Range Rover’s first true super-SUV borrows F-Type’s V8

Despite a top speed of ‘just’ 270kph, which the lads at Land Rover’s Special Vehicle Operations had to electronically limit, the Range Rover Sport SVR still turned in a Nürburgring Nordschleife lap time of 8:14 — according to the makers this is the fastest SUV to ever circle the ’Ring.

That’s almost 40 extra horses and 56Nm more than your regular Sport. In fact, that’s exactly the same as you get in the Jaguar F-Type R Coupé, which shares this engine.

So the fastest, most powerful Range Rover ever produced is in fact fast and powerful, but somehow there’s no compromise on fuel economy and the maker even promises typical off-road capability.

With an eight-speed ’box courtesy of ZF and two-stage active exhaust featuring electronically controlled valves, high engine revs and burst eardrums can’t be far away either.

Standard wheels and tyres for all this grunt are 21in items with all-season rubber, but in another Range Rover first you can optionally spec 22in alloys wrapped in performance-optimised Continentals.

Outside, the SVR designers focused on bigger cooling intakes and aerodynamic enhancement, and inside the car gets exclusive sports seats.

And once you’re done with your eight-minute ’Ring laps, there’s still 260mm and 272mm of front and rear wheel travel, 546mm of wheel articulation, a wading depth of up to 850mm, and a towing capability of 3,000kg.

First deliveries of the Sport SVR begin early next year, with European prices starting from around Dh575,000.