Land Rover has officially presented the Range Rover Electric, the first fully electric version of its flagship luxury SUV. The new model features a dual-motor all-wheel-drive system delivering 542 horsepower and a driving range of up to 600 kilometres on a single charge under WLTP testing standards.
Prices for the electric SUV start at $138,000 in the United States and 154,070 pounds sterling in the United Kingdom. Land Rover is producing the vehicle at its Solihull manufacturing plant in England alongside hybrid variants of the model.
Visually, the battery-powered vehicle remains almost identical to the fifth-generation combustion-engine Range Rover. Exterior modifications are limited to a more aerodynamic front grille, new wheel rim designs, and a redesigned underbody structure.
Land Rover will offer the Range Rover Electric in both standard and long-wheelbase configurations. The Range Rover brand has served as the flagship luxury line of British manufacturer Land Rover since its original launch in 1970.
Performance and Powertrain Specifications
The vehicle is powered by two electric motors developed in-house by Land Rover that combine to generate 542 horsepower and 850 Newton-metres of torque. This output slightly exceeds the performance figures of the brand's 4.4-litre mild-hybrid V8 petrol engine.
Acceleration from zero to 60 miles per hour takes 4.3 seconds, compared to 4.5 seconds for the comparable V8 version. Land Rover said that under full acceleration, the electric model operates seven decibels quieter than its combustion-engine equivalent.
Energy is stored in a 118.5 kilowatt-hour traction battery running on an 800-volt electrical architecture. High-voltage 800-volt systems allow electric vehicles to accept higher charging speeds while reducing cable weight and heat build-up. When connected to a 350-kilowatt rapid charger, the battery can charge from 10 to 80 percent in 22 minutes, adding up to 220 kilometres of range in 10 minutes.
To preserve battery range in cold weather, Land Rover engineered a specialised thermal management system named ThermAssist. Land Rover said the system reduces heating energy consumption by up to 40 percent and provides up to 40 extra kilometres of range in extreme weather conditions. The company filed more than 300 patent applications during the development of the electric vehicle.
Off-Road Capability and Towing Specs
The transition to electric propulsion has not compromised the off-road capabilities long associated with the Range Rover badge. Chassis hardware includes active dampers, a twin-chamber air suspension system, rear-wheel steering, and newly designed traction control management systems.
The electric SUV retains a maximum wading depth of 900 millimetres. According to company specifications, the vehicle is capable of travelling across side slopes angled up to 33 degrees and climbing inclines of up to 45 degrees.
The Range Rover Electric has a curb weight of 2,885 kilograms, making it 75 kilograms heavier than the plug-in hybrid model. Maximum towing capacity is rated at 2.5 tonnes, compared to 3 tonnes for the plug-in hybrid and 3.5 tonnes for standard combustion-engine versions.
The $138,000 starting price in the US makes the electric variant nearly $25,000 more expensive than the entry-level petrol Range Rover. Assembly is hosted at Land Rover's historic Solihull manufacturing complex in the West Midlands of England alongside existing hybrid models.
