Land Rover’s Upcoming 550HP Velar SVR Shows More Skin In Latest Spy Shots

Land Rover continues the development of the range-topping Velar SVR, with test cars starting to peel off their camo wraps, giving us a better look at their angrier bodywork.

The upcoming Range Rover Velar SVR will use the company’s supercharged 5.0-liter V8 with around 550hp. Given its smaller size, the Velar SVR is expected to be faster than its big brother, the Range Rover Sport SVR, which uses the same powertrain.

JLR’s Special Vehicles Operations division is also reportedly working on an updated SVR version of the Jaguar F-Pace, which is expected to offer close to 600hp and a sharper character, leaving the Velar to play the role of the most luxurious offering.

The exterior of the Range Rover Velar SVR will feature the usual aggressive touches, including a new front bumper with bigger air inlets, deeper side sills, a rear bumper that incorporates a sizeable rear diffuser and the quad taillpipes, bigger wheels with stickier tires and of course a rear spoiler.

The high-tech cabin of the Velar is set to get a pair of body-hugging front seats, along with more vivid color options and plenty of Alcantara. JLR’s SVO division will also apply a range of weight-saving measures to the Velar SVR but do not expect a featherweight SUV, as weight is expected to be around the 1,800kg mark (3,968 lbs).

The chassis will feature a revised air suspension setup, which will include the necessary performance-oriented settings. Land Rover is expected to retain some of the Velar’s off-road abilities, in a bid to further differentiate it from the F-Pace SVR, which has set its target firmly at the Mercedes-AMG GLC 63 and Alfa Romeo Stelvio Quadrifoglio.

Land Rover is expected to reveal the new Range Rover Velar SVR in the coming months, possibly at the Detroit Motor Show this January.