2107 Frankfurt Motor Show: Land Rover Discovery SVX

Land Rover has unveiled the Discovery SVX at the 2017 Frankfurt Motor Show. It is designed and engineered by JLR’s renowned performance division – SVO (Special Vehicle Operations). This is the first Land Rover to come out of SVO’s stable, till now SVO only worked on Jaguar and Range Rover models.

Powering the Discovery SVX is a 5-litre supercharged V8 petrol motor producing 518bhp of power and 625Nm of torque, this is the same engine as seen on the Range Rover Sport SVR.

Land Rover claims that this is the most extreme car they have ever built. SVO has provided it with a host of off-road goodies including a new Hydraulic Active Roll Control (H – ARC) that improves wheel articulation and body control while also reducing body roll, and a new Terrain Response 2 system which automatically detects the terrain and adjusts the vehicle dynamics accordingly. Other off-road features include active centre and electronic rear locking differentials, hill descent control, electronic traction control (ETC), dynamic stability control (DSC), all-terrain progress control (ATPC) and variable ratio electric power-assisted steering (EPAS).

Underpinning the car is the same aluminum monocoque architecture as seen on the regular model, but to increase the off-roading ability, it gets more ground clearance with air-suspensions on all four corners coupled with long-travel dampers and revised knuckles. Complementing this setup it features new larger and off-road focused 275/55 R20 Goodyear Wrangler all-terrain tyres wrapped on forged aluminum wheels.

The exterior styling of the SVX model is inspired by the Discovery off-road challenge vehicles and includes new and more prominent skid plates, new design alloy-wheels, roof-mounted LED lights, and a matte grey paint with orange accents.

Mark Stanton, SVO Director, said: “The SVX product line gives us a fantastic opportunity to deliver the ultimate Land Rover all-terrain capability in a dynamic and distinctive manner, creating a rugged and versatile SUV that the whole family will love: effortless, unstoppable and connected, whatever the terrain. Discovery SVX is designed to reward off-road driving enthusiasts with the next level of all-terrain capability, without compromising comfort and practicality.”

The new Discovery SVX is shown as a production preview of the ultimate all-terrain Land Rover Discovery and it will be the first Land Rover assembled by hand at the SVO Technical Centre when production begins in 2018.