The Range Rover SVAutobiography Dynamic is designed to meet the demands of those who need a multi-passenger vehicle without sacrificing the performance of a supercar. In comparison to the long-wheelbase Range Rover SVAutobiography's price and size, the short-wheelbase Dynamic is less expensive and smaller, yet no less impressive as it is equipped with a robust and potent supercharged V-8 engine that effortlessly produces 550 horsepower. It also benefits from a specially tailored performance suspension which provides a heightened level of engagement for the driver.
Due to the immense appeal of this luxury SUV, Mark Stanton, the director of Jaguar Land Rover's Special Vehicle Operations (SVO) division, believes there is a small group of affluent buyers who would be unsuitable candidates for the Range Rover Sport SVR, but still wish to take advantage of the high-performance model this vehicle has to offer. He recognizes that many of these customers would otherwise turn to the Bentley Bentayga to satisfy their desires. SVO was thus tasked to develop and construct the Range Rover SVAutobiography Dynamic as an alternative solution, which Stanton has aptly referred to as a 'gentleman's express'.
The method of teaching this heavy vehicle to be agile is quite straightforward: the ride height should be lowered by 0.3 inches; the geometry and calibration of the steering knuckles, links, springs, and dampers ought to be reconfigured to result in improved response; and the steering ratio should be swapped with one similar to the Range Rover Sport’s, which has 3.0 turns of lock-to-lock. Land Rover’s Dynamic Response system aids in reducing body roll when making corners, while the Adaptive Dynamics system monitors vehicle movements with a frequency of up to 500 times per second and accordingly adjusts the dampers in order to allow for a more composed and balanced experience.
Tangible effects of these changes in the real world are quite noticeable: the steering is precise and accurate, yet the ride is a bit firmer than that of the Range Rover Sport SVR. The vehicle we tested had huge 22-inch wheels (21-inchers being standard) with 275/40 Continental CrossContact LX Sport tires, featuring foam liners to reduce sound, yet the ride was still more refined than that of the Range Rover Sport SVR, with harsh impacts only audible, rather than tangible.
On highways, the journey is smooth and peaceful. Driving on narrow, curvy roads and two-tracks in the countryside of Britain posed no major issues except for the slight unfamiliarity to Americans when driving in a right-hand-drive car on the left side of the road. Above all, the adjustments to the suspension notably cut down on body roll when taking corners, therefore the prospect of maneuvering through, for instance, a roundabout, is easy and less alarming. Finally, in case an owner wishes to take their Range Rover SVAutobiography Dynamic on more difficult terrain, they can count on a commendable total ground clearance of 11.4 inches and a maximum water crossing depth of 35.4 inches.
The supercharged V-8 engine in the Dynamic has been calibrated to provide 550The V-8 engine within the Dynamic model is tuned to offer an output of 550 horse power plus 502 lb-feet of torque, replicating that found with the non-Dynamic SVAutobiography and the Range Rover Sport SVR. Changes between gears are taken care of using an eight-speed automatic transmission from ZF and paddle shifters. Having spotted a long stretch of road and being sure to avoid the U.K.'s speed cameras, we pushed the accelerator pedal and could feel the same smooth, yet powerful, feeling associated with the Range Rover Sport. According to Land Rover, it will take no more than 5.1 seconds to accelerate to sixty mph, though we're sure our own tests might see this time improved. Full throttle enables an amazing soundtrack to emanate from the four, silver exhaust pipes, while the engine is almost inaudible at light pressure, providing an effortless journey.
The SVAutobiography Dynamic features a few interior and exterior details that set it apart from other models available from Land Rover. These differentiate the model include red Brembo brakes, side vents, grille, front bumper accents, tailgate trim and 'Range Rover' script all coated in Graphite Atlas. With the interior, diamond-quilted upholstery and contrast stitching feature, as well as a perforated, Ebony headliner, Grand Black veneer on the dash and door panels and an anodized-red aluminum shift paddles – this last one except with tan interior colour schemes.
Land Rover appear to have perfected their adaptation of existing models to fill every possible niche, and now this includes the emergence of SUVs that offer muscle-car-like abilities combined with corners that can be taken with confidence thanks to their technologically advanced suspensions. While the Bentley Bentayga has an MSRP of $200,945 and the Mercedes-AMG GLS63 is priced at $125,025, the Range Rover SVAutobiography Dynamic can be purchased for a more bargain-friendly $171,990. Land Rover is confident that those looking to make a statement with their SUV and don’t want to compromise between class and style will appreciate this model.