COVER Jaguar F-Pace SVR Edition 1988

Jaguar F-Pace SVR Edition

FIRSTDRIVE Special edition pays tribute to Brit brand’s 1988 Le Mans 24 Hours victory

YousufAshraf

Yousuf _ Ashraf@autovia.co.uk @ashrafoncars

IN 1988, a Jaguar XJR-9 scorched around Circuit de la Sarthe in the hands of Andy Wallace, Johnny Dumfries and Jan Lammers to take victory at the Le Mans 24 Hours. The V12-engined brute ended Jaguar’s three-decade-long dry spell at the world’s most prestigious endurance race. But what really etched the XJR-9 into race fans’ minds was the car’s livery. Jaguar’s title sponsor was tobacco brand Silk Cut, and the XJR-9 was draped in its purple, gold and white colour scheme to create an iconic look.

Now Jaguar is rekindling those memories with the F-Pace SVR Edition 1988. Just 394 – a reference to the number of laps the winning XJR-9 completed – will be built, each powered by a 5.0-litre supercharged V8 driving all four wheels through an eightspeed automatic gearbox. Immediately, it’s difficult to draw parallels between the XJR-9 and a 2,133kg SUV – we think an F-Type would be a better fit for the special edition – but Jaguar has painted the car Midnight Amethyst purple to echo the Le Mans racer.

It also has satin gold 22-inch wheels, bespoke badging on the front wings, black styling elements and a unique plaque inside, plus black semi-aniline leather upholstery and satin-gold trim pieces.

The limited-run car is mechanically identical to the standard F-Pace SVR, but it’s immediately clear that the package doesn’t have, or need, any extra in that respect. The F-Pace SVR is already one of the finest performance SUVs on sale today.

On the move, the SVR’s engine response, steering, damping and gearbox calibration can be tweaked individually to unlock an impressive breadth of ability. Slacken off the dampers and close the exhaust valves, and the Edition 1988 is a calm, luxurious SUV which, while firm, tackles scarred roads better than a standard F-Pace. Turn up the wick, and it takes on a different character.

It’s difficult to beat a large-capacity supercharged motor for response in a combustion-engined car, and in Dynamic mode, the engine is eager to whip into the red line. The bellowing soundtrack is addictive, while the forward thrust is savage; the F-Pace squats on its back axle and accelerates at an alarming rate. The eight“It’s difficult to beat a large-capacity supercharged motor for response”

speed automatic gearbox slurs changes nicely while cruising, but the Dynamic setting provides punchier shifts.

The Edition 1988 is heavier than rivals from Porsche or Alfa Romeo, so lacks their final degree of athleticism, but the chassis is well judged for an SUV. The steering builds load naturally in Comfort and the measured response rate is in tune with the SVR’s bulk, allowing you to push it accurately in corners.

While the Dynamic suspension mode delivers a busier ride and tightens the body control, selecting the softer damper setting unlocks the Edition 1988’s natural balance.

Commit to a corner by applying some power and the car’s active rear differential comes into play, the SVR tightening its line, but requiring little correction from the driver. Few SUVs provide this sense of adjustability. The Edition 1988’s brakes are strong, too.

The interior is up there with the best in the class. Fit and finish is mostly good, and the Edition 1988’s toned-down black trim and subtle gold detailing are tasteful.

As with the regular F-Pace SVR, the 11.4inch Pivi Pro infotainment system is crisp and responsive and features Android Auto, Apple CarPlay, a 3D surround camera, plus a beefy Meridian audio system. The SVR’s heated and cooled sports seats aren’t the most supportive for long drives, though.

There’s plenty of space for adults in the back, and the huge 650-litre boot is useful for a weekend away. Perhaps the biggest issue for the 1988 Edition is the standard F-Pace SVR. Costing £81,510, it undercuts the special edition by £23,955. Admittedly, the gap is smaller when speccing it to the level of the Edition 1988, but we’d still plump for the normal SVR instead.

Verdict Essentials

Jaguar F-Pace SVR Edition 1988

Price: £101,550

Engine: 5.0-litre supercharged V8 Power/torque: 542bhp/700Nm Transmission: Eight-speed automatic, four-wheel drive 0-62mph: 4.0 seconds

Top speed: 178mph

Economy: 23.1mpg CO2: 275g/km

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Performance

0-62mph/top speed 4.0 seconds/178mph

Running costs

23.1mpg (official) £155 fill-up

INTERIOR

Black leather trim features in the cabin, along with an 11.4-inch Pivi Pro infotainment touchscreen JAGUAR’S F-Pace SVR Edition 1988 serves as a reminder of just how sorted the standard car is. Its savage powerplant dominates proceedings, but the SVR’s absorbing handling, interior tech and refinement place it among the best performance SUVs you can buy. However, the Edition 1988’s cosmetic tweaks aren’t enough to justify the huge price premium –and we’re not entirely convinced it does justice to Jag’s historic victory.