Land Rover has been spotted testing a Range Rover Velar with the design hallmarks of a flagship SVR performance model. The Velar is currently the best-handling Range Rover yet (although that’s hardly saying much), so is this finally a Range Rover that’ll be able to rival star performance SUVs like the Alfa Romeo Stelvio Quadrifoglio and Porsche Macan Turbo for driving pleasure?
Unlike those rivals, though, we suspect that the Velar will go the whole hog and include a supercharged V8 engine with over 500bhp, matching the Alfa and properly trouncing the new Macan Turbo’s 2.9-litre turbocharged V6. Further evidence of its likely V8 powertrain is its use in the new Jaguar F-Pace SVR, a model that shares its basic chassis with the Velar.
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> Click here for our review of the Range Rover Sport SVR
Styling changes look to follow the SVR template already applied to the Range Rover Sport, so expect a combination of larger cooling intakes, new 22-inch wheels and a more aggressive rear valance peppered with four chunky exhaust outlets. The test vehicle also appears to sit lower than a standard Velar, likely featuring re-tuned air-suspension to try to improve its body control compared to the standard model.
There will likely be plenty of changes inside, too, with the smooth, glassy finish of the Velar’s dash peppered with new carbonfibre trim, combined with racier seats and new colour combinations.
The current Range Rover Sport SVR features a 575bhp version of the 5-litre supercharged V8, but thanks to the Sport’s substantial weight and size, we expect this Velar SVR to be even faster, despite its likely reduction in power in line with the Jaguar F-Pace SVR.
The Velar SVR will hit the road next year where it’ll have plenty of hot SUV rivals to battle it out against, including the aforementioned Alfa Romeo and Porsche, and the AMG GLC63 S and incoming BMW X3M.