Range Rover Sport P400
Luxury SUV gets new mild-hybrid straight-six; we’ve driven it
THIS new Range Rover Sport 3.0 P400 is a hugely significant new car – not just for Land Rover, but for the entire Jaguar Land Rover (JLR) organisation.
Why? Because its new 3.0-litre straightsix petrol engine contains technology that will, in the fullness of time, find its way into much of the maker’s model range.
JLR announced recently that by 2020 every car it sold would contain some kind of electrification or be a full-EV. It was a bold statement, yet the engine in this new P400 proves that it’s not, in fact, hyperbole.
It’s a straight-six rather than a V6, for starters, with Land Rover’s engineers claiming that an in-line arrangement is inherently smoother than a vee. Besides, in-line sixes were part of the Jaguar design ethos long before they swapped to V8s.
But the more significant aspects of this new engine concern its electrically powered supercharger, the more conventional turbo, and its mild-hybrid system, which also uses a 48v battery.
Together, these elements help the P400 to generate a sizeable 395bhp and 550Nm of torque – from a mere 2,996cc (3.0-litre) powertrain. But what defines the P400’s engine, says Land Rover, is its smoothness and refinement – allied to its much improved efficiency and better fuel economy.
So although the P400 does only 30.5mpg on the combined cycle and emits 213g/km of CO2, these are impressive numbers for a 2.5-tonne SUV, especially considering that 0-62mph takes just 6.2 seconds, with the top speed quoted at 140mph.
The engine works in an intriguing way, with the electric supercharger effectively filling in the gap where the turbo suffers a natural degree of lag. You also get mild regeneration from the hybrid system under braking or when you lift off, so the system is constantly recharging itself, albeit subtly.
On the move, it means the P400 seems unusually smooth and potent, especially in the low to mid-range. It feels like you’ve got a naturally aspirated 4.0-litre engine beneath your right foot; and despite the new tech it feels very natural in its delivery, which is something Land Rover’s engineers worked especially hard to achieve.
If there is a criticism, it’s that the engine doesn’t feel or sound quite as silky as it could, or should, in the very upper reaches of the rev range. Admittedly, it’s not that it appears particularly strained, and there are no unwanted vibrations at high revs, but neither does it sing over the last 1,000rpm.
In a Range Rover this doesn’t really matter, but in the more sporting Jaguar XE or XF – both of which are crying out for this engine – it may be more of an issue.
This set-up is available with HSE, HSE Dynamic and HST trims, the latter of which is new and, for the time being, exclusive to this powertrain. It also gets a unique set of design features, both inside and out: there is Alcantara on the steering wheel and gearlever, and the seat trim is bespoke. On the outside there are new alloy wheel designs and a contrasting black roof with a fixed panoramic roof. All versions also get Matrix LED lights and a Meridian stereo.
“On the move, the P400 feels unusually smooth and potent, especially in the low to mid-range”