Range Rover Sport SVR Tipped To Get F-Type's 575-hp V8

According to Autocar, Land Rover's Special Operations division is planning to shoehorn the more powerful version of JLR's signature 5.0-liter supercharged V8 from the Jaguar F-Type SVR under the hood of the Rover. In the new two-door, that engine produces 575 horsepower to make it the most powerful version yet.

Jaguar first came out with its V8 engine in 1997 to replace both its previous inline six and its old V12. The engine started out displacing 4.0 liters, producing as much as 375 hp in supercharged form. That was in 2000. By 2002 displacement was increased to 4.2 liters, and supercharged output up to 400 hp in 2003 and 420 hp by 2006. In 2009 it was bored out to its current displacement, and spooled up to 500 hp and then 550. It debuted in 575-hp spec in the F-Type Project 7 roadster before slotting into the new F-Type SVR.

That's some remarkable increase in output over the years, and ought to be enough to edge out most – but not all – of the competition for bragging rights. It'll overpower the Porsche Cayenne (even in Turbo S spec), the BMW X5 M, and Mercedes-AMG G63. The Bentley Bentayga and Mercedes-AMG G65 will still outmuscle it with their 12-cylinder twin-turbo engines producing upwards of 600 hp. And while the new Audi SQ7 TDI produces less power, its 664 pound-feet will out-do the Land Rover's 516 lb-ft any day.

Autocar expects that the engine will arrive along with other minor updates sometime next year. That ought to put it in prime position to do battle with the forthcoming Lamborghini Urus as well in what's shaping up to be a real grudge match among Europe's fastest, most powerful, and most expensive sport-utes.