2017 Range Rover Sport SVR sprint ability tested in real-world conditions [w/video]

Article by Christian A., on January 29, 2017

Ever since it was launched in 2015, the Land Rover Range Rover Sport SVR has proven to be one of the most powerful, quickest and fastest SUVs. In fact, it was able to complete a lap in the Nurburgring circuit (technically a road) in just 8 minutes and 14 seconds. Only a few SUVs are faster.

When buying a vehicle, one of the many considerations that a possible customer takes into account is how quick it could accelerate from zero to 60 mph or 62 mph (100 km/h). The weight of the vehicle, its output and its torque are the main determining factors.

Usually, this sprint time is measured dynamically, which means all factors have been optimized to favor a quick zoom from standstill on an asphalted track or road. Realistically, a dynamic sprint time applies only partly to vehicles that are expected to be taken off the road – to the grass, gravel and snow, as well as to the mud and sand. It’s because these are low-friction surfaces, and only all-terrain vehicles like the Range Rover Sport SVR are able to remain quick.

This is why Jaguar Land Rover Special Vehicle Operations (SVO) has taken more steps to show that the Range Rover Sport SVR is a true all-terrain performer – whether on the road, mud and sand or on the grass, gravel and snow. Serving as the core of the four-wheel drive Range Rover Sport SVR is a 5.0-liter Supercharged Petrol LR-V8 engine -- mated to an eight-speed transmission -- that provides 550 hp of max output and 680 Nm of torque available between 3,500 rpm and 4,000 rpm.

Boosted by Land Rover’s innovative Terrain Response 2 and donning Michelin 275/45 R21 All Season Tires, the Range Rover Sport SVR was taken to different places in and outside the United Kingdom. Terrain Response 2 is a system that automatically picks the appropriate driving mode for the Range Rover Sport SVR -- General Driving, Dynamic, Grass/Gravel/Snow, Mud and Ruts, Sand, and Rock Crawl.

For the dynamic sprint (asphalt), the Range Rover Sport SVR was taken to the Rockingham Motor Speedway in Corby, UK. Here, the pride of Jaguar Land Rover SVO was able to dash from nil to 100km/h in 4.7 seconds. Then, the Range Rover Sport SVR was driven on a quarry and has managed to achieve a sprint time of 5.3 seconds. As for testing in snow and ice, the Range Rover Sport SVR was flown to Jaguar Land Rover’s winter test facility in Arjeplog, Sweden where the all-terrain SUV managed to accelerate in dire winter conditions in just 11.3 seconds.

As for mud and ruts, the Range Rover Sport SVR returned to the UK, where it was tested at one of Land Rover’s all-terrain testing facilities. There, the Range Rover Sport SVR accelerated from nil to 100 km/h in only 6.5 seconds.

Another test was done on the Pendine Sands at Carmarthen Bay in South Wales, where the Range Rover Sport SVR cruised from standstill to 100 km/h on the sands in only 5.5 seconds. In another testing facility, the Range Rover Sport SVR was made to tackle a rocky 32 percent incline – a feat it managed to achieve with ease.

Given all these real-world figures, Range Rover Sport SVR – thanks to the Terrain Response 2 technology – could truly be considered as an all-terrain performer.

Press Release

RANGE ROVER SPORT SVR: GRIPPING ACCELERATION WHATEVER THE TERRAIN

Come rain or shine, grass or gravel, snow or sand, the Range Rover Sport SVR delivers devastating pace.

Merging legendary all-terrain capability with 550HP V8 power and advanced traction technology provides Land Rover’s fastest vehicle with unique real world performance.

Since going on sale in February 2015, the Range Rover Sport SVR has showcased the abilities of Jaguar Land Rover Special Vehicle Operations, with just shy of 1000 being delivered to customers in the UK. Many will have been attracted by the 0-60mph time of only 4.5 seconds, but the official figure only scratches the surface of the Range Rover Sport’s capability…

When the perfect traction offered by clean, dry Tarmac isn’t available, most sports cars immediately suffer from a lack of grip, stability and performance. But no sports car has the benefit of Land Rover’s legendary all-terrain know-how.

In this unique test, the Range Rover Sport SVR completes the 0-100km/h sprint on standard fit Michelin 275/45 R21 All Season Tyres on everything from tarmac and grass to snow and sand, using Land Rover’s innovative Terrain Response 2 technology.

The intelligent system automatically selects the appropriate driving mode to suit traction conditions including: General Driving, Dynamic, Grass/Gravel/Snow, Mud and Ruts, Sand, and Rock Crawl. The driver can also use a simple rotary controller on the centre console to choose a specific mode.

The times recorded are a testament to the Range Rover Sport’s inherent capability. On a notoriously slippery wet grass surface, the 0-100km/h time increased by only 0.8 seconds, while even on Sand the benchmark sprint took only 5.5 seconds.

The ultimate all-terrain performance test in detail

The Range Rover Sport SVR’s first challenge was the start-finish straight at Europe’s fastest racing circuit, Rockingham Motor Speedway in Corby, UK. In Dynamic mode, Terrain Response 2 sharpens throttle response and changes gear at higher revs. It also stiffens the Continual Variable Damping function within the vehicle’s Anti-Roll Control technology to reduce body roll. With all of these factors optimised, the Range Rover Sport SVR blasted from 0-100km/h in 4.7 seconds.

In the second test, the high-performance SUV tackled one of the most challenging surfaces any driver will encounter: wet grass. In Grass/Gravel/Snow mode the throttle response is softened to prevent loss of traction and gear changes are smoother and quicker. The Traction Control System also intervenes earlier to prevent tyre slip, while the central differential is preloaded to optimise off-the-line performance. Land Rover Experience East of England provided the perfect setting for this challenge and the Range Rover Sport SVR recorded a breath-taking 0-100km/h time of 5.5 seconds.

A quarry provided the ideal gravel surface, where the Range Rover Sport SVR’s inherent traction came to the fore. With the vehicle systems optimised to suit the loose surface, it registered 5.3 seconds.

To find snow the Range Rover Sport SVR headed to Jaguar Land Rover’s winter test facility in Arjeplog, Northern Sweden. Here, the optimised settings and all-wheel drive system helped the SVR complete the sprint on a combination of snow and ice in 11.3 seconds.

The next switch of the Terrain Response 2 dial was to select Mud and Ruts mode. In this setting the air suspension is raised and the Traction Control System allows controlled tyre slip to provide better traction in slippery conditions. In typically British surroundings at one of Land Rover’s all-terrain testing facilities, the performance SUV logged a 0-100km/h time of 6.5 seconds as its intelligent four-wheel-drive technology came into its own.

Pendine Sands at Carmarthen Bay in South Wales has been linked with speed ever since hosting the first world land speed record run took place there in 1924. That made it perfect to test the next setting on the Terrain Response 2 dial: Sand.

Selecting Sand mode sharpens the vehicle’s accelerator responses to allow a quick build-up of engine torque. The vehicle also holds onto gears for longer and locks the central differential to help maintain momentum. The result of this technological wizardry was a 0-100km/h time of 5.5 seconds.

The final mode on the Terrain Response 2 dial called for something different. Rock Crawl is designed to assist drivers when negotiating rocky environments and works in conjunction with the Low Range transmission, in keeping with the low-speed nature of the challenge posed by large rocks and boulders.

Rock Crawl mode softens the accelerator response to mitigate against sudden movements and provide maximum driver control. It also raises the air suspension, to optimise ground clearance. Using Terrain Response 2 the Range Rover Sport SVR scaled the rocky 32 per cent incline at the test facility with ease.

Driver Darren Jones, Stability Applications Leader, Jaguar Land Rover, said: “The Range Rover Sport SVR is famed for its on-road performance but this hasn’t been achieved at the expense of customary Land Rover capability. Our Terrain Response 2 technology takes the stress out of driving in all conditions.”