The full-size Range Rover and Range Rover Sport will now be available with a third fuel option -- a plug-in hybrid electric vehicle (PHEV), offering 31 miles of fully-electric range before switching to a gasoline-powered engine. The new powerplants go on sale in Summer 2019.
Designed in part for short commutes, the PHEV Range Rovers are the first American Land Rovers to offer hybrid power of any sort. There was a diesel-based hybrid available in Europe in the mid-2010s before Land Rover imported any diesel powerplants to the North American market.
The PHEV Range Rovers tie a 398-horsepower 2.0-liter Ingenium I-4 gasoline engine to an electric powerplant. They charge via a wall charger which can be installed in your home, which can charge the battery fully in 2 hours and 45 minutes under ideal supply conditions. They can also be charged at regular Electric Vehicle (EV) charging stations, which are shown on the modified InControl navigation system. There's also a special navigation program that chooses the most efficient route to maximize the battery's range. The instrument cluster display component of the Touch Pro Duo dashboard that is becoming standard on Land Rovers tells you how efficiently you're driving alongside data on the powerplant's efficiency. The electric motor can work independently or work as a booster to the gasoline engine on longer journeys.
The power plug is subtly integrated into the front grille, covered by a flap under the Land Rover logo. The vehicle remains off-road capable, with a wading depth of 35.4 inches. Otherwise, the PHEV vehicles are available with the same trims and features as their internal combustion equivalents.
Land Rover plans to have an electric or hybrid option for all of their model lines by 2020, while still offering gasoline and diesel engines. This year in addition to the PHEV, the Range Rover and Range Rover Sport will both be available with a 3.0-liter supercharged gasoline V6, a 3.0-liter turbocharged diesel V6, and two versions of a 5.0-liter gasoline V8, a "standard" version and a more powerful version in the performance SVR models.
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