Jaguar Land Rover (JLR) has unveiled its pre-production prototype of the Discovery SVX at the Frankfurt Motor Show, describing it as “the pinnacle of the Discovery family”.
The vehicle comes from Land Rover’s Special Vehicle Operations (SVO) and is fitted with JLR’s 5.0-litre supercharged V8 petrol powertrain that delivers 386kW and 625Nm, which is not available in the regular Discovery. This is mated with an eight-speed automatic transmission (with twin-speed transfer box), which comes with revised software and a ‘model-first Pistol Shifter in place of the Drive select rotary shifter’ that is meant to give the driver optimum control of gear selection in off-road manoeuvres.
Other than the additional power, the SVX has increased ground clearance with body and suspension lifts and employs long-travel dampers, increasing approach, departure, and breakover angles.
The 20-inch aluminum wheels are fitted with more rubber than the regular Discos get, in the SVX-specific 815mm in diametre 275/55R20 Goodyear Wrangler all-terrain tyres. It also comes with Land Rover’s Terrain Response 2 system, hydraulic active roll control that allows for increased wheel articulation (for slow-going off-road maneuvers) and a rear-mounted winch.
To differentiate the SVX from the run-of-the-mill Discos at a glance, Land Rover has fitted front and rear bumpers with new skid plates and Rush Orange accents around the body. The Tectonic Grey paint is specific to the SVX and orange accents are found on the two-tone leather interior.
Land Rover has confirmed that the Discovery SVX will enter production sometime next year.