Land Rover Discovery SVX Debuts at Frankfurt Motor Show

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=M2fofEZ72GY

Ultimate Discovery has more ground clearance, wheel articulation, hardcore tires, and V8 power.

Earlier this year, Jaguar Forums discovered the all-terrain capabilities of the new Land Rover Discovery. The upcoming SVX version of it is designed to take the Discovery’s off-pavement prowess to the next level.

The Discovery SVX will be hand-assembled by Jaguar Land Rover’s Special Vehicle Operations division and join SVO’s other Land Rover creations, the road-focused Range Rover Sport SVR and Range Rover SVAutobiography, which is the ultimate expression of Range Rover luxury.

To give the Discovery SVX better approach, breakover, and departure angles, SVO gave the aluminum monocoque and air suspension lifts, and added long-travel dampers and different knuckles. They wrapped the 20-inch forged aluminum wheels in 275/55 R20 Goodyear Wrangler all-terrain tires to give the Discovery SVX better grip on soft surfaces such as mud. The addition of Hydraulic Active Roll Control increases the SVX’s wheel articulation and reduces body roll, enhancing traction and body control in the rough stuff.

ALSO SEE: Land Rover Offering 6-Day Peru Trip in the New Discovery

Engineers combined locking center and rear differentials with a specially tuned version of the Terrain Response 2 system to improve traction on all types of terrain. They performed additional special tuning on other SVX components, including its eight-speed automatic (now with a Pistol Shifter for better control over shift timing during off-road maneuvers), two-speed transfer case, Hill Descent Control, traction control, stability control, All-Terrain Progress Control, and electric power-assisted steering.

The SVX gets upgraded power as well. Instead of a high-output version of the gas or diesel V6 found in the regular Discovery, the SVX comes exclusively with a supercharged 5.0-liter V8. Horsepower shoots up to 518; torque climbs to 461 lb-ft.

All of that enhanced hardware is wrapped in a satin Tectonic Grey body with Narvik Black and Rush Orange accents, including the metal recovery eyes which can recover more than 6.6 tons. A rear-mounted winch is also available for recovery work. Roof-mounted light bars illuminate the trails ahead. Front and rear skid plates protect the SVX’s underside from hazards that those and SVX drivers can’t see.

Production of the Land Rover Discovery SVX begins next year. In the meantime, it’ll be on display at the 2017 Frankfurt Motor Show, September 12-24.

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Derek Shiekhi

Derek Shiekhi's father raised him on cars. As a boy, Derek accompanied his dad as he bought classics such as post-WWII GM trucks and early Ford Mustang convertibles.

After loving cars for years and getting a bachelor's degree in Business Management, Derek decided to get an associate degree in journalism. His networking put him in contact with the editor of the Austin-American Statesman newspaper, who hired him to write freelance about automotive culture and events in Austin, Texas in 2013. One particular story led to him getting a certificate for learning the foundations of road racing.

While watching TV with his parents one fateful evening, he saw a commercial that changed his life. In it, Jeep touted the Wrangler as the Texas Auto Writers Association's "SUV of Texas." Derek knew he had to join the organization if he was going to advance as an automotive writer. He joined the Texas Auto Writers Association (TAWA) in 2014 and was fortunate to meet several nice people who connected him to the representatives of several automakers and the people who could give him access to press vehicles (the first one he ever got the keys to was a Lexus LX 570). He's now a regular at TAWA's two main events: the Texas Auto Roundup in the spring and the Texas Truck Rodeo in the fall.

Over the past several years, Derek has learned how to drive off-road in various four-wheel-drive SUVs (he even camped out for two nights in a Land Rover), and driven around various tracks in hot hatches, muscle cars, and exotics. Several of his pieces, including his article about the 2015 Ford F-150 being crowned TAWA's 2014 "Truck of Texas" and his review of the Alfa Romeo 4C Spider, have won awards in TAWA's annual Excellence in Craft Competition. Last year, his JK Forum profile of Wagonmaster, a business that restores Jeep Wagoneers, won prizes in TAWA’s signature writing contest and its pickup- and SUV-focused Texas Truck Invitational.

In addition to writing for a variety of Internet Brands sites, including JK Forum, H-D Forums, The Mustang Source, Mustang Forums, LS1Tech, HondaTech, Jaguar Forums, YotaTech, and Ford Truck Enthusiasts. Derek also started There Will Be Cars on Instagram, Facebook, and YouTube.

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