Latest Range Rover Gets PHEV Variant, New Interior Tech

Plug-in Hybrids have been all the rage with luxury carmakers lately and the latest to join the bandwagon is Land Rover, with the introduction of the 2018 Range Rover P400e PHEV.

Powering the SUV is the combination of a 300 hp 2.0-litre four-cylinder Ingenium petrol engine and an 85 kW electric motor which produce 404 hp and 640 Nm – available through a permanent four-wheel drive system that enables the vehicle to do the century dash in 6.4 seconds and hit a maximum speed of 220 kmh.

Thanks to its electrified powertrain, the Range Rover P400e emits only 64g/km of carbon and provides an all-electric range of up to 50 km without the Ingenium petrol engine running.

According to Jaguar Land Rover, the 13.1 kWh high-voltage lithium-ion battery can be charged fully in 2 hours and 45 minutes at home using a dedicated 32 Amp wall box, or in 7 hours 30 minutes using the 10 amp home charging cable supplied as standard.

Land Rover also claims that the PHEV is a top-notch off-roader, thanks to the Terrain Response system calibrated to take advantage of the torque available from the hybrid system.

Exterior updates are minor, comprising a new grille, redesigned bumpers and air vents, as well six new wheel designs.

Inside the new Range Rover however, there are many new interesting features, such as the seats (which can be controlled via a smartphone app) that feature up to 24-way movement thanks to the new seat frames, USB, HDMI, 12-volt sockets, 4G Wi-Fi hotspots for up to eight devices, 25 types of massages, Touch Pro Duo infotainment system with two HD 10-inch touchscreens, two driving modes (Hybrid and Full Electric), thicker glass, Gesture sunblind, Cabin Air Ionisation, Pixel-laser LED headlights, as well as an activity key armband.

And then, we have the long list of driver assistance features such as the basic Rear Camera, Lane Departure Warning, Emergency Braking, Front and Rear Park Distance Control, Cruise Control and Speed Limiter, further complemented by the Drive Pack, Drive Pro Pack, Park Pack, and Park Pro Pack – each comprising different sets of assistance features of all sorts like 360-degree Parking Aid, Reverse Traffic Monitor and Clear Exit Monitor just to name a few.

That being said, the new Range Rover PHEV, which is being produced at the brand’s Solihull production facility is available to order now in the UK, with first deliveries expected to take place from early 2018.