Driving Jaguar’s potent F-Pace SVR 575 Ultimate Edition SUV – one of just
60 as the last of the line Jaguar V8’s – Jaguar will navigate a new future
from January 1, all electric and reconfigured into an upper luxury range,
the Jaguar leaper badge gone, a whole new beginning after 90 years which
the company admits will lose up to 85 percent of its current customer base.
The 5-litre supercharged F-Pace SVR 575 Ultimate Edition a stunning SUV
and one that will become a collector’s item in time – super powerful, super
luxurious and the test car I’m driving in Sorrento yellow, super special –
hard to fault in performance, features, comfort, dynamics and price -
$182,000 far cheaper than a Range Rover Sport P530 and far more exciting
– the 5.0-litre V8 with 700Nm of torque and 8-speed automatic with steering
wheel shift paddles inspiring. A full gamut of active driver assist systems,
not intrusive, although the speed limit alert can become an annoyance. But
fabulous brakes which you need when you have a 2133kg steed with 0 to
100km/hour acceleration of just 4 seconds. This Jaguar F-Pace SVR 575
Ultimate Edition the final act in what has been a wonderful 90 years of
Jaguar grace and pace. I’m David Berthon

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Jaguar will cease production of its last internal combustion cars at the end
of the year, becoming an electric only manufacturer, also moving further
upmarket. Ending 90 years of the celebrated Jaguar brand as it navigates a
new future. According to Jaguar’s chief creative officer Gerry McGovern
“the new electric model is the result of brave, unconstrained creative
thinking and unwavering determination – the foundation stone for a new
family of Jaguars that will look unlike anything you’ve seen before.” For
many aficionados it’s a sad day, 90-years of history and heritage lost, even
the Jaguar leaper badging will disappear with the company only expecting
to retain around 10-15 percent of its existing customers. This week I’ve
been driving the Jaguar F-Pace SVR 575 Ultimate Edition SUV, in bright
yellow no less, the last ever V8 from the British brand and what an engine –
just 60 examples of this Ultimate Edition will be available and bound to
become collectors’ items. Sitting on 22-inch wheels this SVR looks
menacing even before you fire its 5-litre supercharged V8 – an all-wheel
drive upper luxury SUV at $182,000, and as a limited edition and the last of
the line, likely to retain its value well. Drive details next. I’m David Berthon

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Honda has joined a growing number of major car makers changing
direction away from battery electric vehicle development in response to
slowing BEV sales. At a recent briefing in Tokyo Honda’s President
Toshihiro Mibe confirmed the company was re-evaluating its BEV
development plan up to 2030 by trimming 3 trillion yen from its previously
allocated EV budget of 10 trillion yen. It cited falling BEV sales behind the
move “necessitating a re-alignment of its automotive strategy that places
more emphasis on new generation, lower cost and more efficient hybrid
technology along with a greater focus on the North American, Japanese
and Chinese markets.” Honda targeting greater battery efficiency as well as
a 50 per cent reduction in manufacturing costs, suggesting the company’s
new e-HEV systems will be lighter with more parts commonality amongst
models. Its target 2.2 million sales by 2030. I’m David Berthon

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