Land Rover reveals ultra luxury two-door, four-seat Range Rover SV Coupé at Geneva Motor Show

The first 1970 Range Rover was a two-door, and Land Rover's luxury workhorse only became available with four doors when the second-generation model arrived in 1994. So it's back to the future with the two-door Range Rover SV Coupé which, will be produced in a limited batch of 999 priced at £240,000.

Wow. A quarter of a million quid for a Rangey. With stiff competition in the super-high-net-worth sport utility market from Porsche, Bentley and soon, Rolls-Royce, this is is Solihull's counter blast. It's proven off road, but with a 557bhp/516lb ft supercharged 5-litre V8 giving a top speed of 165mph and 0-60mph acceleration in five seconds, it's even more impressive on it. In fact, it's the fastest-ever full-sized Range Rover.

The new car will be manufactured by Land Rover's SVO – Special Vehicle Operations – department in Warwickshire. You can register interest in one of these now, or just buy an 'ordinary' Range Rover for £76,795. If your heart is stuck on a two-door there are plenty of classics on offer from a few grand, depending on condition.

An attractive cabin with a distinctive full-length centre console, decorated with a banded wood inlay and aluminium fittings, exudes the kind of luxury that top-end buyers are looking for. The four seats appear to be upholstered in quilted leather, and we note that the front is finished in a different colour to the rear; such emphasis on the front seats is likely to give the impression of a 2+2 when the rear two are vacant.

The infotainment system is similar to that found in the Range Rover Velar. Visible on the centre console near the gear selector is a dial that ordinarily controls 'Terrain Response' off-road settings in a normal Range Rover; so the road-orientated two-door coupé version of JLR's legendary 4x4 will still have some ability away from the tarmac.

“The Range Rover SV Coupé is a highly compelling design with peerless refinement and uncompromised sophistication from its breathtaking exterior proportions to its sumptuous, beautifully appointed, interior,” gushed chief design officer Gerry McGovern.

“This is a vehicle that will resonate on an emotional level.”

“Land Rover created the luxury SUV sector with Range Rover almost 50 years ago,” said SVO boss John Edwards. 

“In launching the new Range Rover SV Coupé, we will offer clients an alluring combination of peerless luxury and rarity.”

Land Rover is keen to point out similarities between this model and the original Range Rover, which started out as a two-door when it was launched in 1970. The model has changed significantly over the past 48 years, and in doing so has become one of the most recognisable cars on the road, but many people still have affection for the classics.

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