Noting the approach of the electric age, one of my colleagues posed a rather interesting question a few weeks back, "What car should you get as your final homage to the combustion engine?"

Well, if you've got quite a bit of spare cash lying around, and want to celebrate the end of petrol with a bang, this Jaguar F-PACE SVR could be the car to get.

Sharp and aggressive

Let's forget about blanked-off grilles for a moment and let aerodynamic efficiency be damned. The previous F-PACE SVR was already festooned with intakes and vents, yet Jaguar still has had the wherewithal to enlarge those at the front with this facelift.

These now sit in a newly designed bumper and work with the new slim 'Double J' head lights and an enlarged power bump on the bonnet to give the car a new aggressive scowl, perfect for convincing any electric hatchback to get out of the first lane.

And at the back, there's new taillights, now sporting Jaguar's trademark double chicane graphic. It's a less dramatic change at the rear but certainly still a welcome one because, trust me, on the highway, this is the view most will get of this F-PACE SVR anyway.

Fast and rambunctious

And that's because this SUV is powered by a supercharged 5.0-litre unit. Maximum output still stands at 543bhp with this facelift. However, maximum torque has been bumped by 20Nm so peak torque now stands at an electric performance car-rivalling 700Nm.

More impressive still is the fact that the official century sprint time has now been cut by 0.3 seconds, so it now sits at four seconds flat.

It is a fantastic engine this is. Driven gently, it makes light work of the 2,133kg body of the F-PACE, and offers up a pleasing burble. Push it hard and you'll find strong in-gear acceleration and sharp throttle response in the upper ranges.

It's also mated to an active exhaust system that lets you augment the volume coming out from those quad tailpipes. Turn it off and it's more than enough to thoroughly stir the neighbours. Turn it on, however, and you get multiple pops with every liftoff and a mighty bang with each upshift.

And those quad tailpipes serve double duty here, also helping to push out all the CO₂ from burning petrol at a rate of 5.6km/L as tested.

Big and comfortable

And that drivetrain isn't the only thing that's loud in this F-PACE SVR. Spec your car with this stunning Mars Red interior and you'll get an interior that matches the rest of the car in character, although Ebony, Tan and Oyster are also available.

New for the facelifted car here is a redesigned centre console alongside Jaguar's latest Pivi Pro infotainment system, now displayed via an 11.4-inch touchscreen. The instrument cluster graphics have also been updated, and there's now a new gear selector.

The changes work great. There's a menu screen that categorises all the options available on the new infotainment screen, making it really easy and intuitive to use, and the new cabin layout is a pleasing thing to dwell over.

The suedecloth and Windsor leather combination seats also do a good job of holding you in place, with plenty of bolstering at the sides.

And don't you worry about those sports seats leaving you with an uncomfortable drive.

With a ride that is now enhanced with retuned dampers and new bushes in the suspension, this F-PACE SVR easily shows up the best what electric cars can offer with their heavy batteries and firm suspension, allowing it to handily play the role of a soft, cushy SUV.

Driven calmly on the highway, there's good suppression of road and wind noise, although you'll never escape from that engine's vocals of course.

In an age where our cars have become more and more environmentally-friendly astute, the F-PACE SVR is a refreshingly bold, loud, and outrageous car that celebrates all the excesses of a soon-to-be-gone era with a bang. Or in this case, a whole series of bangs.
 
 
In the market for a luxury SUV? Here are some alternatives you can also consider:

The BMW X3 is spacious, comfortable and dynamic

The Mercedes-Benz GLC300 has also seen improvements to its refinement and equipement in this update

The Audi Q5 2.0 TFSI now sports a classy, modern appearance and is also mighty comfortable to drive

The Volvo XC60 B6 is brisk on the move, and delivers high levels of refinement

Noting the approach of the electric age, one of my colleagues posed a rather interesting question a few weeks back, "What car should you get as your final homage to the combustion engine?"

Well, if you've got quite a bit of spare cash lying around, and want to celebrate the end of petrol with a bang, this Jaguar F-PACE SVR could be the car to get.

Sharp and aggressive

Let's forget about blanked-off grilles for a moment and let aerodynamic efficiency be damned. The previous F-PACE SVR was already festooned with intakes and vents, yet Jaguar still has had the wherewithal to enlarge those at the front with this facelift.

These now sit in a newly designed bumper and work with the new slim 'Double J' head lights and an enlarged power bump on the bonnet to give the car a new aggressive scowl, perfect for convincing any electric hatchback to get out of the first lane.

And at the back, there's new taillights, now sporting Jaguar's trademark double chicane graphic. It's a less dramatic change at the rear but certainly still a welcome one because, trust me, on the highway, this is the view most will get of this F-PACE SVR anyway.

Fast and rambunctious

And that's because this SUV is powered by a supercharged 5.0-litre unit. Maximum output still stands at 543bhp with this facelift. However, maximum torque has been bumped by 20Nm so peak torque now stands at an electric performance car-rivalling 700Nm.

More impressive still is the fact that the official century sprint time has now been cut by 0.3 seconds, so it now sits at four seconds flat.

It is a fantastic engine this is. Driven gently, it makes light work of the 2,133kg body of the F-PACE, and offers up a pleasing burble. Push it hard and you'll find strong in-gear acceleration and sharp throttle response in the upper ranges.

It's also mated to an active exhaust system that lets you augment the volume coming out from those quad tailpipes. Turn it off and it's more than enough to thoroughly stir the neighbours. Turn it on, however, and you get multiple pops with every liftoff and a mighty bang with each upshift.

And those quad tailpipes serve double duty here, also helping to push out all the CO₂ from burning petrol at a rate of 5.6km/L as tested.

Big and comfortable

And that drivetrain isn't the only thing that's loud in this F-PACE SVR. Spec your car with this stunning Mars Red interior and you'll get an interior that matches the rest of the car in character, although Ebony, Tan and Oyster are also available.

New for the facelifted car here is a redesigned centre console alongside Jaguar's latest Pivi Pro infotainment system, now displayed via an 11.4-inch touchscreen. The instrument cluster graphics have also been updated, and there's now a new gear selector.

The changes work great. There's a menu screen that categorises all the options available on the new infotainment screen, making it really easy and intuitive to use, and the new cabin layout is a pleasing thing to dwell over.

The suedecloth and Windsor leather combination seats also do a good job of holding you in place, with plenty of bolstering at the sides.

And don't you worry about those sports seats leaving you with an uncomfortable drive.

With a ride that is now enhanced with retuned dampers and new bushes in the suspension, this F-PACE SVR easily shows up the best what electric cars can offer with their heavy batteries and firm suspension, allowing it to handily play the role of a soft, cushy SUV.

Driven calmly on the highway, there's good suppression of road and wind noise, although you'll never escape from that engine's vocals of course.

In an age where our cars have become more and more environmentally-friendly astute, the F-PACE SVR is a refreshingly bold, loud, and outrageous car that celebrates all the excesses of a soon-to-be-gone era with a bang. Or in this case, a whole series of bangs.
 
 
In the market for a luxury SUV? Here are some alternatives you can also consider:

The BMW X3 is spacious, comfortable and dynamic

The Mercedes-Benz GLC300 has also seen improvements to its refinement and equipement in this update

The Audi Q5 2.0 TFSI now sports a classy, modern appearance and is also mighty comfortable to drive

The Volvo XC60 B6 is brisk on the move, and delivers high levels of refinement