Land Rover unveils new high priced, two-door SV Coupe
According to Land Rover, this is the world’s first “fullsize luxury SUV Coupe,” a limited-edition two-door Range Rover so fast and so hedonistic that it will create a whole new segment.
In that quest, Range Rover’s 5.0-litre supercharged V8 has been pumped up yet again, this time to 557 horsepower and 516 poundfeet of torque. That’s good enough, says Land Rover, to motivate the SV Coupe from rest to 100 km/h in just 5.3 seconds. A gargantuan SUV that accelerates like a fairly well-endowed sports sedan is some pretty darned impressive stuff.
For some reason, Land Rover also thinks the fact that the SV Coupe can hit 265 km/h is important, though quite where one is supposed to go that fast in the mud is not fully explained. If you do choose to go that fast on the road, however, you’ll be happy to know that the SV is eight millimetres lower than the four-door version and, thanks to air suspension, it automatically lowers a further 15 mm above 104 km/h for the greater stability a lower centre of gravity engenders.
“The introduction of the new SV Coupe brings a new level of individual expression to the Range Rover portfolio,” says John Edwards, Land Rover Special Operations managing director.
SV Coupe clients can choose from four front-torear contrast interior colourways, or a range of single-tone interior colours. The front seats are 20-way adjustable and, in the rear, 10-way power adjustable. Even the doors are power operated.
On the electronics front, Land Rover’s InControl Touch Pro Duo infotainment includes a 10-inch display, 10-inch control panel and 12-inch Interactive Driver Display like the smaller Velar, but adds a 10-inch head-up display. And, 1,700 watts of Meridian sound system powering no fewer than 23 speakers.
As with all Range Rovers, permanent four-wheel drive with a two-speed transfer box and an active locking rear differential is standard. A revamped Terrain Response system — with settings for Dynamic, Eco, Comfort, Grass/Gravel/Snow, Mud and Ruts, Sand and Rock Crawl drive modes — means that the new Coupe should be able to go places no luxury vehicle should dare.
As for pricing, through Range Rover Canada, the SV Coupe definitely falls in the “if you need to ask” category. And if you do have the means to ask, the suggested list price — and, no, they won’t be bargaining because Range Rover is only making 999 of them — is $335,000.