We’ve been waiting for the first electric Land Rover for literally years now. We thought we would see one about half a decade ago, but we also thought we’d be seeing a new Jaguar XJ back then. Land Rover said last month the Range Rover Electric will appear this year, but this year is halfway done. Now, rather than showing more about the Range Rover Electric, Land Rover has previewed a completely different EV.
Land Rover Range Rover Electric prototype from the rear three-quarter angleLand Rover
Meet The Range Rover Electric’s Sporty Cousin
Yes, even though the British automaker hasn’t shared any in-depth details or even a complete, undisguised reveal of the long-awaited Range Rover Electric, it has decided to also preview a Range Rover Sport Electric. Perhaps unsurprisingly, Land Rover shared no actual details about the powertrain, instead simply publishing a handful of teaser-style photos from the Goodwood racetrack after it “tackled a series of driven challenges.”
Close-up of the Land Rover Range Rover Electric prototype front endLand Rover
At the very least, the Range Rover Sport Electric isn’t covered by anything but a matte grey paint job and a few decals proclaiming its electric nature. Truely, camouflage isn’t needed, as you wouldn’t know this was an EV unless you got a good look at the front grille or the rear bumper. The main grille is nearly solid, save for thin, pill-shaped slits. It’s basically the inverse of the gas-powered Sport’s grille. As for the rear bumper, the giveaway is the lack of any exhaust tips.
Close-up of the Land Rover Range Rover Electric prototype hoodLand Rover
Considering the similarities to the gas-powered version, we assume that the Sport Electric’s interior will also be practically unchanged. Also, it should play the same basic role in the Land Rover lineup as the combustion Range Rover Sport, offering a slightly more affordable Range Rover option and a sportier, on-road driving experience and shape than the traditional Range Rover. Land Rover did note that the chassis tuning and audio have been modified compared to the combustion Sport, but that’s all surely to compensate for the weight of the electric powertrain and the lack of engine noise.
Range Rover EV Arctic testingJLR
We’ll Hopefully Know More Soon
Land Rover did confirm that it will share details about this SUV this year. So that makes two electric SUVs the company is due to properly reveal this year with the classic Range Rover Electric (shown above) we’ve been watching for years. According to Electrifying it shares its powertrain with the bigger Range Rover, so it has an 800-volt battery pack with a capacity of 118.5 kWh, as well as dual motors making 542 horsepower.
CarBuzz Insight – Why This Matters:
Land Rover had previously pushed back its EV development to help get plug-in hybrids out the door. This was a response to the rate of EV adoption slowing. Now that Land Rover seems to be on the verge of launching not one, but two new EVs, it may be a sign that it expects the electric market to pick up a bit. At the very least, it means the development process is over and ready for launch with, hopefully, not too many issues. Land Rover is entering a more competitive segment than it would have years ago, as Cadillac and Mercedes have both launched flagship electric SUVs and are now more established, so even if the market is better, the company still has obstacles to overcome.
Source: Land Rover, Electrifying
