Description
The fourth generation of the Range Rover made its appearance in 2012, and in the following year, Land Rover unveiled a hybrid version for it.
It was the first hybrid vehicle made by the British automaker, and their promise that the car would be lighter than its predecessor was kept. Thus, in this version, those who wanted to save the planet and enjoy a behemoth SUV could have them both. Unfortunately, the Range Rover Hybrid was not available everywhere because its ICE was a turbo-diesel V6. But still, those who could get access to it enjoyed it not only as a hybrid but as a short-range EV as well.
The car's exterior looked similar to the rest of the range. Its front fascia with those swept-back upper sections of the headlights and the massive satin silver grille were signs of luxurious presence. On its profile, the automaker installed specific trims that sported the "Hybrid" badges on the lower sides of the front doors.
Inside the cabin, there was the same luxurious ambiance met in the rest of the Range Rover vehicles. There were just a few small details that differentiated this Hybrid version from its siblings. On the center console, next to the rotary knob for the automatic transmission, the automaker placed an additional button marked with the "EV" letters. When pressed, the car shut down the engine and continued its journey on electric mode only. Also, the instrument panel was adapted to the hybrid drivetrain and showed the charging status of the battery pack placed underneath the rear seats, secured inside a waterproof steel case.
Under its skin, the Range Rover Hybrid used a V6 turbo-diesel powerplant that generated the electricity to charge the batteries, which fed a 35 kW motor integrated into the ZF eight-speed automatic transmission.
Press Release
Land Rover is launching its first-ever hybrid models - the Range Rover Hybrid and Range Rover Sport Hybrid - which will deliver outstanding fuel economy, significantly lower CO2 emissions and retain Land Rover's renowned capability and performance.
Available to order in Europe from September 10, 2013 with first deliveries in early 2014, the two all-aluminium models are based on Land Rover's Premium Lightweight Architecture and share an identical powertrain. They are the world's first premium diesel SUV hybrids.
"We are excited to introduce the Range Rover and Range Rover Sport Hybrids, the world's first hybrid SUVs with legendary Land Rover capability. The addition of a smooth electric drive enhances refinement, cuts CO2 emissions and delivers staggering performance on a par with our SDV8 engine," said John Edwards, Land Rover Global Brand Director.
To demonstrate the capabilities of the new hybrids, three Range Rover Hybrids will embark on an epic trip, from the home of the Range Rover brand in Solihull to the home of the parent company Tata, in Mumbai, India.
This 'Silk Trail 2013' 16,000km expedition visits 12 countries and takes in some of the world's most challenging roads, passes and trails, including part of the ancient, 4,000 mile Silk Road connecting Asia with the Mediterranean. These are the first hybrids to ever attempt this challenging route.
The new Range Rover Hybrid powertrain features three driver-selectable modes and combines Land Rover's popular 3-litre SDV6 diesel engine with a 35kW electric motor integrated with the 8-speed ZF automatic transmission. The hybrid system, including lithium ion battery pack, inverter and electric motor weighs less than 120kg.
The electric motor produces 170Nm torque to boost acceleration and drives the vehicle in EV Mode. The motor also acts as a generator, harvesting kinetic energy through regenerative braking, charging the battery when the vehicle is slowing. In driver-selectable EV mode the Range Rover Hybrid can travel at speeds of up to 30mph (48km/h) for a range of up to one mile (1.6km) before the diesel engine seamlessly restarts.
Together, output of the diesel engine and electric motor is 340PS at 4,000rpm and a class-leading 700Nm torque between 1,500-3,000rpm, resulting in stunning SDV8-style performance. Both models accelerate to 62mph (100km/h) in under seven seconds, deliver strong transient and mid-range performance with a top speed of 135mph (218km/h), combined with a 26 percent reduction in CO2 emissions to 169g/km, equivalent to 44.1mpg on the combined cycle.
The latest generation Range Rover models have all been designed with the integration of a hybrid system in mind. Consequently, the liquid cooled battery pack is mounted beneath the floor of the vehicle in a protective boron-steel cradle without impacting on the cabin or luggage space. The Range Rover Hybrid has the same five-seat capacity and luggage space as the standard vehicle and retains the full-size spare wheel. This no-compromise philosophy is echoed in the Range Rover Sport Hybrid whose interior is unchanged from the standard model, right down to the 5+2 seating.
Both hybrid Range Rover models continue to deliver a class-leading breadth of capability and versatility, enhanced by the exceptionally linear torque delivery from the powertrain and retaining Land Rover's peerless four-wheel drive system including Terrain Response® 2, with uncompromised wading and ground clearance.
Technical Specifications
Range Rover Hybrid
Engine type: 3.0 SDV6 HEV
Power: 340PS @ 4000 rpm
0-100km/h (0-62mph): 6.9 s
Top speed: 135mph (218km/h)
CO2 Combined: 169 g/km
Combined consumption: 44.1 mpg (6.4 l/100km)
Weight: 2394 kg
Range Rover Sport Hybrid
Engine type: 3.0 SDV6 HEV
Power: 340PS @ 4000 rpm
Torque: 700Nm @ 1500-3000 rpm
0-100km/h (0-62mph): 6.7 s
Top speed: 140mph (225km/h)
CO2 Combined: 169 g/km
Combined consumption: 44.1 mpg (6.4 l/100km)
Weight: 2372 kg
