MG SV-R

With its dramatic looks and throaty exhaust, the SV-R will appeal to those who want a traditional sports car. But as icons such as the Porsche 911 cost much less, it's hard to see who's going to buy MG's flagship. The SV-R is guaranteed to turn heads and spark debate - but there are far better grand tourers, and more exciting sports cars available.

So 'R' you ready for blast-off? Now that MG's engineers have put the finishing touches to the firm's range-topping SV-R, and buyers are taking delivery, Auto Express is the first magazine to drive the car.

As the flagship for the XPower range - we tested the MG ZR-X hot hatch last week - expectations are high for the SV-R. It's clear from the outset it has been designed to get noticed. Every bulge and vent adds visual muscle - but it won't be to everyone's taste. Parked next to a Porsche 911, the MG looks fussy, while the huge wheelarch extensions make the 18-inch alloys seem tiny.

Slip inside and there is a big improvement in the quality of the design. Much of the switchgear is familiar from other models in the MG Rover range, but the hand-finished cabin feels well built. Unlike the standard MG SV, which is powered by a 4.6-litre Ford V8, the SV-R's engine is bored out to 5.0 litres to produce an extra 60bhp.

Still normally aspirated, the 385bhp lump sounds superb, burbling noisily at idle, and delivering a ferocious bark through the mid-range. But there's no need to use high revs, as with 510Nm of torque, the SV-R has all the grunt it needs. It's not all good news, however. The five-speed gearbox is heavy and clunky until the oil is up to temperature, and the throttle isn't that responsive.

With very long gearing (second is good for 80mph), the hottest MG does not feel as fast as you would expect. We matched the company's claimed 0-60mph sprint time of 4.9 seconds, which should be quick enough for most buyers. But this is a lazy engine, which colours the whole driving experience. It's not an out-and-out sports car, rather a capable GT. This is obvious once you pull away - even at low speeds the SV-R has a surprisingly pliant ride.

Combine this with relatively low cabin noise - apart from the exhaust note - and the MG is a capable cruiser. But it falls down when it comes to excitement, and that's the area in which we thought the SV-R would excel. There's simply too much body roll, and the car struggles with quick direction changes.

On winter roads, the plentiful torque means it's all too easy to set the rear wheels spinning. The standard-fit traction control should provide a safety net, but unfortunately there is a huge delay between the wheels starting to lose grip and engine power being cut. Combine this with a lack of steering feel, and the SV-R doesn't fill you with confidence.

The outlook is no brighter when it comes to the price. While the entry-level SV costs £65,750, this flagship wears an incredible £82,950 tag! Our car's price swelled further with the addition of £1,500 paint, £1,550 sat-nav and £2,200 climate control - items you'd expect to be standard at this level.

That means the SV-R is competing with some of the most desirable machines money can buy. Porsche's 911 Carrera S is £17,950 less, while the Merc-edes SL500 will save buyers £9,930.

Even if you love its looks, crave the performance and are after a real collector's item, the SV-R's cost will be hard for anyone to stomach.