Land Rover has never been shy about calling its cars exactly what they are. And in the case of the Range Rover Sport SV Carbon, the name is as literal as it gets this is the sportiest, most carbon-fibre-infused version of the refreshed SV lineup. But don’t be fooled by the “lightweight” connotations. Yes, it’s dropped a respectable 76 kilograms compared to its siblings, but at just under 2.5 tonnes, this is still a heavyweight in every sense of the word.
What’s different is how it wears that weight. It’s the rare SUV that can roll silently down the Corniche in Abu Dhabi, exuding quiet elegance, then storm across the E611 towards Fujairah, delivering sports-car levels of acceleration. It’s an unapologetic blend of Range Rover luxury and supercar technology and that’s exactly why it stands out in a crowded high-performance SUV market.
The SV Carbon’s Place in the Family
Land Rover’s Special Vehicle (SV) programme started as a playground for limited-run, high-performance, high-luxury projects. Over time, it’s evolved into a permanent sub-brand, offering cars that combine hand-finished craftsmanship with motorsport-grade engineering.
The SV Carbon sits at the very top of that hierarchy, next to the SV Black and SV Bespoke. The SV Black keeps things monochrome and stealthy, the SV Bespoke gives you almost unlimited customisation, but the SV Carbon is where engineering theatre meets design drama.
And yes the name is more than a marketing flourish. Forged carbon fibre is splashed generously across its body, from the bonnet to the exhaust surrounds. But the engineers also know the joke the car is still a “lightweight” only in SUV terms. Against rivals like the Porsche Cayenne Turbo GT and Lamborghini Urus Performante, the SV Carbon plays up its Range Rover identity: equally fast, far more luxurious, and almost defiantly heavier.
Performance and Powertrain – The Heart of the Beast
Pop the bonnet, and you’ll find a power unit that’s familiar to performance enthusiasts a BMW-sourced 4.4-litre twin-turbo V8. But in the SV Carbon, it’s tuned to an even sharper edge, delivering 626 horsepower and a meaty 750 Nm of torque.
That’s enough to push this SUV to a top speed of 290 km/h, with an expected 0–100 km/h sprint in the low 3-second range numbers that would have embarrassed supercars not long ago.
The ZF eight-speed automatic transmission ensures power delivery stays both brutally fast and buttery smooth, while Land Rover’s 6D Dynamics cross-linked suspension keeps the body composed even under hard cornering. Mild-hybrid tech lends a helping hand, shaving off turbo lag and boosting efficiency just enough to feel modern without killing the engine’s raw character.
Carbon Fibre and Weight Reduction – The 76 kg Diet
The SV Carbon’s headline number is its 76 kg weight saving. That’s the equivalent of leaving one adult passenger at home but in performance engineering, every kilo counts.
The diet comes from three main sources:
- Forged carbon exterior pack – standard on the SV Carbon, covering the bonnet, trim pieces, and exhaust surrounds.
- Optional carbon fibre wheels – 23-inch masterpieces that cut unsprung weight dramatically.
- Optional carbon ceramic brakes – for sharper stopping power and reduced fade under repeated heavy braking.
You can swap the forged carbon for a more traditional twill weave finish if you prefer the classic motorsport look. Either way, the reduced unsprung mass from those carbon wheels isn’t just cosmetic it makes the SV Carbon noticeably more agile in quick direction changes, something you feel from behind the wheel.
Exterior Design – Aggression with Elegance
Even without knowing the badge, you’d spot the SV Carbon instantly. Its stance is wider, its lines more aggressive, and its details more deliberate. Forged carbon elements glint subtly in the light, while the optional exposed carbon bonnet gives it an extra shot of track-day menace.
Land Rover offers a curated palette of colours, from deep metallics to exclusive SV finishes that look almost liquid in sunlight. And unlike some performance SUVs that scream for attention, the SV Carbon manages to look powerful without becoming cartoonish it’s all about proportion, surface tension, and knowing where to put the drama.
Inside – Performance Meets Penthouse
Step inside, and the SV Carbon proves it hasn’t sacrificed an ounce of Range Rover comfort for speed. The carbon-backed bucket seats are sculpted for support but trimmed in plush, tactile materials. Forged carbon accents flow across the dash, and you can swap them for twill weave if you want a more traditional look.
The upholstery menu is vast rich leathers, bold colour combinations, and even Ultrafabrics, a leather-free material that feels premium but leans towards sustainability. Tech is where it’s expected to be: a cutting-edge infotainment suite, driver-assistance features, and enough connectivity to make the SV Carbon feel like a luxury lounge on wheels.
Driving Experience – The Dual Personality
On the road, the SV Carbon is a masterclass in duality. The adaptive suspension smooths out the worst city streets, but tighten things up, and it feels improbably composed for something this size. Those carbon wheels and reduced unsprung weight make the steering feel more precise than in the standard SV, and with optional carbon ceramic brakes, it stops with as much authority as it accelerates.
This isn’t a dune-bashing machine in the way a Defender might be, but on high-speed highways and sweeping desert roads, it’s untouchable in its balance of speed, refinement, and presence.
MotorHub Verdict – Prestige with Purpose
The Range Rover Sport SV Carbon isn’t trying to be the lightest SUV in the world and that’s the point. Instead, it takes the best of Range Rover luxury, injects supercar-grade power, and trims just enough weight to make it feel sharper without losing its grand touring soul.
For the UAE driver who values speed, comfort, and a sense of occasion, the SV Carbon delivers all three in unapologetic style. Whether prowling Dubai’s Marina or eating up kilometres on Sheikh Zayed Road, it’s a statement piece on wheels a heavyweight that knows how to move like a middleweight.
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