Land Rover has just released images and information of what it calls, the “world’s first premium diesel SUV hybrids,” which use the firm’s base V6 diesel engine in conjunction with an electric motor to give TDV8 levels of performance and 26 percent lower carbon emissions, as well as a combined rating of 44.1 mpg UK (36.7 mpg US or 6.4 l/100km).
The system can be had on both the big Range Rover and the new Sport, and delivers about the same performance in either case. The lighter weight of the latter makes a slight difference, though, and despite having an identical electrified powertrain (335 hp and 700 Nm / 516 lb-ft), it is two tenths faster to 62 mph (100 km/h), achieving the benchmark speed in 6.7 seconds – top speed is also higher at 225 km/h (140 mph) versus 218 km/h (135 mph).
Moreover, the 47 hp and 170 Nm (125 lb-ft) electric motor can propel the vehicle on its own, for distances of up to 1 mile (1.6 km) at speeds of up to 48 km/h (30 mph) – that feature should be handy in stop-start city traffic, and will ease the strain on the diesel engine.
The hybrid models also don’t weigh that much more than the regular ones, as the system only adds 120 extra kilograms (264 lbs), battery included.
Finally, to prove that the electrification has not hampered the vehicles’ hardiness and off-road capability, they have launched the Silk Trail 2013 expedition. It will feature the new Range Rover Hybrids, and will presumably start in the UK, then pass through many, many countries before arriving in Mumbai, some 10,000 miles (16,000 km) later.
Order books open September 10, and deliveries are expected to commence early next year.
By Andrei Nedelea
PHOTO GALLERY
