2019 F-Pace SVR: The full-bore Jag SUV has arrived
A high-performance version of Jaguar’s F-Pace might have seemed like a foregone conclusion given the recent explosion of the sporty-SUV segment. But that doesn’t make the V-8-powered 2019 F-Pace SVR any less exciting. With 550 horsepower from the British automaker’s ubiquitous supercharged 5.0-liter V-8, a revamped chassis, and an extra helping of visual aggression, the hottest F-Pace seems poised to stack up well against rivals such as the Mercedes-AMG GLC63 and the Alfa Romeo Stelvio Quadrifoglio.
Fitting the V-8 into the F-Pace likely didn’t take much effort, as this engine shares the same block with the supercharged 3.0-liter V-6 found in the lesser, 380-hp F-Pace S. The 5.0-liter unit makes the same 550 horses and 502 lb-ft of torque in the F-Pace as it does in the F-type R sports car, and an active exhaust system with quad tailpipes
ensures that the SUV will make a similarly awesome sound. An eight-speed automatic transmission and all-wheel drive are standard equipment. Jaguar says that the combination is good for a 4.1-second zero-to-60-mph run and a 176-mph top speed.
Chassis tweaks over the already athletic standard F-Pace include stiffer front and rear springs, different tuning for the adaptive dampers, and larger brakes, sized 15.5 inches in the front and 15.6 inches at the rear. Both 21- and 22-inch wheel options are available, and the tire setup is staggered, with 265width rubber in front and 295s out back regardless of wheel option. We presume that both all-season and summer tires will be offered, as they are on the F-Pace S. Software tweaks for the all-wheel-drive system help it work with an electronically controlled limited-slip differential and brake-based torque vectoring.
The F-Pace SVR’s exterior upgrades are remarkably tasteful for such a high-powered machine, and Jaguar says that the larger air intakes and extra vents up front are functional, improving the car’s aerodynamics and cooling efficiency. The combination of wider wheels and tires with different wheel arches and a body kit give the SVR a muscular stance, while the rear end is differentiated by a spoiler, the four exhaust outlets, and a few extra vents. Sport seats front and rear headline the changes to the interior along with SVR badges throughout, a console shifter taken from the F-type, and aluminum paddle shifters flanking the steering wheel.
As expected, the SVR’s performance mojo commands a significant price jump over the existing F-Pace S; the $80,985 starting price puts it around $20,000 higher than that lesser, 380-hp SUV. SVR sales start this summer.