Brace for More Hot Jaguars and Land Rovers

Jaguar Lightweight E-Type (Credit: Jaguar Land Rover )

If you have a hankering for a performance-oriented Jaguar or Land Rover, your choices are about to expand. The British automaker is looking to increase how many models are being designed by its Special Operations division, like the Range Rover Sport SVR, Lightweight E-Type, and the F-Type Project 7.

This increase is coming about as more consumers are clamoring for high-performance cars and SUVs. Other automakers are recognizing the opportunity, which is why Jaguar Land Rover is looking to pounce with its early advantage.

The new lineup of Special Operations models will fall into three different categories: luxury, performance, and all-terrain. When it comes to the all-terrain SO vehicles, more will start rolling out in 2015, although it remains to be seen if any of them will make their way to the United States. The company has revealed that several special editions of the Defender are planned, but other options could be revealed.

Other plans that are up in the air includes how the SVR badge will be applied to Jaguar models. Apparently it will be, but what it will mean for those select models still has not been determined. Among the possibilities is using SVR to denote high-performance, all-wheel drive Jags.

Whatever the outcome, the point is that Jaguar Land Rover is moving and shaking. Considering that the company was in shambles not that long ago, and that the increasingly competitive automotive market has torpedoed European brands like Saab, that’s a good thing. If the Brits want to stay in the game of making luxurious and sporty cars, as well as highly capable off-road SUVs, they need to focus on staying relevant and exciting. Even though the average consumer can’t afford a Special Operations vehicle, they could act as halo models that demonstrate just how far the company has come.