- A Range Rover Electric prototype has been spied undisguised in Europe.
- The model closely resembles its ICE-powered counterpart, but lacks an exhaust and features a partially enclosed grille.
- A debut shouldn’t be too far off, although details are limited at this point.
The Range Rover Electric is already a hit as the company recently revealed more than 41,000 people have signed up to be on the waiting list. That’s an encouraging development, especially since little is known about the model at this point.
That’s starting to change as spy photographers caught a prototype undergoing hot weather testing in southern Europe. Despite looking instantly recognizable, there are a handful of touches that indicate this isn’t your typical luxury SUV.
More: Electric Range Rover Teased With Innovative Traction Control System
The most noticeable change is a partially enclosed grille that features slender horizontal slots. The model also lacks an exhaust and rides on small lightweight wheels, which were likely chosen to maximize range. The latter might only be temporary and it’s worth noting JLR previously announced the model would use FSC‑certified natural rubber and rayon tires from Pirelli.
The company has been coy on specifics, but the SUV will ride on the familiar modular longitudinal architecture (MLA) as it supports internal combustion engines, plug-in hybrid powertrains, and battery electric vehicles. JLR has also revealed the model will have an 800V electrical architecture as well as batteries and electric drive units which are assembled in-house.
Powertrain details remain elusive, but the company has previously announced the Range Rover Electric will have a new traction control system that delivers “exceptional levels of performance.” As JLR explained at the time, “Rather than a traditional traction control setup based solely in the ABS unit, Range Rover Electric distributes the wheel slip management task directly to each individual electric drive control unit, reducing the torque reaction time at each wheel from around 100 milliseconds, to as little as 1 millisecond.”
That promises better traction off-road and the electric Rangie is also slated to be able to wade through up to 33.5 inches (850 mm) of water. Land Rover has said that’s “deeper than any other luxury electric SUV.”
