By ROB HULL
Updated: 02:39 AEDT, 30 November 2024
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The new zero-emission Range Rover EV is undergoing the last of its extreme-weather tests before it hits showrooms next year - and the British car maker has promised it will be 'the most capable electric luxury SUV' when it does arrive.
With sister brand Jaguar preparing to embark on its ambitious bid to reinvigorate stumbling sales by becoming an exclusively electric brand from 2026, Land Rover is putting the final touches to its first battery powered car.
Images, shared by JLR this week, show the hulking SUV taking on the terrains of the United Arab Emirates in temperatures as high as 50 degrees Celsius with humidity levels of 90 per cent.
It comes seven months after the electric Range Rover was snapped testing for the first time in contrasting conditions in the Arctic Circle.
In terms of the SUV’s looks, JLR execs clearly aren’t willing to mess with a winning formula; in fact, to tell it apart from a petrol or diesel Range will require an inspection of whether there’s exhaust pipes or not.
The full unveiling – and details of its green powertrain – is due early next year. But don’t expect it to be cheap, especially with a premium on the conventional Range Rover’s £100,000-plus starting price.
The new zero-emission Range Rover EV is undergoing the last of its extreme-weather tests before it hits showrooms next year - and the British car maker has promised it will be 'the most capable electric luxury SUV'
Range Rover EV prototype mules will undoubtedly be trudging – incognito – around the Midlands as we speak but, despite the changeable weather in Solihull, it doesn’t quite offer the extreme conditions required to ensure a model is suitable for sales across a global market.
This is especially the case for any new Range Rover, which is immensely popular among affluent types around the world in varying climates.
The United Arab Emirates’ sweltering temperatures and difficult terrains were earmarked as the ideal hot-weather test bed – and the prime proving ground to showcase the car’s abilities to Land Rover's growing Middle East audience that’s likely to snap up expensive electric Range Rovers in droves.
Land Rover said the location provided ample opportunity to examine the performance of its new thermal management system in stifling heat to ensure it could still provide ‘maximum client cabin comfort’.
JLR says all cars surpassed expectations. Well, it wouldn't say otherwise, would it?
Images, shared by JLR this week, show the hulking SUV taking on the terrains of the United Arab Emirates in temperatures as high as 50 degrees Celsius with humidity levels of 90%
Images have also been circulated of the prototype electric Range Rovers scaling the 300ft 'Big Red' sand dune in the heart of Sharjah’s Al Badayer desert
The new Range Rover Electric is equipped with a new Intelligent Torque Management system, which replaces a conventional ABS-based traction control, to improve grip levels off-road
What's the battery range?
JLR has remained - for now - tight lipped on many of the performance details for the Range Rover Electric.
What we do know is that it will use an 800V architecture, which will put it on par with the likes of Porsche's Taycan, Kia's EV6 and EV9 SUV, Hyundai's Ioniq range and the Lotus Eletre to offer the fastest ultra-rapid charging speeds.
Bosses at the British marque have previously stated the electric Rangie will offer 'comparable' performance to the existing V8 model, which suggests it should have in the region of 520bhp.
And it's promised to be the smoothest, quietest Range Rover yet, given its electric credentials.
Battery range hasn't been discussed by JLR, but given the architecture and size of battery pack, many expect the Range Rover Electric to be able to complete around 400 miles on a single charge.
Initially, the batteries will be supplied by a third-party company.
However, following the completion of JLR's £4billion Somerset gigafactory - funded by parent group Tata and scheduled to open in 2026 - the company will be able to start using its own batteries.
JLR is desperate for the Range Rover Electric to 'exceed its already renowned performance on low-grip surfaces' in a bid to ensure the 'all-terrain, all-weather and all-surface capability of the Range Rover remains unparallelled'
No pricing information has been provided, but expect it to far exceed the £104,025 for the entry Range Rover on sale now
The Range Rover Electric will be built in Britain at the company's Solihull plant - where it will be assembled alongside the existing mild-hybrid and plug-in hybrid Range Rover models.
JLR opened the waiting list for Range Rover Electric in December and by February claimed to have taken more than 16,000 'expressions of interest' - though these aren't necessarily orders.
Until the car is officially unveiled, pricing will remain under wraps.
However, given the Range Rover already starts at £104,025, the all-electric model could ring in close to £150,000.
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