

These figures are an improvement of 0.1s and 16km/h respectively over the blown SVAutobiography and hand the SV Coupe bragging rights as the fastest full-size Range Rover yet.

Land Rover has also tagged the SV Coupe “the world’s first full-size luxury SUV coupe” as it leans on its Special Vehicle Operations to take the flagship wagon to new heights and refuses to be overrun by the new wave of top-end luxury SUVs from the likes of Bentley (Bentayga), Lamborghini (Urus) and Rolls-Royce (with its forthcoming Cullinan).

Each SV Coupe will be hand-assembled at SVO headquarters in Warwickshire, England, to the personal specification of each owner, who is allowed an unprecedented amount of customisation with the vehicle which stands as the first model built from the ground up at the technical centre.

Whereas others, such as Jaguar’s XE SV Project 8, have started with the body of an existing model, the SV Coupe has unique (aluminium) exterior panels – and its own front and rear bumpers – with only the bonnet and lower tailgate carrying over.

There is no mistaking it for a Rangie with signature design elements like the ‘floating’ roof, continuous waist and tapering tail, but the SV Coupe has a sportier demeanour with its bolder front fascia, unique side vent detailing, pixel-laser LED headlights (with 144 LEDS and four laser diodes), huge twin power-closing doors, new body colour combinations, 23-inch wheel option (among various firsts for Range Rover) and its lower and longer stance.

On the latter, the SV Coupe sits 8mm lower to the ground (overall height is 1794mm) and stretches 13mm further from nose to tail (5013mm). Width remains at 2220mm (including mirrors).

Consulting with the SVO’s bespoke personalisation team, buyers can choose from four front-to-rear “contrast interior colourways” or a range of single-tone interior colours, which are complemented by a choice of three wood veneers (including a new Nautica veneer fusing walnut and sycamore) and optional paint finishes including, for the first time, ‘Liquesence’ liquid metal.

JLR says SV Coupe customers will also have access to more than 100 other paint colours (and various unique “match and sample” hues), duo-tone front and rear leather colours (with a bespoke quilt pattern) and other areas of input such as contrast stitching, headrest embroidery, doorhandle and treadplate engraving and semi-precious metal badging.

The seats are said to deliver “world-class comfort” with their high-grade construction, extensive amount of electric adjustment (20-way up front, 10-way at the rear) and semi-aniline leather upholstery in a unique diamond quilt design (sourced, no less, from “a single tannery established in 1905”).

The familiar InControl Touch Pro Duo infotainment system is employed, with a 10.0-inch screen, 10.0-inch control panel and 12.0-inch Interactive Driver Display.

A 10.9-inch head-up display is also provided, along with a 1700W, 23-speaker Meridian 3D Signature sound system with a dual-channel subwoofer using Trifield 3D technology.

As well as ensuring the SV Coupe creates a new benchmark in terms of performance, SVO engineers have tuned the suspension to provide a “more driver-focused edge” than the standard Range Rover, lowering the ride height by 8mm but promising a comfortable ride quality at all times.

The air suspension automatically lowers by 15mm when cruising at speeds above 65mph (105km/h), while selectable settings include Access Height (up to 50mm below the normal ride height), Off-Road 1 Ride Height (+40mm max, up to 80km/h), Off-Road 2 Ride Height (+75mm max, up to 50km/h).

Four alloy wheel options are provided, from 21-inch to the new 23-inch forged wheels.

Naturally, the drivetrain sticks with a permanent 4WD system, two-speed transfer box, active locking rear differential and the Terrain Response 2 system with Dynamic, Eco, Comfort, Grass/Gravel/Snow, Mud/Ruts and Sand/Rock/Crawl modes.

The SV Coupe also retains the regular Range Rover’s maximum braked towing capacity, pulling up to 3500kg.