Discover the Range Rover Sport SV Edition Two: a luxury SUV with unmatched power and exclusivity

While the Jaguar part of JLR (Jaguar Land Rover) seems to be very quiet, both literally with its stated intention of EV only and figuratively because we haven’t really heard anything significant from them for a while, except in Formula E, the Land Rover part of the business is regularly launching special editions.

Think Defender Octa Black, Defender Trophy Edition, Range Rover SV Polar Night, Range Rover Sport SV Carbon, Range Rover SV Black and several others, including the subject of this review, the Range Rover Sport SV Edition Two, of which only 23 have been allocated to South Africa.

Engine

As opposed to Jaguar, the good people at Defender, Range Rover, and Discovery provide a range of power plants that include mild hybrid, hybrid, plug-in hybrid, diesel and petrol.

In the next few months, the first Range Rover Electric will be launched, but for now, let’s enjoy fossil fuel at its finest.

And in this Range Rover Sport SV Edition Two, its glorious beating heart is a BMW-sourced mild hybrid (MHEV) twin-turbo 4.4-litre V8 petrol engine with 467kW and 750Nm that will get to 100km/h in 3.7 seconds and top out at 290km/h.

The eight-speed automatic transmission sends that power to all four wheels as befits a Range Rover.

Exterior

I’ve always maintained that Range Rover has the monopoly on exquisite-looking SUVs, and in this regard, the SV Edition Two maintains that tradition.

Every curve, bend, and line is exactly where it should be. There are no garish logos, decals or design cues that jar the eye. It all blends into a car that’s very much understated and quietly shows off its executive demeanour. 

An SV Edition Two decal on the front splitter, forged carbon fibre accents, painted carbon fibre bonnet, and 23-inch forged gloss black alloys say all it needs to.

Furthermore, a contrasting black finish on the roof, Edition Two animation puddle lamps and a white SV logo on the bootlid continue the classic look.

Interior

As you would expect, no expense has been spared on the interior, with only a small handful of manufacturers that can pull off such an exquisite look and feel.

Fitted with the Windsor Leather Package, the fantastically comfortable slimline SV Performance seats with forged carbon fibre rear seatbacks are heated and cooled with massage functions, offering perfect lumbar support. 

There’s a black suede roofliner, satin carbon inserts, SV illuminated treadplates and a subtle SV Edition Two decal on the lid of the cooled centre console box.

The impression the interior gives is that even if you had to look at places that the eye never sees, everything will still be fitted and stitched perfectly.

The 13.3-inch Pivi Pro infotainment system is still one of the best in the business with quick responses and crisp graphics.

Behind the multi-function steering wheel, illuminated paddle shifters add a cool touch.

Range Rover still opts for the minimalist-type dashboard, and if there is one criticism, it is that the absence of physical buttons and dials for climate control and volume makes it a faff to adjust while driving.

It was my first experience of the Body and Soul Seats (BASS) that converts sound into physical vibrations, allowing you to feel the music through the seats.

I’d describe it as an interesting sensation and definitely something that you need to get used to, especially at my age, with my first car sound experience being an eight-track audio system in my grandfather's Chevrolet Constantia.

Driving 

Pushing the start button delivers a gorgeous V8 rumble before settling down to a burble once it has warmed up.

With the mild hybrid 48-volt system, there’s no turbo lag to speak of, and it gently moves around suburbia, belying what lies underneath.

Switch to Dynamic Mode that activates the sport exhaust while the adaptive air suspension drops the ride height and simultaneously tightens all the drive components, and it’s a completely different animal. 

We popped into Hazelwood, Pretoria, on a Sunday morning for breakfast because that’s where expensive, glorious past and present metal strut their stuff. Even among various Porsches, Lambos, Ferraris, classic Chevs, Fords and Corvettes, it received admiring glances.

When we left, I noticed a youngster filming the car and asked if he wanted to record the exhaust sound.

It was an obvious yes, and after a few snaps, crackles and pops, his face was a joy to behold. I really hope for him and others like him that the electrification of cars doesn’t suck the joy out of them.

From there, a drive towards Cullinan showcases the SV Two’s brutal acceleration. It almost borders on insane.

It’s fitted with the company’s 6D Dynamics suspension system, offering a combination of hydraulic interlinked dampers, height-adjustable air springs and pitch control.

The system reduces pitch and roll to maintain a near-level body stance during extreme cornering, heavy acceleration and hard braking.

It sounds good in a press release, but when my partner, who can sometimes be a nervous passenger, smiled as I braked hard for a turn made so much easier by rear-wheel steering and stomped on the accelerator to head into a straight piece of tar again, action proved so much more than words. 

Of course, the angry rasps and blips helped to make it even more entertaining as the cogs switched effortlessly through the gears.

I briefly experimented with SV Mode, an illuminated button at the base of the steering wheel.

It adds an extra 50Nm, and I reckon if you’re not used to fast cars, this should be done in a controlled environment.

As befits all Land Rovers, if needed, the Range Rover SV Two can mix it off-road with the best of them with the Terrain Response off-road package.

I doubt anyone would, but it’s comforting to know it’s there with options for Mud, Sand, Grass, Gravel or Snow. 

Verdict

As with all vehicles that have Land Rover’s Special Vehicle Operations (SVO) magic dust sprinkled over them, the Range Rover Sport SV Two is indeed special.

It's over the top V8, exterior and interior, coupled with the limited number allocated, makes it a niche product that the well-heeled wouldn’t baulk at paying R3,553,300 before options.