Mercedes Benz : 2019 Jaguar F-Pace SVR Trades Claws for Machetes [w/ Videos]

Although more than a few automotive industry watchers – yours truly included – initially questioned the viability of Jaguar adding SUVs to its lineup when sister brand Land Rover already had the premium British off-roader market pretty well covered from top to bottom, the establishment that was founded 96 years ago as Swallow Sidecar Company doesn’t seem to be having any trouble unloading every F-Pace it makes. Now, to further broaden its appeal, Jaguar Land Rover’s resident hot rodders have had their way with it and created the 2019 Jaguar F-Pace SVR.

While the more aggressive fascias and engorged fenders should be enough of a warning that this is no run-of-the-mill mall-crawling Jag, the sounds coming from the quad tailpipes at the end of the lightweight (by 14.5 lbs. relatve to the regular F-Pace’s) Variable Valve Active Exhaust System should certainly clue you in: Instead of the regular models’ turbocharged gas and diesel four-bangers or supercharged V6, the SVR’s bonnet conceals the JLR corporate 5.0L supercharged V8, tuned to produce 550 horsepower and 502 lb.-ft of torque in this application. The company says that’s enough thrust (fed to all four wheels through an 8-speed automatic transmission) to shove the F-Pace SVR to 60 mph in 4.1 seconds, and onto a 176 mph top speed. Naturally, the suspension, steering and brakes have also been upgraded to improve the vehicle’s on-road chops, though you’ll need improved financial chops to acquire one: The base MSRP will be $80,985 when sales begin later this year. Consider yourself warned, German super SUV cartel…