DESIGNIf big SUVs are meant to be chunky and slabby, nobody told Jaguar’s design team. The F-PACE has an elegant profile, with a distinctive honeycomb grille, slim LED headlights, long bonnet and muscular haunches over the rear wheel arches. The tapering roofline adds another sporty touch, without impinging on rear seat headroom. To distinguish the SVR version, Jaguar has given the F-PACE SVR a model-specific front bumper with larger inlets and vents to improve airflow to the powertrain and brakes. The recent design refresh delivered a 35 per cent reduction in aerodynamic lift, while cutting drag from 0.37Cd to 0.36Cd. Inside, the cockpit also received a thorough makeover, including Alcantara seat and door inserts, a 12.3-inch HD Interactive Driver Display and aluminium patterned finishers.
PERFORMANCE Jaguar’s 5.0-litre V8 Supercharged petrol engine produces a soul-stirring 550PS and 700Nm torque, catapulting the F-PACE SVR from 0-62mph in just 4.0 seconds and giving it a top speed of 178mph. Powerful two-piece disc brakes measure 395mm (front) and 396mm (rear) with an Integrated Power Booster. The eight-speed automatic transmission sends power to all four wheels with Intelligent Driveline Dynamics as standard, giving a sporty, rear-biased power delivery in all but the most extreme conditions.
TECHNOLOGY Jaguar’s Electronic Vehicle Architecture EVA 2.0 allowed the SVR engineering team to introduce improved Active Dynamics suspension technology, while Configurable Dynamics allows you to fine-tune the set up to your personal preferences. When in Dynamic mode, a stopwatch, G-Meter and pedal graph help you to analyse your personal track-day performance. But the F-TYPE SVR is also a great companion on more mundane journeys, with the clear and intuitive Pivi Pro infotainment system accessed via a 11.4-inch HD curved glass touchscreen. Other advanced features include over-the-air software updates, Cabin Air ionisation and Active Road Noise Cancellation.
SAFETYThe JaguarDrive Control system offers Comfort, Eco, Rain-Ice-Snow and Dynamic modes, which can be chosen manually based on the road conditions. An Auto Vehicle Hold function holds the brakes for an unlimited period when stationary on a gradient, only releasing the brakes when you depress the accelerator to drive away. Other driver assistance systems include Clear Exit Monitor, which alerts front and rear occupants to the presence of an approaching car or cyclist when exiting the vehicle. Emergency Braking uses a front-facing camera to monitor for potential collisions and warn you in time to act. If no action is taken the system will apply the brakes autonomously. Adaptive Cruise Control comes as standard and automatically maintains a set distance from the vehicle in front.
