2015 Range Rover Sport SVR detailed

Faster Jaguars and Land Rovers will roll from the Indian-owned brand's high-performance works and first cab off the rapid rank is the Range Rover Sport SVR, fresh from pipping Porsche as the fastest SUV around the famed Nurburgring circuit.

Fresh from a thinly disguised debut at the Goodwood Festival of Speed, the maker has released details of the fastest, most powerful Land Rover yet. It will arrive in local showrooms in the second quarter next year.

Under its clamshell bonnet, the first Land Rover to wear the SVR badge has a supercharged V8 5.0-litre (405kW/680Nm) as used in the F-Type R. It drives all four wheels via a ZF eight-speed auto. The SVR claims 4.7 seconds for the 0-100km/h sprint and a governed top speed of 260km/h.

Demand should exceed supply despite the price. The current flagship is the $182,400 Autobiography Dynamic but the super-SUV is expected to land nearer $200,000, still coming in below the $222,100 Porsche Cayenne Turbo.

The SVR's fuel economy and CO2 emissions match those of the V8 Supercharged: 12.8L/100km and 325g/km.
At the Nurburgring, an early example clocked 8 minutes 14 seconds - "the fastest time ever recorded by a standard production SUV" says Land Rover - or a second quicker than Porsche recorded with a production Macan Turbo. The SVR also gets body enhancements, unique interior and "active" exhaust (with quad outlets - or the driver can select a quiet mode, whatever the engine speed). Wheels will be 21-inch alloys with optional 22-inchers.

Rather than a single-range driveline to keep weight down, the SVR retains the dual-range transfer case, even though it is unlikely SVR owners would venture far off the bitumen.

The V8 is fed and calibrated to deliver "exceptional flexibility" off-road. The deeper front spoiler can be removed in rough terrain and the SVR can switch between low and high range at up to 60km/h. The normal 50-50 torque split has been retained, as has the ability to send up to 100 per cent to either end as needed. High or low range can be selected at up to 60km/h.

There's no mistaking this is a Rangie - it has a sports body kit with a new front bumper, trapezoidal air intakes, extra brake cooling ducts, darkened grille and graphics, flared wheelarches, new-look fender and vent arrangement, roof lip spoiler, underbody aero additions and rear diffuser.

The seven-colour palette includes the SVR-specific Estoril Blue (pictured), with Santorini Black roof as standard.The cabin gets aluminium trim (or optional carbon fibre), leather sports racing-bucket seats and redesigned 'bucket cut" reclining rear bench.