Following Land Rover's recent Heaven's Gate challenge in a Range Rover Sport PHEV, the British luxury automaker now heads to the infamous Tianmen Mountain Road in China.
Their plan is to pit their new Range Rover Sport SVR against one of the most treacherous mountain roads known to man, comprising 99 turns scattered across 11.3 km of the uphill course.
The new SVR packs a 422kw supercharged 5.0-litre V8, and due to the nature of the road, not many manufacturers are brave enough to attempt a time. Ferrari has however, with their brilliant 458 Italia, some time back, so the SVR is using that as a yard stick.
Land Rover enlisted Panasonic Jaguar Racing driver Ho-Pin Tung for the grueling challenge, of which the results might startle you.
The Range Rover Sport SVR is priced from R2 141 536 in South Africa.
Also worth a look: the Range Rover SV Platinum Edition: A R6.2 Million Ode to South and the Land Rover Defender.
FAQ
Q: What does the Range Rover Sport SVR cost in South Africa?
The Range Rover Sport SVR is priced from R2,141,536 in South Africa, making it one of the pricier performance SUVs on our market but still cheaper than most exotic supercars.
Q: How much power does the Range Rover Sport SVR have?
The Range Rover Sport SVR packs a mighty 422kW from its supercharged 5.0-litre V8 engine, giving it enough grunt to tackle everything from the Drakensberg passes to the Tianmen Mountain Road challenge.
Q: Is the Range Rover Sport SVR worth buying?
The Range Rover Sport SVR is worth buying if you want a luxury SUV that can handle both school runs and mountain passes with equal aplomb, though at R2,141,536 it's definitely a serious financial commitment.
Q: How does the Range Rover Sport SVR compare to other performance SUVs?
The Range Rover Sport SVR holds its own against rivals like the BMW X5 M and Mercedes-AMG GLE 63 S, offering similar performance with arguably better off-road capability and that distinctive Range Rover luxury appeal.
Should You Buy It?
The Range Rover Sport SVR at R2,141,536 is a brilliant choice if you're after a luxury performance SUV that can genuinely do it all. With 422kW on tap and Land Rover's legendary off-road prowess, it's one of the few SUVs that can tackle both the urban jungle and actual mountains with equal confidence. Yes, it's expensive, but you're getting a machine that's as comfortable cruising the N1 as it is conquering challenging terrain like China's infamous Tianmen Mountain Road. If your budget stretches to over R2 million and you want the ultimate versatile performance SUV, the SVR is absolutely worth buying.
