BIG, bold and with bonkers performance, the Jaguar F-PACE SVR is the latest offering from the company’s Special Vehicle Operations team.
It might not look too different from the British marque's multi-award-winning SUV F-PACE but the SVR provides supercar performance from the 5-0-litre supercharged V8 that sits under the bonnet.
It produces a stunning 542bhp with 680Nm of torque and delivers its power through a four-wheel-drive system via an eight-speed automatic gearbox.
The astonishing result is that this practical SUV can reach 62mph in just 4.3 seconds before going on to an incredible 176mph. And it does it all while delivering a splendid V8 soundtrack.
Visually, the car is transformed by a new bodykit designed for aerodynamic efficiency. The new front sports large air intakes for cooling and side vents draw out air from the wheel arches, which have increased in size to cope with the huge rims and also to give the car a more sporty, aggressive look.
A new bonnet with cooling intakes hides the powerplant and at the rear there is a new diffuser and four large exhaust pipes as well as a spoiler to enhance cooling, reduce lift and drag, and aid high-speed stability.
To handle all the extra power, the SVO team has made numerous tweaks to the chassis and suspension, enabling them to reduce body roll.
Uprated dampers, a new anti-roll bar and stiffer springs help cope with all that extra power, as do the special tyres that are wider at the rear to provide extra grip for the blistering speed.
Sharper steering and quicker gearshifts are the result of changes to the car’s Dynamic feature on the drive selector set-up and there is always a rear bias on the four-wheel-drive system to provide driving delight.
The interior is a dream, with the correct blend of luxury and some really neat sporting touches. Fabulous new slimline embossed sports leather seats hold you in place while you put this remarkable SUV through its paces and SVR logos are stitched on the headrests.
Sports pedals and a new gear selector add to the appeal along with Jaguar’s Touch Pro infotainment and navigation system and a very smart 12.3in instrument cluster.
I got to drive the SVR on the French Riviera recently and it was simply astonishing. It could be docile and easy to use around town but a flick of a few switches and it transformed into a beast on the open roads or motorways.
The performance took my breath away at times and, no matter how hard you pushed, the SVR always felt glued to the road. The new lightweight brakes provided superb stopping power and the variable valve active exhaust system crackled and popped to put a smile on my face.
A lot of people will question the need for an SUV to be this quick but this car is a worthy flagship for the F-PACE range.
Priced from £75,335, the F-PACE SVR is a super-SUV that delivers sports car performance and still retains its practicality and versatility with a 650-litre boot and some serious off-road ability.
The F-PACE is the fastest selling Jaguar ever and this version is sure to add to its appeal – and the designers, engineers and technicians of the SVO team deserve to be proud of it.
