FRANKFURT MOTOR SHOW: Land Rover Discovery SVX

The British off-road icon has been given a red-blooded V8 shot in the arm, with the bonkers Land Rover Discovery SVX.

That's the good news.

The bad news? It won't be on sale in Australia until around August 2018, and we won't know the price until later this year. But really, the fact that something like this even exists is reason enough to get excited.

Powered by the Jaguar Land Rover (JLR) group's potent 5.0-litre supercharged V8, the Land Rover Disco SVX will post a scorching time for 0-100km/h. We don't yet know the time, but let's just say it'll be quick enough to shut the kids up, post haste.

Pumping out 368kW (518hp) and 625Nm of torque, the new model rides on big 20-inch alloy wheels shod with 275/55 R20 tyres. But even though it will be a traffic-light firecracker, Land Rover insists the new Discovery SVX will be the "most extreme Land Rover yet".

That not's just in a straight-line, smooth road sense, but also off-road.

The Land Rover Discovery SVX is more gung-ho than a Defender, insists the British company, offering "go-anywhere capability" via more ground clearance plus "body and suspension lifts, more wheel articulation and large all-terrain tyres".

It'll be faster, but will it be as bulletproof as the LandCruiser V8 turbo-diesel? We'll have to wait and see.

The striking new SUV has improved approach, departure and break-over angles, thanks to long-travel dampers and revised knuckles and tyres with higher sidewalls. Throw in an active centre diff and electronic locking rear diff, plus a twin-speed transfer box and the Disco SVX can lay claim to be a true go-anywhere 4WD.

Developed by Land Rover's SVO or Special Vehicle Operations group, the new vehicle is a sister model to the likes of the Range Rover Sport SVR and Range Rover SVAutobiography.

"The SVX product line gives us a fantastic opportunity to deliver the ultimate Land Rover all-terrain capability in a dynamic and distinctive manner, creating a rugged and versatile SUV that the whole family will love: effortless, unstoppable and connected, whatever the terrain," said SVO Director Mark Stanton.

"Discovery SVX is designed to reward off-road driving enthusiasts with the next level of all-terrain capability, without compromising comfort and practicality."

This is also the first Disco to do away with the rotary gear shifter, replacing it with a more assertive "Pistol Shifter" designed to deliver "optimum control of gear selection in off-road manoeuvres" according to Land Rover. The V8 is mated to a recalibrated eight-speed automatic transmission.

This ain't no pretender, and it's been designed to look the part.

Land Rover says this Frankfurt motor show vehicle is a "production preview" which means things might change a bit on the way to production, but the more assertive front bumper bar, skids plates, orange recovery hooks (rated to six tonnes), silver roof rails, tinted alloy wheels and roof-mounted light pods are likely to stay.

The rear-mounted electric winch is likely just for show.

Stay tuned for Australian pricing of the Land Rover Discovery SVX later in the year.