2019 Jaguar F-Pace SVR – The Magnificent Beast. This sportiest Jaguar SUV is fitted with a supercharged 5.0-liter V8 engine that produces 550 horsepower (44 percent more power than the available supercharged V6) and 502 lb-ft of torque. That’s good for a top speed of 176 mph, and a sprint to 60 mph in only 4.1 seconds. The quarter mile? It arrives in only 12.3 seconds, at 115 mph.
Indeed, this new Jaguar SUV is a potent machine, designed to compete with the likes of the Alfa Romeo Stelvio Quadrifoglio and the Porsche Macan Turbo. Here’s what the folks at Jaguar’s Special Vehicle Operations (SVO) team have done to create their Magnificent Beast.
The supercharged 5.0-liter V8, basically the same engine found in the Range Rover Sport SVR, sends power through an 8-speed paddle-shift automatic transmission to a rear-biased all-wheel-drive (AWD) system that delivers no more than 50 percent of the power to the front wheels. This gives the new F-Pace SVR a sporty rear-drive feel, one that’s enhanced by electronic torque vectoring (to reduce understeer) and a standard electronic limited slip differential that makes sure both rear wheels power this compact SUV out of corners.
The chassis and suspension are similarly modified. The front springs are 30 percent stiffer than stock, and the rears are increased by 10. In addition to retuned Bilstein shock absorbers, the new F-Pace SVR also benefits from firmer suspension bushings and a 1mm larger rear anti-roll bar. These modifications make the F-Pace SVR a nimble driver’s car that will drift its tail a bit when powering out of tight turns. Of note, body roll—how much the F-Pace chassis leans toward the outside in turns—has been reduced by five percent.
Other chassis improvements include huge 2-piece brake discs (15.5 inches in front, 15.6 inches in back), complemented by 21- or optional 22-inch wheels fitted with staggered-width P Zero tires developed in conjunction with Pirelli. All-season tires are standard on U.S.-bound F-Pace SVRs, but the vehicles we sampled in Europe were fitted with grippy summer rubber. The forged wheels, along with the lighter brakes, reduce unsprung mass to further improve the SVR’s handling.
Also notable is the SVR’s “Variable Valve Active Exhaust System.” Inspired by that of the Jaguar F-Type sports car, this 4-outlet exhaust is less restrictive and a substantial 14.5 pounds lighter than the F-Pace’s stock system, but it doesn’t do much to muffle what Jaguar calls the SVR’s “charismatic soundtrack.” While the F-Pace SVR does sound great, especially on initial start-up, one executive admitted that this new Jaguar’s roar is right on the limit of legality. Fortunately, a switch on the center console lets the driver toggle between a stock exhaust note and a more aggressively open setting.
One last note: The software for the adaptive suspension—along with that for the electric-assist steering and dynamic drive mode (which firms the shocks, sharpens throttle response, reduces steering assist and calls for higher-rpm gearshifts)—is unique to the SVR.
Jaguar has gone to great lengths to ensure that the big supercharged V8 of the F-Pace SVR gets all the intake and cooling air it needs. As such, the openings in the SVR’s front bumper are larger, and they team with a pair of hood vents for improved cooling airflow.
Around the side of the F-Pace SVR, the vents behind the front wheels look like they might be purely cosmetic, but they’re real. By channeling air out of the wheel arches, they help to minimize lift. An extended rear roof spoiler further improves high-speed stability, aided by a smooth underbody and a rear diffuser. The unique fender lips and lower body moldings help to visually lower the vehicle for a more muscular appearance, but the SVR has the same ground clearance as the standard F-Type to maintain the same amount of suspension travel.
At the rear, a new bumper cap houses the quad tailpipes. Its integral side strakes improve vehicle aerodynamics by smoothing the airflow off the rear of the vehicle.
The 2019 Jaguar F-Type SVR starts at $79,990. Adding 22-inch wheels in gloss black is another $2,550, while an 825-watt Meridian sound system is available for $450.
Of the several different interior packages available, we think the $300 SmartPhone Pack, which includes Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, will be one of the most popular. A Driver Assistance Pack bundles together blind-spot assist with adaptive cruise control, emergency braking and a rear traffic monitor, all for $3,600. There’s also an abbreviated Drive Pack, which features blind-spot assist, emergency braking and adaptive cruise (with Stop & Go) for $1,700.
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