A journey powered by 3,935 horsepower. Between land and water. In a present that becomes the past and glides into the future. Where craftsmanship is reborn alongside genius to create objects, cars and boats that are unmistakably unique.
This is how Range Rover and Riva have chosen to tell the story of their partnership. With the understatement of those who embody the ultimate expression of prestige, because they blend rigour and eccentricity in perfect balance.
To announce a product partnership – given that the car brand will be partnering with the shipyard at boat shows – and a joint project of exclusive events to engage customers and enthusiasts, the two brands have chosen the essence of experience, the canon of perception.
Hence, the journey from Milan to Sarnico at the wheel of the Range Rover Sport SV Black and the trip out onto Lake Iseo aboard the Riva 68’ Diable: 635 horsepower for the former, 1,650 per engine for the latter, totalling nearly 4,000 horsepower and 32 cylinders.
A sum of power that does only the slightest justice to the values of the two brands, sublimated in the Sarnico shipyard by the architecture, with Carlo Riva’s former office shaped like a raised bridge over the lake, and the restoration and conservation workshops of Riva Classiche, where master shipwrights still work in their aprons and the scent of mahogany and maple fills the air – the very woods that made the fortune of the world’s most famous boat: the Aquarama.
Mahogany and polished stainless steel are the legacy that also finds its way into the styling of the Riva 68’ Diable: an open yacht just under 21 metres in length, exuding absolute class and a design of pure dynamic elegance.
In addition to the two Man V12 engines capable of propelling it up to 40 knots, the ease of handling is striking; it feels almost as if you were on an outboard boat, thanks to the electro-hydraulic steer-by-wire system.
The curved windscreen is also spectacular, spanning practically the entire beam apart from the two gangways, yet crafted from a single piece. Just as unique is the special edition Range Rover Sport SV, where the black-tie livery serves as a permanent invitation to the most exclusive automotive party.
That of the four-cylinder engines, which here takes the form of a 4.4-litre V8 mild hybrid, delivering a performance cocktail of 635 horsepower and 750 Newton-metres of torque.
If it is true that black is slimming, even the voluptuous curves of this special Range Rover vehicle are thoughtfully softened: the 23-inch wheels, which raise it to the height of a man of average stature, seem to be submerged in the all-black tide, which even extends to the ceramic SV logo.
The sophistication of this tone-on-tone scheme, as dark as it gets, evokes the exclusive character of the flagship models reserved for those who matter – or aspire to do so – in the world of human affairs.
Yet it does not neglect innovation and technology of an almost alchemical nature: the 6D Dynamic suspension system, which combines air springs with semi-active, interconnected dynamic dampers, works its magic to significantly reduce the lateral sway imposed by physics on a mass of around two and a half tonnes.
To say that the magic carpet-like comfort is this car’s main selling point is, quite frankly, tautological: what strikes the driver and enriches the sensory experience is the engine too.
Smooth and sly in linear driving, it grows more powerful during acceleration peaks and as revs rise, accompanied by a sound with tones and decibels that will delight car enthusiasts.
Can you judge a car over 160 kilometres? Probably not, at least not in the full sense of the word, but even a relatively short journey covering city streets, motorways and A-roads leaves its mark: the Range Rover Sport SV Black navigates the world of cars like a Riva navigates the world of boats. Uniquely.
Fabio De Rossi
