2018 New York Motor Show: Jaguar F-Pace SVR revealed

JAGUAR’S much-anticipated big cat has finally pounced.

The Jaguar F-Pace SVR, a 5.0-litre supercharged V8-powered version of the first luxury SUV developed by the British luxury marque has officially leapt into view.

The numbers? The bent eight will produce 410kW and 680Nm. All that poke, the all-wheel-drive system, and a “virtual” electronic limited-slip diff will launch it to 97km/h in 4.3 seconds, and wind all the way out to 283km/h.

Perversely, those performance figures revealed just in time for the F-Pace SVR’s viewing at New York tonight, lag those of the similarly-engined F-Type SVR, which will crank out 423kW and 700Nm from the same set-up. Is Jaguar sandbagging, or does the F-Pace’s chassis have its limits?

You’ll notice the F-Pace SVR growing large in your rear-vision mirror via its much larger air intakes. As it speeds past, you’ll catch the guard-mounted vents that help with airflow and high-speed stability, and the plumped guards. And as it disappears into the distance, you’ll take in the big rear spoiler, and listen as the straked diffuser with its quad active exhaust pipes, fed by 6.6kg-lighter tubes, washes the roar of the hard-working V8 over you.

Unless you’re in a similarly hardcore German SUV, it’ll disappear around the next corner much faster; progressive front and rear springs are 30 and 10 percent stiffer respectively, and incorporate anti-roll bars that reduce body roll by an extra 5 percent.

The Jaguar F-Pace SVR will sit on staggered 21- or 22-inch wheels depending on the box that’s ticked, with the rears sitting 25mm wider than the fronts. The bigger hoops are 2.4kg lighter at the front and 1.7kg lighter at the rear, and optimised to feed air into the larger 395mm front and 396mm rear brake discs.

The F-Pace SVR is the first of the Special Vehicle Operations-fettled cars to feature what it calls an electronic active rear differential, which we guess to mean the brakes will automatically grab a rear wheel that’s starting to show signs of spinning to improve straight-line acceleration. Traction is helped via on-demand all-wheel drive. As well, the SUV-SVR will use bespoke SVO-tuned active suspension, electric-assist power steering and dynamic driving modes.

Inside, there’s sports front seats with “lozenge” quilting and an embossed “SVR” logo. They’re complemented by a “sport shift” gear lever, and cast aluminium paddle shifters mounted on the steering wheel.

There’s no word yet on an Australian arrival or pricing.