Since Land Rover introduced the Range Rover Velar in 2017, it has proven to be a popular addition to the firm’s line-up – with its styling and luxurious interior being two of its best selling points.
But until recently, the most powerful engine you could get was a 296bhp 2.0-litre turbocharged petrol. That feels plenty in the Velar, but now Range Rover’s Special Operations Division has got its hands on this SUV, it has been transformed into a true performance SUV.
The result is the Velar SVAutobiography, which shares its powertrain with the monstrous Jaguar F-Pace SVR. Here are seven key performance features on the model.
The same engine that you’ll find that in the Jaguar F-Type V8
To ensure the Range Rover Velar SVAutobiography can deliver the thrills necessary for a performance SUV, Land Rover has fitted the model with the same 5.0-litre supercharged V8 engine as you find in the powerful Jaguar F-Type V8 sports car.
The engine produces a monstrous 542bhp and 680Nm of torque – making it one of the most powerful models in its sector today. This allows for a 0-60mph time of 4.3 seconds, and a top speed of 170mph, according to Land Rover.
Thrilling exhaust note
When you have access to a powerful SUV like this, you don’t want it to go unnoticed. The regular Velar does an excellent job of standing out from the crowd, but with the SVAutobiography you can be heard before you’re even seen.
That’s thanks to this model’s bespoke performance exhaust setup, which helps to provide the thrilling soundtrack to accompany the engine. The ‘active’ exhaust also has valves that can be flicked on or off at the switch of a button – essentially meaning that you can change the volume of the exhaust note, though really, you’ll probably leave it in its loudest setting anyway.
Improved ‘Dynamic’ mode
As with the regular Range Rover Velar, you can flick between drive modes, depending on the road conditions. ‘Dynamic’ is the setting that’s always offered the most spirited driving experience in the normal Velar, and Range Rover has optimised this to allow for an improved drive.
This ‘Dynamic’ mode allows for optimised steering, suspension and transmission settings that aim to suit those wanting to enthusiastically drive their SUV.
Sporting spirit mixed with Land Rover’s renowned off-roading ability
While Land Rovers have increasingly become more luxurious offerings over the years, the British firm has never forgotten about the need for its models to be as dependable as ever.
So, while this new Velar might now be more tailored to spirited road driving, the need for it to be useful away from the tarmac still remains.
Optimised all-wheel-drive system for performance
In order to handle the SVAutobiography’s high power figure, Land Rover has had to upgrade the all-wheel-drive system. Aside from this, the firm has also been hard at work adjusting the dynamics for a more performance-feeling driving experience. It has been changed so that 100 per cent of the engine’s torque can be sent the rear wheels, which is always a fantastic sign of a performance car.
Upgraded brakes to provide the ultimate stopping power
To ensure the Velar remains safe and stable, a new braking system has been fitted to the SVAutobiography. Extra stopping power comes from the larger brakes, which have also been optimised to offer reduced weight. They can essentially cope with higher braking forces generated by more spirited driving. To highlight this, it features large red brake callipers, though more discreet black ones can be fitted instead.
More muscular styling
To highlight the Velar’s performance, this sports model featured a revised front bumper with larger air intakes. It also benefits from a different grille to the standard car, along with a revised rear bumper which incorporates the bold quad exhaust finishers. You can also choose to have the model in the exclusive Satin Byron Blue paint colour (pictured), while a black painted roof is also fitted as standard.
