popularmechanics.co.za MAY / JUNE 2022 95
Given the ever-escalating
fuel price, a vehicle like this is
difficult to justify. But you don’t
buy one of these because of its
fuel economy figures. (That
said, I achieved an acceptable
12 L/100 km driving to the
Garden Route, albeit nursing
the throttle like I was syringe-
feeding an injured bird.)
There’s nothing subtle
about this high-performance
SUV – from the price tag,
right through to the roaring
tailpipes, it demands attention.
Beneath the conspicuous
aesthetics is the most powerful
vehicle ever created by Land
Rover. The 0–100 km/h sprint
time of 4.5 seconds and top
speed of 283 km/h claimed by
the manufacturer are extremely
impressive figures, considering
the vehicle tips the scales at
more than 2.3 tons. To achieve
these stats, under the bonnet
lies an engine-bay-filling 5.0-L
supercharged V8, dishing out aprodigious 423 kW and 700 Nm
of torque.
Carbon-fibre elements adorn
the exterior, and the gloss-black
22-inch alloy wheels are shod
with low-profile 285/40 R22
Continental tyres, which do an
admirable job of keeping this
beast connected to the tar.While everything about this
vehicle roars ‘speed’, its off-
road credentials are impressive
too, though it’s unlikely owners
will ever venture far from the
tar. It has height-adjustable air
suspension (up to 274 mm),
and a maximum wading depth
of 850 mm.
The interior is opulent and
spacious, yet slightly austere.
All the luxury features and
finishes you could dream of
are present, making for an
exhilarating overall driving
experience. Would I buy
one? No. But it would still
be immensely fun to own.- Mark Samuel
» 5.0 L petrol
» 8-speed automatic
» 5-year/100 000 km
warranty
» 5-year/100 000 km
service plan
» 423 kW; 700 Nm
Priced from
R2 831 000
landrover.co.zaFIGURES
Land Rover
Range Rover Sport SVR
Carbon Edition
Beneath the
conspicuous aesthetics
is the most powerful
vehicle ever created
by Land Rover.