Land Rover has unveiled a true off road gem in the Discovery SVX, designed Land Rover’s Special Vehicle Operations (SVO) team.
The design is Discovery 5 but the SVX makes it’s off road prowess’ intentions known with satin Tectonic Grey paint, unique front and rear bumper protective skid plates, Goodyear Wrangler all-terrain tyres on forged alloy wheels, raised suspension. Narvik Black grille-side vents with V8 badging, silver roof rails and roof mounted light pods complete the “go-anywhere” theme.
The interior also retains the well-laid out functional 7-seat interior from the standard Discovery models. On the SVX, buyers also get a unique colour and material combination of Lunar and Light Oyster with Rush Orange accents inside, and ‘X’ logo perforations on the SVX-branded seats.
Powering the Discovery SVX is Land Rovers proven 5.0-litre Superchaged V8 credited with 386kW/625Nm linked to an 8-speed auto transmission with twin-speed transfer box. To enhance the Discovery models’ already impressive off road ability, the SVX gets Hydraulic Active Roll Control (H-ARC), for increased wheel articulation and improved body control, enhancing extreme off-road traction while also reducing body roll for smooth and sure-footed on-road driving. A specially tuned Terrain Response 2 works with active centre and electronic rear locking differentials. The Discovery SVX retains all the off-road software so well used by the standard Discovery. The SVX eschews the Drive select rotary shifter for a Pistol shifter.
To visually reflect Discovery SVX’s inherent robustness and go-further ability, Land Rover designers have referenced features of iconic Discovery off-road challenge vehicles, such as those used for Camel Trophy and G4 Challenge events, to give SVX a distinctive, aggressive and purposeful appearance inside and out.
No word yet from Land Rover Mzansi on whether this model will make it to our shores.