The fastest F-Pace SUV is powered by a supercharged 5.0-litre V8 engine and priced at S$435,999 with COE

SINGAPORE

The new Jaguar F-Pace SVR has arrived in Singapore to the tune of S$435,999 with COE. If you’re wondering what the fuss is about, the ‘SVR’ denotes this as the fastest, sportiest  F-Pace SUV from the big cat, with a 5.0-litre, supercharged V8 engine delivering 550 horsepower. 

It’s an update of the 2019 F-Pace SVR, and gains tweaks to its chassis dynamics and engine, upping the torque output by an extra 20Nm over the older version. 

It joins the cycle of the facelifted base model F-Pace, which arrived in Singapore earlier this year. There are some modifications to the bodywork and updated system controllers inside the cabin. The electronic architecture has been completely redesigned to take advantage of future over-the-air software updates, in the same vein as the previously launched base model. 

The SVR of course gets more aerodynamic bodywork to channel larger volumes of air into the engine’s intakes, along with bonnet vents to expel heat from under the hood and a long rear roof spoiler to maintain stability at speed. Jaguar states that high speed aerodynamic lift has been reduced by a significant 35 percent. Find a long, clear stretch of road and the car is capable of topping out at 286km/h. 

The V8 engine is capable of a peak torque output of 700Nm delivered through an eight-speed automatic gearbox and four-wheel drive. The car rockets from a standstill to 100km/h in 4.0 seconds. That’s 0.3 seconds quicker than the previous version, and also makes the F-Pace SVR faster than BMW’s X3 M Competition and most of the Porsche Macan range.

Unlike the very hard-riding suspension of cars like BMW’s X3 M Competition however, the 4,747mm-long, 1,951kg Jaguar F-Pace SVR promises to deliver a more compliant ride without sacrificing dynamic ability. Jaguar claims that the goal of the F-Pace SVR is to deliver a powerful, sporty vehicle that is still luxurious to drive and ride in. It’s been tuned to ride comfortably even over harsh, lumpy tarmac so the theory is that it won’t feel as ‘focused’ as some of the other high performance SUVs it should make for a much more pleasant daily driver.

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Inside the car, an 11-speaker Meridian audio system, along with a 11.4-inch touchscreen that has Apple CarPlay and Android Auto integration is standard fit.

The current-generation F-Pace dates back to 2016. It swiftly became Jaguar’s top-selling model for that year where it peaked at 44,096 units sold worldwide. The range was given a major midlife refresh earlier in 2021.

The SVR badge is similar to Mercedes-Benz’s AMG and BMW’s M. It’s found on vehicles dreamed up at Jaguar’s Special Vehicles Operations division, responsible for all high performance and bespoke versions of Jaguar’s vehicles.

The question is of course, can a SVR Jaguar win over new customers in this segment?

“The F-Pace SVR is intentionally price-positioned to deliver a high level of standard specification in a complete package, and we believe that it makes the car a very compelling proposition to potential customers in Singapore,” explained Alistair Scott, managing director of Jaguar Land Rover Asia-Pacific.

Interestingly, there’s no powertrain hybridisation going on with the F-Pace SVR. It’s an all-out petrol engine, designed for driving enthusiasts that still like to have their cars carry a certain character in the drive. A plug-in hybrid variant of the F-Pace is available but there are still no official plans to sell it in Singapore. The all-electric Jaguar I-Pace is available for just under S$390,000 though.

Jaguar has already confirmed that by 2025, all of its products will feature electric drivetrains so this could very well be the last ‘pure V8’ F-Pace from the big cat before it transitions over to tuning and decking out high performance electric Jaguars.

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