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Jaguar’s Special Vehicles Operations has revealed its updated F-Pace SVR, which adopts the recent styling and tech changes debuted on the standard model earlier this year. Its core mechanical components remain mostly unchanged though, meaning the SVR remains a welcome contrast to its predominantly turbocharged V6 rivals at its performance SUV price point.
The powertrain is the familiar 5-litre supercharged V8, still producing 542bhp and 700Nm, but engineers have worked on its engine mapping, broadening the torque curve farther across the rev band. The eight-speed automatic transmission has been given a more thorough update, with a new torque converter borrowed from the XE Project 8, which should result in snappier, more aggressive shifts.
SVO’s engineers have also been working on the steering, damper and rear differential calibrations, with a sustained effort to further differentiate the SVR’s Dynamic mode, providing more of an edge to its ride and handling. There’s also a new brake booster, and a fresh brake pad compound, although carbon-ceramics are still not available, even as an option.
The rest of the changes are in line with those on the standard F-Pace, including new lighting front and rear, a fresh front bumper and a new 22-inch wheel design. While the changes don’t make a dramatic difference, they do usefully modernise the SVR’s aesthetic. A bigger transformation is reserved for the cabin, which features an all-new dash and infotainment interface. As with the standard car, Jaguar has focused on improving perceived quality, upgrading materials and refining interior touchpoints. The new infotainment system is JLR’s new Pivi Pro system, accessed via an 11.4-inch curved glass touchscreen, which also supports Apple CarPlay and Android Auto if you don’t like the embedded software.
The new F-Pace is available in India at a stickered price of Rs 66.07 lakh and we are not sure if the SVR will make way to our market. Of course, it’s corner of the market is full of alternatives, with the similarly sized Alfa Romeo Stelvio Quadrifoglio and Porsche Macan Turbo being the best performance SUVs in the business. The F-pace SVR has its work cut out to match them, but with its extra couple of cylinders and that supercharger shriek, it’s still got plenty in its back pocket with which to take them on.
