Time to push the Start button….

A 2.3 tonne car shouldn’t be quick, but that’s what the SVR exactly is. We have the same 5.0-litre Supercharged V8 engine in the SVR, but now its packed with the same uprated power as found in the F-Type R Coupe and Jaguar XFR-S. This means we have an extra 39hp and 42lb ft of torque over standard, totalling 542bhp and 502lb ft of torque.

In the grand scheme of things, the difference in figures don’t make that big a difference, but what does make the difference is the reconfigured torque curve. It’s been recalibrated to be almost diesel-like in characteristic, with torque peaking lower down from 2500rpm and staying with you throughout the rev range.

There was enough of a hefty shove with our last long-term RRS diesel pushing out 442lb ft, but this is just bonkers in comparison – Except this time round it successfully hides the 2.3 tonne kerbweight too. With the added benefit of four-wheel drive this car relentlessly pulls, and it does all this without any of the exuberent tyre-smoking-oversteer either that dominates its Jaguar siblings.

I’m not sure if I could live with the fuel range though – Did I mention 12.9mpg?

Even if that displayed figure was a result of rigorous testing, I’m not sure 105 litres of juice will still last that long! Especially if you dicked about down-changing gears all the time just for the noise – as you would with the other Jaguar siblings!

Spec: SVR
Engine: 5.0 V8 Supercharged Petrol, 542bhp (@ 6000 - 6500rpm, 502lb ft (@ 2500 – 5500rpm)
Transmission: 8 Speed Auto
Mpg: Official: 21.7mpg Achieved: 13mpg
Performance: 0-62mph: 4.7 Secs, 162mph
Colour: Estoril Blue
Pictures captioned with * were sourced for reference only from AutoTrader