Frankfurt in pictures: Land Rover Discovery SVX

This is the new Land Rover Discovery SVX

This extreme mud-plugger derivative of the Land Rover Discovery is the latest car from Jaguar Land Rover’s fast- growing Special Vehicle Operations (SVO) division. The new Discovery is the first in a series of models that will carry the SVX badge.

SVO has focused so far on making high- performance and ultra-luxurious versions of JLR models, badged SVR and SV Autobiography respectively. But with the SVX nameplate, it now has a third series.The Discovery SVX enters production in 2018. The special modifications over the standard Discovery will be hand-fitted by SVO staff at its Oxford Road facility in Coventry, England.

The external changes of the SVX are understated and belie the off-road technology and prowess under the skin. So the snorkels and circular spotlights made famous on cars like the old Camel Trophy Land Rovers are out, with instead more subtle design touches, including LED light strips on the roof, chunky off-road tyres and new front and rear bumpers with skid plates.Under the skin, suspension changes include long- travel dampers and revised knuckles. The monocoque body has been raised, as has the all-round air suspension, which makes the SVX’s approach, departure and breakover angles better than a standard Discovery’s.

All-terrain 275/55 R20 Goodyear Wrangler tyres are fitted to forged aluminium lightweight alloy wheels. Land Rover claims the tyres’ extra side-wall height and “more aggressive” tread pattern improve grip on mud and performance on soft surfaces.Active centre and electronic rear locking differentials are carried over from the standard model and work with the traction control system. One piece of new technology offered on the SVX is a Hydraulic Active Roll Control system that aids body control and wheel articulation for on-road driving. It’s offered alongside Land Rover’s full suite of off-road chassis technology, including the Terrain Response 2 and All-Terrain Progress Control systems.

The only engine offered in the Discovery SVX is a 518bhp, 461lb ft version of Jaguar Land Rover’s 5.0-litre supercharged petrol V8. This is the first time a V8 engine has been available in the current Discovery. It’s married to an eight-speed automatic gearbox with a twin-speed transfer box. The usual rotary controller for the transmission is replaced
 by a new ‘Pistol Shifter’
 to allow more precise
 control of gears
 off road.The car features exposed towing eyes, each of which can recover more than six tonnes (13,228 lb), and an electric integrated winch mounted at the rear. There’s a new Tectonic Orange paint finish for the exterior, alongside roof bars and a black grille. Inside, there’s exclusive SVX branding and new colour and trim options.

Land Rover has also announced some tweaks to the regular Discovery range. The 296bhp, 295lb ft 2.0-litre four-cylinder Ingenium gasoline engine, with CO2 emissions of 222g/km, is now added to the range.Inside, there’s a new 12.3in TFT interactive instrument screen, to be standard 
on HSE and HSE Luxury models. A 10.0in TFT touchscreen to display the InControl Touch Pro infotainment is standard, with 
4G Wi-Fi now available lower down the range as standard on SE models. A revised head-up display
 is optional, projecting full colour onto the windscreen, including certain off-road information. Another option 
is an air purification system
 to improve the outside air entering the cabin and passing through the air-conditioning unit.