Skip advert
Advertisement

Extreme off-road Range Rover SVO is in the works

Head of Jaguar Land Rover Special Operations Division hints at extreme off-road derivatives to go with high-performance and luxury spin-offs

The boss of Jaguar Land Rover’s Special Vehicle Operations division (SVO) has confirmed that it’s not just high-performance, luxury and small-production run models like the Project 7 in his product plan – more extreme off-road models are on the way, too. Our exclusive image shows how an off-road focused Range Rover SVO could look.  “There are four different types of cars we want to do at SVO,” John Edwards explained. “There are on-road performance cars, all-terrain performance cars that we haven’t done so far, luxury derivatives and what we’re calling collector’s editions, like the Project 7.

“On-road performance is fairly easy; you just think about ‘M’ and ‘AMG’ and think how can we apply the same thinking. All-terrain is slightly different; clearly much more appropriate for Land Rover than Jaguar. Land Rover has that all-terrain capability built into all its products, but we need to give customers the permission to use it.”

Advertisement - Article continues below

Holland & Holland Range Rover is the poshest ever  

Edwards told us every Land Rover has outstanding off-road performance, but it’s about making that performance “useable” and the cars “abusable rather than too precious”.

He gave a series of examples to show what he means by a range of more overtly off-road models: “For example, the material for the seats; it’s leather versus a material that’s very durable and very hi-tech. It’s about ground clearance, it’s about wheel and tyre combinations, it’s about underbody protection, because actually the capability of the cars is class-leading anyway in most cases.”

Edwards stopped short of confirming exactly which models would be first to receive a rugged makeover, claiming that the idea was still being debated internally, but he hinted that the Range Rover family is near the top of his list. “It’s clearly going to be more obvious on a Defender than a Range Rover, but in a funny way there’s more of an opportunity on a Range Rover," he said. “When we did the G4 Challenge five or six years ago, there was a strong but niche demand for a G4 Challenge Range Rover. We never thought there would be, but there was. A car that has the roof rack, lights, tyres and underbody protection. There really are people who want to use the car for what it’s designed for.” 

Now read about the best 4x4s currently on sale

Skip advert
Advertisement
Skip advert
Advertisement

Recommended

Jaguar confirms end of new UK cars sales until 2026
Jaguar I-Pace - front cornering

Jaguar confirms end of new UK cars sales until 2026

Sales ends on entire Jaguar line-up ahead of 2026 relaunch as luxury electric brand
News
1 Nov 2024
The scariest cars we've ever driven
Scariest cars we've ever driven - header image

The scariest cars we've ever driven

The Auto Express team have cast their minds back to the scariest cars they’ve had to endure
Best cars & vans
31 Oct 2024
New Jaguar GT due soon as first of a three-car luxury line-up
Jaguar 4-door Coupe exclusive image

New Jaguar GT due soon as first of a three-car luxury line-up

Electric four-door saloon will be followed by coupé and SUV; you’ll “want a Jaguar, not need one” according to MD
News
9 Sep 2024
JLR is moving in the opposite direction to VW-Audi and Hyundai-Kia, and that’s not a good thing
Opinion - JLR

JLR is moving in the opposite direction to VW-Audi and Hyundai-Kia, and that’s not a good thing

Instead of following the successful business model adopted by VW-Audi, Toyota-Lexus and Hyundai-Kia, Mike Rutherford thinks JLR is moving in the oppos…
Opinion
4 Aug 2024

Most Popular

Ford Capri review
Ford Capri - front

Ford Capri review

This is no sports car, nor even a retro reboot – rather a capable, refined and well-built EV that happens to sport a controversial name
In-depth reviews
29 Oct 2024
Car deal of the day: Skoda Octavia vRS Estate is all the car you’ll ever need for only £287 a month
New Skoda Octavia vRS estate - front cornering

Car deal of the day: Skoda Octavia vRS Estate is all the car you’ll ever need for only £287 a month

A fun to drive family favourite offers immense value for money at under £300 per month in today’s deal of the day
News
29 Oct 2024
New Dacia Duster 2024 Hybrid review: electrical assistance suits superb small SUV
Dacia Duster Hybrid - front

New Dacia Duster 2024 Hybrid review: electrical assistance suits superb small SUV

The first ever Dacia Duster Hybrid is a hit from behind the wheel, but better options exist in the small SUV’s range
Road tests
30 Oct 2024