Electrified Jags to get SVR treatment

Wednesday, 27 May 2020

The history of the Jaguar XJ

Jaguar Land Rover is hard at work on hybrid and fully electric vehicles to follow on from its well-received I-Pace. Some will be family-friendly SUVs, some will be executive sedans and some will be high-performance machines. The best of the bunch could even get the Special Vehicles Operations (SVO) treatment, with the likes of the upcoming next-gen electric XJ leading the charge.

That's the word from JLR’s managing director of SVO, Michael van der Sande, who spoke to Auto Express recently. He said that while the I-Pace wouldn't get a faster version, 'there are various other things we are working on which we can’t talk about… we’re very interested in electrification.”

That's good news for fans of high-performance electrified vehicles, particularly those not interested in similar offerings coming out of Germany.

The F-Pace SVR won't be the only SUV to get the hi-po treatment. In fact, it might be joined by some electric and hybrid siblings.

BMW has confirmed that the fastest member of the 4 Series family will be fully electric, Mercedes-Benz is quietly working on new '73' models that will use a hybrid V8 to generate close to 600kW and Audi Sport has hinted its twin-turbo 4.0-litre V8 will be electrified at some stage.

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There will no doubt be some vehement opposition to this badge adorning an EV. But the times are a-changing, best get used to it.

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The new XJ is reported to ride on a new electric platform that will form the basis of other models further down the track.

Called MLA (Modular Longitudinal Architecture), the platform has been designed to work with all-electric , plug-in hybrid and mild hybrid vehicles. It will underpin the forthcoming J-Pace and Range Rover Road Rover (or whatever the road-oriented model ends up badged as).

While power outputs will differ between models, SVR's chassis and suspension knowledge will easily transfer from one to another, starting with the XJ.

We can expect the standard version of Jag's flagship later this year, followed by the next generation Range Rover and Ranger Rover Sport.