The luxury SUV segment has evolved into a truly interesting beast, with sportier models showing up year after year. Land Rover’s latest, the 2015 Range Rover Sport SVR, continues that trend, bringing the fastest and most powerful vehicle ever to wear the badge.
Powered by a supercharged 5.0 liter V8 mated to the same critically acclaimed ZF eight-speed automatic on the Jaguar XF, the vehicle boasts 550 horsepower and 502 pound-feet of torque. That is, apparently, enough power to send it flying at top speeds of 162 mph and accelerating from 0 to 60 in just 4.5 seconds.
Since the 2015 Range Rover Sport SVR can blaze the road like a sports car, it needs to handle like one. The fully-independent cross-linked air suspension system and adaptive dampers ensure this, allowing the vehicle to deliver a crisp, sporty ride any time it’s required, while the active roll control should help it clear corners without a hitch. Inside the cabin, it gets sports-style seats that come luxuriously covered in Oxford leather and aluminum trims (carbon fiber optional).
Of course, this ride’s still an off-roader at heart. As such, it’s still an all-wheel drive with a two-speed transfer case (able to switch between low and high range while traveling up to 37 mph), adjustable ride height, and a low-range option for sending 100 percent of the torque to either the front or rear axle when dealing with demanding terrain. There’s also an electronic multi-plate clutch in the center differential for improved traction, with Land Rover’s Terrain Response 2 orchestrating the off-road systems.
Slated to go on sale in the Fall, pricing for the 2015 Range Rover Sport SVR starts at $111,400.
