√2024 Range Rover Sport SV unveiled as BMW-powered SVR replacement

The successor to the Range Rover Sport SVR performance SUV has adopted high-output BMW V8 power to go with its new name.

The 2024 Range Rover Sport SV has been unveiled, ahead of first Australian showroom arrivals in the fourth quarter of 2023 (October to December).

The SV is the renamed replacement for the Range Rover Sport SVR – and sees Land Rover supercharged V8 power ditched for a twin-turbo V8 from BMW.

It is expected to arrive in Australian showrooms later this year priced from $360,800 plus on-road costs in ‘Edition One’ trim, more than $100,000 dearer than the $253,395 of the final iteration of the SVR.

Powering the Sport SV is an upgraded, mild-hybrid version of BMW’s 4.4-litre twin-turbocharged ‘S63’ petrol V8, which develops 467kW and 750Nm – 77kW more than the version of the engine in the regular Range Rover Sport V8.

With all-wheel drive and an eight-speed automatic transmission, Land Rover claims a 0-100km/h acceleration time of 3.8 seconds, towards a top speed of 290km/h.

For comparison, the outgoing supercharged V8-powered Sport SVR quoted 423kW and 700Nm, a 0-100km/h time of 4.5 seconds, and a 283km/h top speed.

The Range Rover uses the most powerful version of the BMW V8 available, sharing its output with the 467kW M5 CS super sedan – which lacked mild-hybrid technology.

The Sport SV debuts a new ‘6D Dynamics’ air suspension system, which Land Rover claims debuts “a world-first combination of hydraulic interlinked dampers, height-adjustable air springs and pitch control”, and eliminates the need for traditional anti-roll bars.

The performance flagship rides 10mm to 25mm lower than a standard Range Rover Sport, depending on the drive mode.

It offers rear-wheel steering, a brake-based torque vectoring system, an active locking rear differential, unique rear subframe and suspension components, a quicker electric power steering rack, and multi-mode sport exhaust.

There are a slew of drive modes including SV Mode, which is said to put the steering, transmission, throttle response, exhaust and suspension (lowering the ride height) in their most aggressive modes, and allows a special race-track stability-control mode to be activated.

The Sport SV is the first Range Rover fitted with 305mm-wide rear tyres – compared to the 285mm rubber on the front – with a Michelin Pilot Sport All Season 4 compound.

Land Rover claims the Range Rover Sport SV can generate a cornering force (lateral acceleration) of up to 1.1G on all-season tyres – 22 per cent more than the previous Sport SVR on summer tyres, and is said to be “comparable to track-focused sports cars”.

Carbon-ceramic brakes are available for the first time, which are said to better resist brake fade and shave 34kg of unsprung weight compared to the standard dual-cast iron discs.

The eight-piston front calipers are claimed to be the “largest ever fitted to a Range Rover”, and are available in yellow, red, ‘Carbon Bronze’ or black.

The wheels measure 23 inches in diameter, and are optionally available in carbon fibre – akin to a supercar – to save 35.6kg across all four wheels – nearly 9kg per corner.

The Range Rover Sport SV can be distinguished on the road by a new front bumper with larger air intakes, new side skirts, and quad carbon-fibre-tipped exhaust outlets.

The bonnet is made from carbon fibre as standard, while the exotic material is also used for the Range Rover badges, front bumper blades, grille surround, and bonnet and side vents.

Inside, the SV gains carbon-fibre-backed SV Performance front sports seats with integrated headrests, more sculpted bolsters and illuminated SV logos.

The seats are fitted with ‘Body and Soul Seat’ technology, which is claimed to allow “front seat occupants to feel the sound” by “generating high fidelity audio vibrations” that correspond to the music played with the 29-speaker, 1430-watt Meridian Signature stereo.

Land Rover claims “the Body and Soul Seat Wellness programmes can help enhance … front-seat occupants’ mental and physiological wellbeing by influencing heart rate variability (HRV) – the variation in time between each heartbeat. High HRV is indicative of lower stress levels and relaxation.”

It says “six specially developed tracks – Poise, Soothe, Serene, Cool, Tonic and Glow – could affect passengers’ HRV, either helping to reduce anxiety or improve cognitive response, studies have shown.”

The seats can be trimmed in a synthetic ‘Ultrafabrics’ material as an option, while there are translucent, illuminated steering-wheel shift paddles, a sports steering wheel with an SV button, a black ceramic gear shifter, and carbon-fibre-look trim pieces.

For the first year of production the Range Rover Sport SV is offered in an Edition One specification – with unique design touches – which is “only available for select clients to order by invitation”.

The 2024 Range Rover Sport SV is expected to arrive in Australian showrooms later this year in Edition One form. A standard SV model freely available to order is anticipated next year.

It forms part of an updated Range Rover Sport line-up for Model Year 2024, which has received price rises of up to $6559.

The 2024 model range is comprised of diesel and plug-in hybrid variants only, plus the new petrol SV Edition One. Standard petrol variants are due to return for Model Year 2025 production next year.

The current P510e plug-in hybrid has been axed in favour of a less potent P460e hybrid, now priced from $178,650 plus on-road costs in a new entry-level SE specification, or $187,500 in HSE trim – $10,594 less than before.

It continues to use a 3.0-litre turbocharged inline-six petrol engine and an electric motor, but the power output has been reduced from 375kW to 338kWh, and the 0-100km/h acceleration time has increased from 5.4 to 5.5 seconds.

There is new software for the 13.1-inch Pivi Pro infotainment touchscreen – with “easy-to-use sliders” for the volume and air-conditioning controls, which are visible on every screen – and updated voice recognition technology.

Also new is a Country Road Assist feature activated when adaptive cruise control is on, which is said to use “navigation data to automatically adjust the target speed, taking into account bends in the road and changes to the speed limit”.

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