New Range Rover gets plug-in hybrid 26 | 10 | 2021

    MORE THAN 50 YEARS after the first generation of the Range Rover was unveiled, Land Rover has lifted the wraps from the new fifth generation of the iconic luxury SUV …  and the range includes and choice of five- or seven-seat variants, plus plug-in hybrid technology for the first time. Available to order from today, prices start at a not inconsiderate £94,400. First deliveries are due next Spring. (Related: Range Rover Evoque updated)

    The first car to be built on the company’s new MLA-Flex platform which allows for pure combustion-engined powertrains, plug-in hybrid tech, and fully electric propulsion, Land Rover has also confirmed the first all-electric Range Rover will arrive in 2024.

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    2022 RANGE ROVER DESIGN:

    There’s a new look to the front of the Range Rover which now boasts a refreshed grille with a new pattern. And while most of the car’s sensors for its driver assistance systems have been incorporated into a panel lower down in the bumper to give a smoother, cleaner look, the result is also a reduction in drag to improve aerodynamic efficiency. The standard digital LED headlights are also sharper.

    In a bid to streamline the SUV’s looks, the designers have also decided not to include any engine or trim level boot badging. And in a bid to boost sustainability, alternatives to leather will be offered in the form of Kvadrat technical Ultrafabric. That said, leather will still be offered as standard.

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    The most noticeable styling changes to the Range Rover can be seen at the rear where the tail-lights and indicators have been incorporated into a solid-looking black panel that is opaque when the lights aren’t on. (Related: New PHEV Evoque and Discovery Sport)

    Observed from the side, the Range Rover still cuts its iconic look divided by three clear horizontal lines. The first below the doors now sweeps upwards towards the rear, while the second  runs back from the clamshell bonnet and is sharper and tighter than before. The third distinguishing line separates the model’s trademark floating roof.

    Thankfully the new model still retains a split tailgate. The door inserts have also evolved to  a U-shaped design. Buyers will also be able to choose between 20 and 21in alloys, depending on spec.

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    INTERIOR AND PRACTICALITY:

    For the first time, a Range Rover will be available as a seven-seater. While the standard car can accommodate five people, the  long wheelbase can be specified with a third row of seats.

    Adding an extra 200mm between the car’s axles, the new seven-seat configuration can comfortably accommodate children, and even adults on shorter journeys. Suffice to say there’s not as much room as in the brand’s larger Discovery.

    And while the standard SWB models can be had with five seats, there’s the option to go for the Executive Class Seating pack which comes with just four seats. The individual chairs in the rear are available on SWB and LWB cars, improving kneeroom by 44mm. And for those with long legs, there’s up to one metre of legroom on four-seat LWB models.

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    Worth highlighting that this package also adds an eight-inch touchscreen controller in the back to tune the rear cabin environment. The rear seats also recline by up to 25 degrees. (Related: Review — Range Rover Evoque)

    Up front, the driver gets Land Rover’s latest Pivi Pro infotainment system with a gently curved 13.1-inch touchscreen on the dash. Range Rover boffins say 90% of tasks are accessible in just two steps from the home screen. And while there’s more connectivity than previously, there’s also over-the-air software update capability. Amazon Alexa integration, Spotify, plus Apple CarPlay and Android Auto are all standard.

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    There’s also a 13.7-inch digital dash panel, plus buyers can tick the option box for a Rear Seat Entertainment package, which adds a pair of 11.4-inch HD touchscreens mounted on the front seatbacks.

    In true Range Rover mode, there’s also a host of technology which makes offroading easy even for novices. In addition to the six off-road pre-sets for the Terrain Response 2 system there’s also a Wade mode there’s also Wade mode; this raises the body to give a 900mm wading depth.

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    Inside the cabin, storage has been maximised with lots more clever trays and bins to store items. Bootspace for both five-seat SWB and LWB form is 725 litres. Opt for the seven-seat variant and that drops significantly to just 312 litres with all rows in place; drop the third row and it rises to 713 litres.

    Maximum stowage increases to 1841 litres available in the SWB car and 2601 litres on offer in the LWB model with all seats stowed away.

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    ENGINES AND POWER:

    The headline is the fact the range will offer, for the first time, two plug-in hybrid variants. The first, the P440e, combines a 3.0-litre straight-six turbocharged petrol engine with a 38.2kWh battery (31.8kWh usable), plus a 141bhp electric motor. Total combined output is 434bhp and 620Nm of torque.

    Badged P510e, the second maximises more power from its 3.0-litre petrol engine, and while using the same battery and electric motor delivers a combined 503bhp and 700Nm of torque. Land Rover quotes 0-62mph in 5.7-seconds; plus it’ll be capable of reaching 87mph in full EV mode.

    Of perhaps get significance is the fact hybrid Range Rover variants will be able to travel up to 62 miles on a full charge: Land Rover claims a real-world zero-emission range of 50 miles and CO2 emissions of less than 30g/km. The cars SUVs will also benefit from regenerative braking as part of its brake-by-wire tech.

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    The system also includes a rapid charging capability at up to 50kW, resulting in an 80% top-up in less than 60 minutes. Utilising a wallbox at home, full charge takes five hours.

    In addition to the full-electric mode, the Hybrid system offers default setting, which combines both power sources and uses predictive energy optimisation tech, as well as geofencing to ensure electric propulsion is available in low emissions zone. There’s also a Save mode. The latter retains a programmable state of charge for deployment later in the driver’s journey.

    Elsewhere in the 2022 Range Rover’s line-up, mild-hybrid tech also features in the engine line-up. In addition to a 394bhp 3.0-litre petrol — which covers 0-62mph in 5.8s and returns 29.7mpg combined and 215g/km of CO2) — there are also two diesel options.

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    Delivering 296bhp and 345bhp respectively, the 3.0-litre straight-six-engined D300 and D350 models are capable of returning up to 37.2mpg possible and CO2 emissions from 198g/km.

    The range-topped in terms of engine is a new 523bhp 4.4-litre twin-turbo V8 petrol unit delivering 750Nm of torque. Complete with its own Dynamic Launch system, it’ll hit 62mph from standstill in 4.6s and carry on to a max of 155mph.

    An eight-speed automatic gearbox with low-range capability and Land Rover’s four-wheel drive system with Terrain Response 2 tech are standard across the range.

     

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    PRICING AND SPECIFICATIONS:

    Three trim levels — SE, HSE and Autobiography — will be available from launch, supplemented by a First Edition model that will be on sale for the first year of production.

    The entry-level is the D300 SE which starts at £94,400; the cheapest petrol is the P400 SE at £98,000. Step up to HSE for the D300 and the price rises to £100,700, while the Autobiography costs from £114,300. First Edition trim, priced from £123,500, is only available with either the D350 or P530 engine.

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    The long wheelbase five-seater starts at £120,000 and is only available in either Autobiography or First Edition spec. The seven-seat line-up starts from £103,200 for the SE model.

    As for the plug-in hybrid variants, Land Rover has yet to confirm and release their prices. What we do know is the P510e powertrain will only be offered in standard wheelbase form. Long wheelbase models will be available with the P440e as the only plug-in choice.

    Related: Return of the iconic Land Rover Defender

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    Jim McGill

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