A THING of beauty and of power, this car is a celebration of what Land Rover can achieve in an SUV.

The Range Rover Velar SVAutobiography Dynamic Edition (yes, it’s quite a mouthful) builds on the foundations of what was judged the world’s most beautiful mid-size SUV a couple of years ago and adds some extra dollops of luxury, dynamism and comfort to take it to another level.

Powered by Jaguar Land Rover’s magnificent supercharged 5.0-litre V8 petrol engine, which delivers a remarkable 550PS, it provides a motoring experience that at the prod of your right foot can be exhilarating but always remains composed.

There’s a delicious, devilish low roar as the mighty V8 accelerates to 62mph in a mere 4.5 seconds. That’s sports car-like performance in a car that is built primarily to carry its passengers in luxurious surroundings and be capable of traversing the toughest of terrains.

This high-performance version of what is arguably the most attractive of the Range Rover models features some lovely touches.

These start with the approach to the car. Door handles pop out to greet you and slot back flush to the bodywork on entry.

There’s a powered tailgate too, and a choice of either 21 or 22-inch wheels with red high-performance brake callipers to handle the awesome power.

On the outside, the Velar has beautiful lines and is perfectly proportioned. This model has a new front bumper with larger air intakes to feed the V8 and cool the uprated braking system, a new grille and integrated quad exhaust finishers. Even the Range Rover lettering on the bonnet and tailgate has been enhanced.

Forged 21 or 22-inch aluminium wheels provide another clue to the special performance. The larger wheels help to generate more grip and accommodating larger brakes. The extra stopping power is highlighted by red brake callipers.

Although the Velar is in the SUV coupe style, the flat roof line gives plenty of headroom in the back, although it still feels a little cramped for knee space, although the reclining rear seats make for a relaxing ride.

Quilted, perforated and twin-stitched leather upholstery, a sports steering wheel, knurled aluminium infotainment controllers and a rotary pop-up gear shifter for added theatre greet the driver.

Uprated brakes and suspension components, plus bespoke settings for everything from the powertrain to the safety systems, ensure the SVAutobiography Dynamic Edition mixes the personality of a performance car with the go-anywhere capability of a luxury mid-size SUV.

This Velar features 20-way adjustable heated and cooled front seats with memory and massage functions as standard plus aluminium gear shift paddles.

Design elements extend to the 12.3-inch interactive driver display featuring unique knurled dials and a bespoke start-up screen.

Calibrations for the all-wheel drive system, eight-speed transmission, steering and air suspension have all been honed and are bespoke to this flagship, delivering a more focused driving experience.

Speed-sensitive electric p-assisted steering minimises effort at parking speeds but delivers precise and direct control at higher speeds. The overall effect is that this Velar feels very light on its feet.

Sounding like no other SUV, this most driver-focused model in the range is as practical as ever. The generous boot capacity is unaffected, while the flexible 40/20/40-split rear seats allow customers to vary the loadspace. The 82-litre fuel tank also promises a genuine range in excess of 300 miles.

All this comes at a price, of course, but for those able to afford one, then you will be rewarded with a highly impressive performance SUV that will cosset and thrill.

The Velar SVAutobiography Dynamic Edition is priced from £86,685.

AT A GLANCE

Range Rover Velar SVAutobiography Dynamic

Price: from £86,685

Engine: Eight-cylinder five-litre V8 supercharged petrol producing 550bhp

Transmission: Eight-speed automatic

Performance: 0 to 62mph in 4.5 seconds; top speed 170mph

Economy: 23.0mpg combined

CO2 emissions: 270g/km

RATINGS

Performance: *****

Economy: **

Ride/Handling: *****

Space/Practicality: *****

Equipment: *****

Security/Safety: *****

Value For Money: ***

OVERALL: ****