Signature style in Range Rover SVAutobiography

The challenge

On a Saturday morning, the media was invited to meet at the Rovos Rail station situated in Pretoria, after a brief but interesting tour of the facilities and workshop we embarked on the opulent train. As soon as the train set off the weekend theme was clear, we would be racing the train, a popular activity performed by aristocrats in days gone by. Exploring the train revealed luxury, style and elegance in its purest form and mirrored the theme found in the latest addition to the Range Rover model range.

The exterior

Upfront sees the addition of a new bumper featuring large and aggressive looking air intakes to match with the new grille and lower side mouldings. At the rear, you will find quad exhaust finishers through which the V8 note assaults the ears of anything within 500m. Special Vehicle Operations added Satin Byron Blue to paint finish line-up which features Firenze Red, Santorini Black, Eiger Grey, Fuji White and Indus Silver while all models come with a Narvik Black roof to contrast the rest of the vehicle. Adding to the premium feel is the two-piece lettering found on the bonnet and tailgate of the SVAutobiography. Fitted as standard are 21-inch forged aluminium wheels while the customer can opt for 22-inch rims with a Silver Sparkle finish and diamond-turned edging or with a Dark Grey finish.

The interior

Upon entering the vehicle, you are greeted by a variety of high-quality finishes, the 20-way adjustable heated and cooled front seats with memory and massage functions includes twin-stitched, perforated and quilted Windsor leather which is also found around the dashboard and the rear of the vehicle. A centrepiece on the interior for me was the two 10.0-inch touch screens which in combination acts as the infotainment system as well as give you access to the vehicle settings and climate controls.

In the driver seat, you take control of the vehicle via a unique sports steering wheel which features touch-buttons granting you even more access to vehicle information and allows you to customise the 12.3-inch interactive digital instrument cluster.

Under the curves

This is where things get interesting, powering the 4 806mm long, 1 676mm tall and 2 145mm wide, Velar SVAutobiography Dynamic Edition, is the same 5.0-litre Supercharged V8 found in the Range Rover Sport Sport SVR model, although the Velar produces 405 kW and 680 N.m of torque while the Sport SVR manages 423 kW and 700 N.m. The slight reduction in power did bring down the manufacturer claimed fuel consumption from 13.6L/100km in the Sport SVR to 11.8L/100km in the Velar SVAutobiography. With the Velar weighing in at 2 610kg, slightly less than the Sport SVR’s kerb weight of 3 000kg, means that even with the slightly reduced performance the Velar is still able to reach 100km/h from a stationary position in just 4.5 seconds, the same as with the range-topping Sport SVR.

The drive

Just like you would expect with a Range Rover, the SVAutobiography Dynamic Edition provided a soft, quiet and comfortable drive from the get-go, however, once you tell the onboard computers that you are in the mood for some spirited driving, the suspension firms up and the feedback through the steering instantaneously becomes more noticeable. In fact, you consistently need to make small corrections and counter against uneven road surfaces, similar to what you would experience in a more focused sports car.

One of the most notable changes in personality once you activate the Dynamic option in the vehicle mode setting is the active exhaust coming alive and providing an aural experience like no other and is complemented by the whine from the supercharger as you start accelerating.

The verdict

The “SVA” as we started calling it, has three personalities; one is that of a luxury SUV that will effortlessly cover long distances and provide comfort and entertainment for all occupants while the other is that of a racecar, always on edge and with presence and power to leave anyone in awe. The third, although I did not get to experience this personally, is that of an off-road vehicle. Featuring an all-wheel-drive system and an active rear locking differential receiving its power from the eight-speed transmission, it comes with no surprise that the vehicle is quite capable when the going gets tough.

If any of three is appealing to you, it is worth adding the British option to your shopping list, one that might be populated predominantly by its German counterparts. The Velar SVAutobiography Dynamic Edition, developed by Land Rover Special Vehicles division, will only be available for purchase for one year. PS, we obliterated the train.

Warranty

The Range Rover Velar SVAutobiography Dynamic Edition comes with a five-year/100 000km warranty and a five-year/100 000km maintenance plan with services taking place every 26 000km.

Price

Range Rover SVAutobiography Dynamic Edition – R1 743 325