Skip advert
Advertisement

237mph SVM Nissan Qashqai-R Video: the world’s fastest SUV

Tuning specialists Severn Valley Motorsport’s Nissan GT-R-based Qashqai becomes the world’s fastest SUV.

SVM (Severn Valley Motorsport) claimed the world record for ‘SUV top speed’ with its Nissan Qashaqi-R which achieved 237.6mph, eclipsing the previous record of 230mph set by a modified Toyota Land Cruiser.

It will come as no surprise that beneath the bodywork little remains of the standard Qashqai from which the R model has been created. The transformation into its record-breaking specification started six years ago, when the British-based tuner fused the crossover with its sports car stablemate, the Nissan GT-R.

Advertisement - Article continues below

> Nissan GT-R review

Using a custom jig, the Qashqai’s body was lowered onto the GT-R’s chassis and running gear. Then SVM went about upgrading the powertrain: its first package lifted the twin-turbo 3.8-litre V6’s output from 523bhp to 838bhp; before it was raised further incrementally to 1134bhp; 1233bhp; 1479bhp and finally 1973bhp. 

 All the extra performance comes courtesy of an extensive list of upgrades, which includes new drag-specification turbos, bigger injectors, KW suspension and an uprated intake system featuring a K&N air filter and carbonfibre manifold.

Mike Little, SVM General Manager, piloted the SUV to within a few mph of a McLaren F1’s claimed top speed at a VMAX 200 event held at RAF Kendrew. The Qashqai-R’s record speed saw it top an impressive list of supercars and hypercars in the video, edging out a Koenigsegg Agera RS by 8mph.

Until SVM’s triumph, a Toyota Land Cruiser held the record. It delivered similar power to the Nissan and set its ‘fastest SUV’ mark back in 2017.  

Skip advert
Advertisement
Skip advert
Advertisement

Most Popular

Best Jaguars – big cats that defined the breed
The best Jaguars
Best cars

Best Jaguars – big cats that defined the breed

As Jaguar stares down the barrel of a polarising new era, it’d do well not to forget some of the brilliance from its past. We list Jag’s modern greats…
6 Dec 2024
2024’s best performance cars battle it out – car pictures of the week
evo Car of the Year 2024 lineup
Features

2024’s best performance cars battle it out – car pictures of the week

A little taste of eCoty 2024 to whet the pallet is the subject of this week’s car pictures
8 Dec 2024
From 2025 your new performance car might cost over £5k to tax
Car tax 2025
News

From 2025 your new performance car might cost over £5k to tax

Audi's RS6, Lamborghini Revuelto, Mercedes-AMG GT... any car producing more than 255g/km of C02 will be hit by a rise in vehicle excise duty from Apri…
11 Dec 2024