There will be just 60 2020 Velar SVAutobiography Dynamic Editions available to Canadian buyers, making this special luxury sport SUV one of the most exclusive Range Rovers ever.Andrew McCredie MALIBU, CA. Look up the word rare in the Merriam-Webster dictionary and youll find the words uncommon and distinctive. Those certainly apply to the 2020 Range Rover Velar SVAutobiography Dynamic, of which just 60 will be for sale in Canada. Throw in powerful, advanced, luxurious, and cushy and youve pretty much covered all the bases of this very rare and refined vehicle.How refined? Engineers with Range Rover Special Vehicle Operationsthe mad scientists behind this uber-Velardesigned the engine so that at startup the valves are closed, meaning that instead of that distinctive bark of a supercharged, 5.0-litre V8, the engine note emits a lower note. Of course, put it in gear and step on it and those gleaming quad exhaust pipes let all the dog outs, to the tune of a 4.5 second zero to 100 km/h sprint. That 550 horsepower is some 170 ponies better than the next most powerful Velar, powered by a supercharged, 3.0-litre V6 and a ridiculously pedestrian zero to 100 km/h time of 5.3 seconds (if youve still got the dictionary handy, look up sarcasm). That refinement continues into the Velar SVAs bespoke chassis, which includes special damper tuning to help keep that 45 per cent increase in power in check. Those engineers also worked their magic on the eight-speed Quickshift transmission with high-performance SV calibration, which also makes its way into the all-wheel-drive system, the active rear locking differential, the steering and the air suspension. Theres also torque vectoring by braking, something you wont feel in that aforementioned straight-line sprint, but during a run up and down the many great canyon roads in the hills above Malibu had the large SUV handling more like the roadsters and sports cars that have made these roads famous for over 50 years. Put the transmission in Sport setting and engage the bespoke Dynamic modewhich allows you to personalize things like shift times, throttle and steering inputs and damping controlsand the driving experience underscores the fact that youre driving a full-size luxury SUV that is as good as cornering as chauffeuring. Oh, and braking. The 395mm front and 396mm rear brake discs feature a two-piece construction to optimize weight and are designed to dissipate heat more effectively to cope with the higher braking forces generated during high performance driving. The stopping power is remarkable.As much as the performance attributes of this special vehicle are impressive, the cabin updates over the already luxe Velar model line-up put this SUV into very rarefied territory. The double-stitched, perforated and quilted Windsor leather is unique to the SVAutobiography Dynamic Edition and comes in four colour combinations (Ebony, Cirrus, Vintage Tan and Pimento). The front seats are 20-way adjustable, heated and cooled and with memory and massage functions as standard. Theres a unique sports steering wheel, which features a contoured rim and tactile aluminum gear shift paddles, and the rotary gear selector and circular control dials for the infotainment system all feature a sophisticated knurled finish. Theres also an optional carbon fibre pack for the interior. The exterior gets the Special Vehicle Operations treatment too, including a new front bumper with larger air intakes to cool the bigger engine cool the uprated braking system. Theres also a new grille up front, lower side moldings and a revised rear bumper featuring integrated those four exhaust pipes. And one change you cant see: a transmission tunnel under tray designed to smooth airflow under the vehicle.And then there is the selection of forged aluminum wheels. The standard lightweight 21-inch wheels weigh the same as the 20-inch wheels on the base model, but to really make a statement, theres the optional 22-inch rims with a Silver Sparkle finish and diamond-turned edging. On the subject of wheels, it was a bit of a shock to lift the rear cargo floor and discover the spare has a bright orange rim. A whimsical bit of English humour perhaps.When it debuted a couple of years ago, the Range Rover Velar took the storied brand in a bit of a different direction, one that while still offering the renowned off-road capabilities put more of an emphasis on luxury and style, both inside and out.The 2020 Velar SVAutobiography Dynamic takes that statement to the next level, one that 60 very fortunate owners in this country will enjoy for themselves very
Origin: First Drive: 2020 Land Rover Range Rover Velar SVAutobiography Dynamic