What's the news?
Land Rover has revealed what it is dubbing the 'ultimate all-terrain' version of its Discovery SUV. It's called the Discovery SVX, a name we expect to see again from the brand, sitting alongside SVR and SVAutobiography from Jaguar Land Rover's Special Vehicle Operations (SVO) division. The Discovery SVX makes its world debut this week at the Frankfurt Motor Show, as does a minor tweak of the Discovery line-up.
Exterior
On first inspection, the SVX doesn't look too extreme. The most obvious update is the fitment of 275/55 R20 Goodyear Wrangler all-terrain tyres to forged 20-inch alloy wheels. Look closer and you'll see a few nods to the Camel Trophy and G4 Challenge vehicles, such as redesigned front and rear bumpers with protective skid plates and orange metal recovery eyes. The latter can each manage a six-tonne load, too, while there's also a new integrated rear winch. Covering most of the bodywork is satin Tectonic Grey paint, though the bonnet has an anti-glare finish and Narvik Black is used for the side vents, front grille and roof rails. At the front of the roof, meanwhile, is a slender light pod.
Interior
Inside, the Discovery SVX is no stripped-out, hose-down special. There are SVX-branded seats and a 'unique' colour combination of Lunar and Light Oyster with Rush Orange accents, but the most obvious update is the replacement of the regular Discovery's rotary control for the transmission with a stylised 'Piston Shifter' (that'd be a regular enough automatic gear shifter to you and I).
Mechanicals
It appears that the only powertrain Land Rover plans on offering in the Discovery SVX is a combination of a supercharged 5.0-litre V8 petrol engine and its proven eight-speed automatic transmission with twin-speed transfer box. Peak outputs are quoted as 525hp and 625Nm of torque, though no performance figures have yet been released. Helping divvy that up between the four wheels are an active centre differential and an electronically controlled rear locking differential. Land Rover also says it has altered the calibrations of Terrain Response 2, Hill Descent Control, Electronic Traction Control, Adaptive Dynamics, Dynamic Stability Control (DSC), All-Terrain Progress Control (ATPC) and the variable ratio electric power-assisted steering.
The SVX also features Hydraulic Active Roll Control, four-corner air suspension and long-travel dampers to ensure it can go further into the rough stuff than even the accomplished regular model can.
Anything else?
Of less limelight-grabbing stuff in Frankfurt will be the addition of a turbocharged 2.0-litre petrol engine to the Discovery range. It produces 300hp and 400Nm of torque, and it emits 222g/km. Meanwhile, variants of the top of the line-up gain a new 12.3-inch 'Interactive Driver Display' TFT screen, replacing the usual analogue instruments.