Land Rover is attempting to break new ground in the sport-utility segment and that endeavor was unveiled at the Geneva Motor Show: the Range Rover SV Coupe.
The new two-door SUV is the brainchild of Land Rover Design and Special Vehicle Operations and the brand plans to build just 999 of the “coupes” for SVO clients around the world. The idea is almost the reverse of what many European automakers, particularly Mercedes, by giving sedans a “coupe-like” appearance.
The new Range Rover is a true two door model and designed to look and “be” a coupe. It’s sleek with a more raked appearance, but still features all of the luxury appointments and rugged capability expected from Rover products.
“The Range Rover SV Coupé is a celebration of the Range Rover bloodline,” said Gerry McGovern, Land Rover’s chief design officer.
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“With a dramatic two-door silhouette, this breath-taking four seat coupé alludes to its unique heritage while being thoroughly modern and contemporary. Beautifully realized and superbly engineered, the Range Rover SV Coupé delivers the most distinguished, luxurious and exclusive Range Rover ever built.”
From the outside, the new SV Coupe is unmistakably a Range Rover. It’s a full-size Range Rover, but is just missing two doors. Looking at it, one almost has to do a double take to zero in on what’s different about it.
Luxury appointments are every bit as important as the exterior styling and the SV Coupe doesn’t disappoint with power-close doors with frameless glass, a panoramic roof that floods the cabin with light, and the usual assortment of top-flight materials Rover is known for.
However, always in a state of evolution, this is also the first Range Rover with a 23-inch wheel option, the company noted. Each of the 999 vehicles will be hand-assembled to the client’s personal specification at the SVO Technical Center in the UK – a first for Range Rover.
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SV Coupe buyers can choose from four front-to-rear contrast interior colorways, or a range of single-tone interior colors. Both are complemented by a choice of three elegant wood veneers. A first for Range Rover is Nautica, which carefully balances heritage craftsmanship with new technology, fusing walnut and sycamore.
However, elegance without performance is a failure. This is the fastest-ever full-size Range Rover, with a top speed of 165 mph. Powered by an exhilarating 565 horsepower 5.0-liter supercharged V8 gas engine, the most powerful ever in a full-size Range Rover, pushes the SV Coupe from 0-to-60 mph in just 5 seconds.
The suspension is tuned to provide a more driver-focused edge than the standard Range Rover, with a ride height lowered by 8mm, but will remain composed and comfortable at all times. Plus, the SV Coupe loses none of Range Rover’s legendary all-terrain ability, with 900 mm maximum wading depth – and a maximum towing capacity of 3.5 tons.
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Range Rover SV Coupé sales are anticipated to start from the fourth quarter of 2018, priced from £240,000, or about $333,500, in the UK. No word on U.S. sales or pricing.
