Jaguar Land Rover's Ian Callum introduces the new Jaguar F-Type SVR at the New York International Auto Show.
Jaguar Land Rover is pushing ahead with its plans to challenge key German rivals, such as BMW and Mercedes-Benz, in the high performance arena.
BMW has the well-received M-Class, while Mercedes-Benz has AMG, which have both developed reputations for unique and deft specialized engineering. Jaguar Land Rover, however, is ready to match its German competitors with SVO or Special Vehicle Operations and its new SVR badge, which made its debut last year on an ultra-luxurious Range Rover vehicle.
Mark Stanton, director of JLR’s SVO, operations said the next step for the company is to remake a Jaguar F-Type into a SVR, the vehicle that will be the fastest Jaguar ever built with a top speed of 200 miles per hour. JLR has set up a special base for the SVO operation, said Stanton.
By exploiting the fundamental capability engineered in to the F-Type, JLR’s new SVO division developed the brand’s lightest, quickest, most powerful F-Type and its fastest and most powerful series production road car ever with functional enhancements to the chassis, driveline and aerodynamics, Stanton said.
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The new F-Type SVR boasts a top speed of 200 mph and sprints from zero to 60 mph in 3.5 seconds.
“It’s much more focused,” he said. “It’s a car that can go 200 miles per hour,” he said.
Stanton said F-Type R is already widely recognized in the sports car segment and represented the starting point for development of the more extreme F-Type SVR. “Everything which contributes to the vehicle’s performance and handling dynamics has been optimized” by SVO, adding an even higher performance version of the F-Type to 2017 model year line-up.
Acceleration from zero to 60 mph takes just 3.5 seconds due to the supercharged 5.0-liter V8 developing 575 horsepower and 516-lb.ft. of torque. The optional Carbon Ceramic Matrix brake system delivers exceptional fade resistance and a 46 pounds reduction in unsprung mass. All SVR F-Type vehicles also will be equipped with all-wheel drive, Stanton said.
An enhanced aerodynamics package of front bumper and splitter, flat underfloor and carbon fiber active rear spoiler reduce lift and drag and an innovative Inconel Titanium exhaust system delivers an even more purposeful, harder-edged sound – and a 35-pound weight savings.
Priced from $125,950 for the Coupe and $128,800 for the Convertible, the new F-Type is ready to challenge BMW and Mercedes.
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Ian Callum, JLR’s director of design, said the designers and engineers worked together closely to meet the challenge of building a unique vehicle. The design elements added to SVR version of the F-Type are “purely functional,” he added.
The added design elements include the functional wing that is automatically deployed with the car is going more than 70 miles per hour and the larger grille opening, which was needed to move air through the engine compartment.
Stanton said the functional wing that was one of the most important elements developed for the F-Type reduces drag and lift and helps make the car much more stable at higher speeds. In addition, the car’s electronic stability controls and steering elements were re-calibrated.
Priced from $125,950 for the Coupe and $128,800 for the Convertible, which was the starting point for development of the more extreme F-Type SVR. Everything which contributes to the vehicle’s performance and handling dynamics has been meticulously re-evaluated, re-engineered and optimized by SVO, adding an even higher performance version of the F-Type to 2017 model year line up.
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The F-Type SVR is a true Super Car, added Stanton, who said both the coupe and convertible versions have been re-engineered to they can perform at a very high level.