Special Vehicle Operations Archives

The Ultimate Range Rover

Special Vehicle Operations, Land Rover’s unit with a specialist team of designers, engineers and technicians dedicated to amplifying the performance, luxury and capability attributes, has develop a special edition Range Rover Sport SVR which is described as the ‘ultimate Range Rover’. Orders are being accepted by Land Rover dealers worldwide from today.

Hand-finished exterior colours
There are 3 hand-finished exterior paint choices – Gloss Maya Blue and Gloss Marl Grey colours, both of which are exclusive to the Ultimate edition, and Satin Ligurian Black. Delicate and highly reflective fine white glass flake particles in the solid base coat give an intense star-like sparkle. Each colour features a Gloss Narvik Black contrast roof.

The SV Bespoke team’s attention to detail extends to Black knurled Range Rover lettering on the bonnet and tailgate, with exclusive contrasting Fuji White edging which is also used for side fender accents. A body-coloured carbonfibre vented bonnet, 22-inch 5 split-spoke forged alloy wheels and black brake calipers complement the SVR’s black roof, door mirror caps, front grilles and grille surrounds, front wing detail and tailgate finishers.

Fastest, most power Land Rover model
The Range Rover Sport SVR is the fastest and most powerful Land Rover model ever produced for sale. Now in its second generation, the current model is powered by a 575 ps version of the 5-litre V8 supercharged engine, which produces 700 Nm of torque. That output gives the SUV as capability to go from standstill to 100 km/h in a claimed 4.5 seconds, and on to a top speed of 283 km/h.

“Range Rover Sport SVR redefined Land Rover high-performance capability when it was introduced in 2014. We’ve sold more than 20,000 examples to date and demand for the SVR’s characterful mix of power, luxury and thrilling dynamics continues to grow every year. The SV Bespoke personalisation features of this Ultimate edition elevate its appeal even further,” said Mark Turner, Commercial Director, Land Rover SV Bespoke.

Craftsmanship throughout vehicle
The craftsmanship of the SV Bespoke team is also evident inside. Specially commissioned chrome-finished SV Bespoke B-pillar badges, black anodised metal gearshift paddles and Ultimate edition illuminated treadplates enhance the recommended Ebony and Cirrus interior, which incorporates SVR-embossed lightweight Performance Seats in Windsor leather and contrasting Suedecloth.

“Our SV Bespoke design team is always pushing the boundaries to create stunning vehicle colours with enhanced individuality. This is the first SV Bespoke edition we’ve offered with beautifully textured and reflective glass flake paint finishes, which puts the Range Rover Sport SVR Ultimate edition at the forefront of our innovative approach to personalisation,” explained Hannah Custance, Design Manager, SV Colour and Materials.

Visit www.landrover.com.my to know more about Range Rover models available in Malaysia.

Land Rover among the supporting partners of Virgin Galactic – the world’s first commercial ‘spaceline’

Bowler Motors to prepare Land Rover Defender rallycar for championship series in 2022

Bowler Motors, an off-road performance vehicle specialist in the UK, has developed a Land Rover Defender rallycar that will compete in its own championship in 2022. Known as The Bowler Defender Challenge, it will consist of seven events in the UK, the first of which is scheduled to be in March.

There are 12 entries available for the one-make series, with each team competing in identical Bowler-prepared Defenders. For those with limited experience or none, the company can offer training and support to gain the necessary licence before moving directly to the series. The Challenge has been an ideal platform on which to gain motorsport know-how before joining other Bowlers and competing in rally-raid events across the globe.

For 2022 and beyond, the Challenge will continue to focus on delivering a fun environment that fosters the development of driving and competition skills yet retains the involving, engaging feel of a real motorsport family.

Defender 90 model used
Bowler will prepare the rallycars using the Defender 90 with a 300 ps Ingenium 2-litre turbocharged petrol engine. Each vehicle will be completely stripped back to install a full FIA-standard roll cage. The front and rear subframes are modified and given additional bracing for a new bespoke performance suspension set-up. Designed in collaboration with Fox, it increases the ride height by 25 mm. In place of the standard wheels are Bowler rally-spec 18-inch wheels.

Bowler’s engineers will add a suite of electronic components, from fire protection and electrical cut-offs to additional lighting and vehicle control systems – all integrated with the existing electrical architecture. Competition racing seats are also installed and the gear selector is repositioned for the optimal racing position. Additionally, Bowler-developed column-mounted paddle shifts will provide quicker shifting action.

Strengthened structure
During the conversion, the engineers subtly modify and stiffen the already rigid Defender bodyshell to cope with the extreme conditions of off-road competition. The standard doors are trimmed to remove the sill covering section, which allows the fitment of full-length, side-to-side underbody protection panels. A modified front end increases airflow to the cooling system and houses additional race-level lighting

Packages for the 2022 Challenge will start at £99,500 (about RM574,500) which the vehicle. Options include training, series logistics and vehicle support and customers can also choose from a range of accessories developed as part of this programme .

“The development of the new Bowler Defender Challenge rallycar perfectly illustrates the mutual benefits of Bowler joining Jaguar Land Rover Special Vehicle Operations. Our technical support married to Bowler’s legendary rally expertise has turned the extraordinarily capable Defender into a purposeful competition machine,” said Michael van der Sande, Managing Director of Jaguar Land Rover Special Vehicle Operations which has owned the Bowler business since 2019.

Incidentally, for those who are interested in getting a new Defender, we hear that Jaguar Land Rover Malaysia will make the model available in the near future. To register your interest, visit www.landrover.com.my.

*Latest Land Rover Defender, soon to be available in Malaysia.*

Special edition of Land Rover Defender pays tribute to expedition legacy of 4×4 brand

Special limited edition celebrates 50th birthday of the Range Rover

Long before the luxury SUVs of today appeared in showrooms, there was just the Range Rover in the segment that had yet to be created. It was introduced 50 years ago in June 1970, a product at the top of the Land Rover Range which even the Queen of England appreciated.

Over five decades, the Range Rover has been a pioneer of all-wheel drive technologies, achieved many world firsts and completed numerous impressive feats. It was the first SUV to feature a permanent 4WD system when it was launched and, in 1989, was the world’s first 4×4 to be fitted with ABS. Three years later, it became the world’s first 4×4 to be fitted with electronic traction control and automatic electronic air suspension. In 2012, the latest generation Range Rover became the world’s first SUV to feature an all-aluminium lightweight construction, making it lighter, stronger and more efficient.

A must-have in the garages of many rich and famous owners, the Range Rover has also made a name for itself as a very capable all-terrain vehicle. It has crossed the notoriously impassable ‘Darien Gap,’ a remote and dangerous area between Panama and Colombia. It has been used by adventurers to explore new territory on the planet and has even been a winner in the Paris-Dakar rally – twice. And it was the first vehicle to ever be displayed at the Louvre Museum in Paris.

To celebrate 50 years of a motoring icon, a Range Rover Fifty edition of the fourth generation has been created, restricted to just 1,970 vehicles globally, in recognition of the year the original Range Rover was launched. Building on the luxuriously appointed Autobiography, the Range Rover Fifty features a number of bespoke exterior accents in Auric Atlas as well as two unique 22-inch wheel designs.

The badging features a ‘Fifty’ script created personally by the ‘Guardian of Land Rover DNA’, Professor Gerry McGovern, Land Rover Chief Creative Officer, which will appear on the exterior of the vehicle and throughout the interior on the unique ‘1 of 1970’ centre console commissioning plaque, headrests, dashboard and illuminated treadplates.

“In the world of luxury vehicles, the Range Rover has always stood apart as peerless and enduring,” said Prof. McGovern. “Its unique and pioneering sensibilities, together with an unrivalled engineering approach, have been the intrinsic values which our customers have admired since the first of the breed was revealed in 1970.”

The Range Rover Fifty will be available in both standard and long wheelbase body designs with customers able to choose from four carefully curated exterior colours. Land Rover Special Vehicle Operations is also offering the Range Rover Fifty in one of three Heritage exterior solid paints reproduced from the original Range Rover paint palette of Tuscan Blue, Bahama Gold and Davos White.

A range of powertrain options will be available – petrol, diesel and even a plug-in hybrid P400e version. For customers in North America, each example will be fitted with a 518 bhp 5-litre supercharged V8 powertrain.

Range Rover celebrates 50th anniversary this year

Jaguar XE SV Project 8 does it again at Nurburgring (w/VIDEO)

The Jaguar Special Vehicle Operations-developed XE SV Project 8 has demonstrated its performance capability by setting the fastest Nurburgring Nordschleife lap time for a 4-door production car again: 7 minutes 18.361 seconds.

The Project 8 is also the first vehicle to set an official whole lap record in the Nurburgring’s mid-range production car class, lapping the circuit in 7 minutes 23.164 seconds.

2.9 seconds faster than previous benchmark
This new officially-verified time on the 20.6-km lap is 2.9 seconds faster than Project 8’s previous benchmark set in November 2017, and 7 seconds faster than any other 4-door production car has achieved.

Returning to the legendary German circuit in a production-specification 2-seat Track Pack version of Project 8 was development driver Vincent Radermecker. The car’s height-adjustable twin-spring coil-over suspension was set in ‘track’ ride height, with adjustable front splitter and carbonfibre rear aerodynamic wing positioned for maximum downforce and stability.

To maximise performance and steering precision, for the final record runs, the car was fitted with new off-the-shelf ultra-high performance Michelin Pilot Sport Cup 2 R tyres. Tested and chosen by SV engineers for their capability on the track, the road-legal tyres use rubber compounds directly transferred from Michelin’s competition tyres.

The original Nurburgring time set by Jaguar XE SV Project 8 demonstrated the extreme performance envelope of the world’s fastest production sedans, but the SV team is driven by a motorsport mentality and knew Project 8 could go even faster.

600 ps V8 and all-wheel drive
Powered by the most highly tuned 600-ps version of Jaguar’s 5.0-litre Supercharged V8, the all-wheel-drive Project 8 is capable of 0 – 100 km/h in a claimed 3.7 seconds, and a top speed of 320 km/h). It features a fully-enclosed flat underbody for enhanced aerodynamics, which is key to its performance.

Production of the limited-edition Project 8 will finish this year. There are three distinct 4-door specifications available, with the Touring specification – the ultimate Q-car – limited to 15 units worldwide. Prices start from £149,995 (equivalent to RM770,300) in the UK.

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