The Range Rover Hybrid and Range Rover Sport Hybrid are the first official hybrid models that Range Rover has sold, both based on the company's new aluminum 'Premium Lightweight Architecture' chassis.
The British firm has already taken huge strides with its latest Range Rover models. The aluminum architecture has cut several hundred pounds from the mass of each model compared to its predecessor, and combined with improvements to their gasoline and diesel drivetrains, performance and economy have climbed by a significant margin.
The hybrid models take this even further.
Each uses a 3.0-liter, V-6 'SDV6' turbodiesel engine and 8-speed ZF automatic transmission as the basis of its hybrid drivetrain. Combined with a 35 kW electric motor and lithium-ion battery pack, the setup delivers 335 horsepower and a maximum 516 pounds-feet of torque--125 lb-ft of which comes from the electric motor.
Peak torque hits between 1,500-3,000 rpm, giving the cars performance on par with Range Rover's larger SDV8 eight-cylinder turbodiesel engines. Performance is strong for cars in the 5,200-lb range, at 6.9 and 6.7 seconds to 62 mph for the Range Rover and Sport respectively, with 135 and 140 mph top speeds.
The most important metric, economy, is 36.7 mpg combined--on the European cycle--for each.
Installation of the hybrid components, which weigh in at 264 pounds, has not effected each model's practicality. Land Rover says both cars were designed to accept a hybrid drivetrain from the outset, with space under the passenger compartment floor for the battery. The Sport even retains its seven-seat capabilities.
First UK deliveries are expected to begin in early 2014, but recent reports suggested each could hit the U.S. too, as their Euro 6-emissions compatible engines require fewer tweaks to help them meet strict Californian standards.
_______________________________________________________
Follow GreenCarReports on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and Google+
