Performance flagship Range Rover Sport SV sparks demand in SA

The flagship new Range Rover Sport SV has sparked demand amongst clients in South Africa, with all 35 limited-edition Range Rover Sport SV EDITION ONE units fully reserved when orders opened.

Janico Dannhauser, Product and Pricing Manager, JLR South Africa, said: “Close to 200 clients expressed interest in the limited-edition new Range Rover Sport SV EDITION ONE. Thirty-five now have the special privilege of staking a claim to one. They’ll be among the first in South Africa to experience an impressive number of segment and brand firsts that make this model the benchmark for ultimate modern luxury performance SUVs.”

Acclaimed as the most powerful and dynamic Range Rover Sport yet, the new Range Rover Sport SV blends supreme performance and dynamism with peerless Range Rover capability and refinement.

Powered exclusively by a new 467kW, 750Nm2 4.4-litre Twin-Turbo MHEV V8 petrol engine – 44kW and 50Nm more than the previous generation Range Rover Sport SVR – the new Range Rover Sport SV can accelerate from 0-100km/h in as little as 3.7 seconds1 and a top speed of 290km/h.

This outstanding performance is enabled by a combination of supercar-inspired features that deliver a weight saving of up to 76kg1, including the world’s first 23-inch Carbon Fibre Wheel option on a production car, Carbon Ceramic Brakes - an option available for the first time on a Range Rover - and standard-fit aerodynamic enhancements including a carbon fibre bonnet.

The new Range Rover Sport SV’s world-first 6D Dynamics suspension system is the most sophisticated in its class6, debuting a combination of hydraulic interlinked dampers, height-adjustable air springs and pitch control. The revolutionary semi-active system, which removes the need for conventional anti-roll bars, dramatically reduces pitch and roll to maintain a near-level body stance during extreme cornering, heavy acceleration, and hard braking, while also reducing weight, increasing grip, and benefiting comfort and refinement.

The new Range Rover Sport SV’s 6D Dynamics suspension works seamlessly with the suite of advanced chassis and suspension systems. Unique SV-tuned settings are applied to the Intelligent All-Wheel Drive, All-Wheel Steering, Torque Vectoring by Braking, Configurable Dynamics and Active Locking Rear Differential to deliver a more focused, sports car-like driving experience – especially in the all-new driver-selectable SV Mode.

It also features specially developed chassis components including a new rear subframe and new suspension links with revised geometry and compliance. A new electronically power-assisted steering rack has the fastest ratio of any Range Rover to date, for enhanced agility and feel.

For the first time on a Range Rover, 305-section rear tyres are fitted, which are 20mm wider than the 285-section front tyres. This arrangement, with standard-fit Michelin Pilot Sport All Season 4 tyres, enables a rear-biased dynamic setup enhancing grip, stability and traction. Increased rear roll stiffness also helps deliver immediate steering responses.

Demonstrating the combined benefits of these technologies, the new Range Rover Sport SV is capable of generating lateral acceleration in excess of 1.1G on all-season tyres, which is comparable to track-focused sports cars.

Enhancing its on-road dynamic capability, every new Range Rover Sport SV benefits from a specially developed high-performance braking system, with clients able to choose between standard mixed-metal Dual-Cast and optional Carbon Ceramic braking technologies.

Carbon Ceramic Brakes (CCB), available for the first time on a Range Rover, deliver ultimate braking performance with improved resistance to high temperatures, a longer lifespan and 34kg total un-sprung weight reduction versus the uprated Dual-Cast iron brake discs fitted as standard to the new Range Rover Sport SV. This reduction in mass at each corner of the car results in even more responsive handling, faster acceleration and improved ride quality.

Whichever braking technology is specified, the unique eight-piston Brembo Octyma front calipers are the largest ever fitted to a Range Rover. Developed exclusively for the new Range Rover Sport SV and sculpted to complement Range Rover Sport SV’s reductive design, the calipers incorporate a unique cross-shape piston arrangement to maximise braking efficiency. Exclusive customisable calliper colours include Yellow, Red, Carbon Bronze and Black.

To further reduce mass, new Range Rover Sport SV clients can choose the first ultra-lightweight 23-inch Carbon Fibre Wheels fitted to a production vehicle. Available as an option, these innovative split five-spoke wheels save almost 9kg per corner – a total of 35.6kg – compared with conventional 23-inch cast-alloy wheels, resulting in improvements to outright performance, handling and ride quality. While incredibly light, they are engineered and tested to the toughest durability and robustness standards – the same as Range Rover’s cast or forged alloy wheels.

Maximising the benefit of the new Range Rover Sport SV’s uprated dynamic hardware, drivers can intensify the car’s sporting attitude by pressing the new SV Mode button on the steering wheel. A step beyond Range Rover Sport’s existing Dynamic mode, SV Mode optimises the steering, eight-speed automatic gearbox, throttle response, exhaust note and 6D Dynamics suspension system – including lowering the ride height by an additional 15mm – to deliver the most dynamic and visceral experience possible. SV Mode also allows the track-oriented TracDSC stability control programme to be activated, for drivers to more freely explore the new Range Rover Sport SV’s dynamic balance.

The new Range Rover Sport SV’s high-performance-honed exterior design includes an exclusive airflow-enhanced front-end, reprofiled lower body sides and functional carbon fibre-tipped quad tailpipes for the active exhaust system as focal points of the rear aspect. Carbon fibre detailing on the Range Rover script, front bumper blades, grille surround, bonnet vents and side vents can be supplemented with an exposed finish for the centre section of the carbon fibre bonnet3.

Inside the cockpit-like cabin, exclusive satin carbon fibre-backed SV Performance Seats feature integrated headrests, more sculpted bolsters and illuminated SV logos on their backrests. A new Ultrafabrics™ PU interior is available, with lightweight, seamless, ‘3D Knit to form’ textile. World-first translucent edge-lit gear shift paddles nestle behind a steering wheel with more pronounced thumb grips, while black ceramic for the console gear shifter gives a cool-to-touch feel.

Sensory immersion

Raising that sense of connection even higher, the new Range Rover Sport SV introduces Body and Soul Seat (BASS), a multi-dimensional audio experience with wellness benefits which allows front seat occupants to feel the sound. This is the first production vehicle to incorporate a tactile audio system from industry leader SUBPAC™ – technology used by the world’s top recording artists and composers.

Incorporating SUBPAC™ AI optimising software, and transducers aligned to front seat occupants’ backs, Body and Soul Seat analyses media in real-time, generating high fidelity audio vibrations to create the most engaging and immersive in-car audio. This system works in combination with the 29-speaker, 1430W, Meridian Signature Sound System.

Janico Dannhauser said: “The SV EDITION ONE specification represents a curation of the best feature combinations, colours and finishes. Each Range Rover Sport SV EDITION ONE is enhanced with exclusive branding on the front splitter, centre console, treadplates and puddle lamps.”

More information about future Ranger Rover Sport SV models will be announced in due course.