Pinnacle of Range Rovers coming to Middle East this spring

The 2017 Range Rover SVAutobiography Dynamic will be coming to the region within weeks but can be ordered now from Jaguar Land Rover (JLR) regional dealers, according to Salman Sultan, regional media relations manager.
This model is the fastest and most powerful production Range Rover ever built with a 5.0 liter V8 supercharged engine producing 550 PS of power and 680 Nm of torque. Acceleration from 0-60 is in 5.1 seconds. The engines are linked to an eight-speed automatic gearbox. The driver has the option to change gears at the wheel through red-colored shifters.
Range Rover recently organized a driving event for the regional media in the UK over a distance of about 160 miles from London to Coventry. The drive included motorways and winding country lanes near the picturesque Cotswold’s region. The SVAutobiography Dynamic combine top luxury and exhilarating performance with enhanced on-road performance due to lower ride height by 8mm.
The interior is also upgraded with diamond-quilted leather seats and contrast stitching, in four exclusive colors. The front fascia and door casings feature a black veneer, with red key-line finish on the door casings. Underlining its dynamic character, the paddle shifters feature a red anodized finish while the driver’s handbook is bound in quilted leather that matches the interior.
Customers have a choice of 21- and 22-inch alloy wheel designs, with red Brembo brake calipers visible behind the wheels. The chrome quad tailpipes have been optimized to enhance its distinctive V8 soundtrack.
Technologies include advanced tow-assist, intelligent speed limiter, lane-keeping assist and innovative semi-autonomous driving system. InControl Touch pro infotainment system features enhanced dual-view 10-inch touchscreen display. The vehicle also carries the latest generation all-terrain control system.
New features for this year’s model include two driver-focused technologies designed to deliver improved body control and agility. Dynamic Response improves vehicle handling and occupant comfort by reducing the amount of body lean during cornering. The system controls the front and rear axles independently. Adaptive Dynamics monitors vehicle movements up to 500 times a second, reacting to driver inputs and changes in the road surface.
In addition, Driver Condition Monitor and Blind Spot Assist autonomously steer the vehicle back into its lane if sensors detect the driver is steering into the path of another road user.
SVO Center
The SVAutobiography Dynamic was developed by the Special Vehicle Operations (SVO), a technical center established in 2014 at a £20 million ($2.48 million) investment to enhance the brand’s DNA.
In a visit to the SVO, its director Mark Stanton said that the technical center focuses on enhancing performance, luxury, capability and personalization for an elite group of JLR customers. The center is 90 percent self-sufficient and operates over 20,000 square meters. It is arranged like a Formula -1 workshop and operates from Oxford Road, Ryton-on-Dunsmore, south of Coventry.
Within the capability domain, the SVO builds armored vehicles to various grades required by the customers. These armored vehicles are sold worldwide and perform to the highest standards of protection.
Personalization
In the coming year, personalization of JLR vehicles will take a new dimension, according to Greg Clark, director of vehicle personalization. He said a pilot scheme is now being tested with seven UK dealers to allow customers to choose all personal aspects of their vehicles exactly as they wish, including exterior and interior colors, the interior design, wheel trim, materials and stitches. He believes the service will have substantial demand when it is introduced in the region in the coming 12 months.
“Buyers from the region are becoming more sophisticated and demand more personalization,” he said. There are 288 colors to choose from in addition to two-tone colors and special requests.
According to Clark, the UK pilot scheme has illustrated that customers spend on average about £25,000 ($31,000) on personalization per vehicle. The company will also introduce a fixed-price design pack from spring 2017.
The SVAutobiography Dynamic will come in short-wheel base only while the SVAutobiography has the long-wheel base which might suit the practical needs of some customers in the GCC. The Dynamic version is finished in the SVO plant where it acquires its special paint and fittings. These include new side vents, changes to the grille, front bumper and bonnet and red-Brembo brake calipers. It also carries a special SV badge at the rear.
Test drive
The driving experience of the SVAuobiography Dynamic has illustrated beyond any doubt the sheer power and precision on the road. The new calibration almost tempts drivers to overtake and the vehicle feels very stable and secure at high speeds. The downside becomes obvious on country lanes in a firm ride especially on badly maintained backstreets. Yet, it is still softer than the Sport SVR version.
Test drivers feel fresh after four hours of driving with a lunch break in the middle. The comfort and ease of driving makes it hard to compare this particular model to anything else on the road. Long-distance drives in Arabia would be a pleasure in an SVAutobiography Dynamic.
This version is made for those who love to have the flagship of Range Rovers but also want to drive themselves. It is available to order now with deliveries in the spring. Prices start from SR773,600.