Environmentalists should love latest Range Rover R
EGULAR readers will know I am a big Land Rover fan (and owner) so no surprise that I loved this week’s test car - the latest Range Rover Sport.
However, this is a ‘Chelsea Tractor’ with a difference as the big SUV is also a PHEV - meaning you can drive it without feeling that you are hastening our planet’s environmental demise.
Yes, even the green lobby should approve as Land Rover claim the Sport PHEV can return up to 101 miles to the gallon!
And petrolheads should be happy too as a combination of its 2-litre turbocharged petrol engine and electric motor can propel this big car from 0 to 60mph in a very impressive 6.3 seconds (a fraction faster than the V8 diesel) and on to a top speed of 137.
So how is this achieved? Well the P400e combines a 300hp, fourcylinder Ingenium petrol engine with an 85kW, 104bhp electric motor powered by an advanced 13.1kWh lithium-ion battery giving a total available power output of 404hp put down through a permanent four-wheel drive system.
The combination can be used in two driving modes: Parallel Hybrid (the default driving mode) and EV (Electric Vehicle). In Parallel Hybrid mode the PHEV combines the two power sources so it always has the performance the driver requires.
On longer journeys the SAVE function uses EV only for specific conditions, such as congested urban areas, while the Predictive Energy Optimisation function taps into the vehicle’s navigation system to maximise fuel efficiency.
In electric only mode the P400e can be driven up to 31 miles at up to 85mph when fully charged, meaning shorter journeys need use no petrol at all.
The PHEV powertrain is linked to the latest ZF eight-speed lightweight automatic transmission, which also helps to reduce fuel consumption and CO2 emissions while delivering refined and responsive cog shifting. The advanced transmission also adapts to individual driving styles, so dynamic driving brings faster gear changes.
The plug-in charge point is hidden behind a discreet panel on the grille, so only the small rear badge and dashboard display power meter distinguish this Range Rover from its thirstier siblings
Land Rover say a full charge can be achieved in approximately 7.5 hours using a domestic plug socket and I managed to get the car up to 95 per cent after it had been plugged in for eight hours.
The P400e comes with three types of cable, the home charging lead, a faster a multi-function cable for higher power 32 amp commercial charging locations and suitably equipped homes (charge time approx two-andthree-quarter hours) and a public charging cable, compatible with AC wall boxes installed at domestic and business premises and service stations.
One neat function is timed charging, which allows owners to choose the most appropriate time to begin charging – for those who want to wait until a cheaper energy home tariff is available. Owners can also use the InControl phone app to monitor the charge status, as well as receive an alert if there is an error or the cable has been removed forcibly.
Land Rover’s engineers have managed to maximise interior space and provide the ideal weight distribution in the P400e. The 2.0-litre Ingenium engine is up front with the electric motor housed on the transmission at the centre of the vehicle and the lithium-ion battery mounted at the rear, beneath the boot floor (which does reduce boot space over the standard car).
The result is that the P400e drives just like any other Range Rover - a smooth ride with effortless power and lots of luxury and equipment.
And what a lot of equipment came on our top-of-the-range spec Autobiography Dynamic version. The long list included auto lights and wipers, 22-inch black alloy wheels, premium leather seats (heated all round and electric memory cooled in the front), power adjust steering column, premium carpets, Touch Pro infotainment system on a 12.3” screen, voice control, adaptive cruise control, parking sensors and cameras and a raft of safety and off-road aids.
So - now to the but moment. All this technology, luxury and safety comes at a price, and the price in this case is £84,400. Now that is an awful lot of money… but this is an awful lot of car and for those lucky enough to be in the market for a new Range Rover I suspect will not be a deal breaker. The P400e range also starts from a shade under £73,000.
And going everywhere at 100+ mpg will help claw some of that cost back... plus your environmental conscience will be clear!
More info at www.landrover. co.uk