New Range Rover

Make
Land Rover
Segment
SUV

Perhaps it's only fitting that a vehicle with the word 'range' in its name should transition to electric power alone. The new Land Rover Range Rover has finally been revealed and perhaps the biggest takeaway has been the official news that the fifth generation of the SUV will usher in a fully electric model. Set to premiere in 2024, this model will represent one of the most significant changes for the iconic SUV over the last half a century. Land Rover hasn't shared any technical information about the Range Rover EV that forms part of its Reimagine strategy, but a new plug-in hybrid model arriving in 2023 will serve as a transition model of sorts.

The PHEV serves as a hint of what to expect from the future fully electric model. This, together with the new Range Rover's 48-volt electronic roll control system, means it is already the most electrified generation of the SUV yet.

In the US, the PHEV will pair a six-cylinder Ingenium engine with a 38.2-kWh lithium-ion battery and a 141-horsepower electric motor. With a total of 434 hp, it's a lot more powerful than the base mild-hybrid model. The company promises a range of 62 miles on electric power alone. An advanced eHorizon navigation system optimizes energy usage across each journey, and we expect the same system to be used for the fully electric model.

Land Rover's new Electrical Vehicle Architecture (EVA 2.0) and the Modular Longitudinal Architecture (MLA-Flex) that underpins the new Range Rover will make the transition to an all-electric model easier. The MLA platform supports mild hybrids, PHEVs, and full battery-electrics. It will also underpin the next Range Rover Sport.

Full-size electric SUVs have yet to infiltrate the market significantly, so Land Rover has the chance to set new benchmarks with the Range Rover EV. The Mercedes-Benz EQS SUV was spied not too long ago, and we expect a 300-mile range from that electric SUV. Then again, the EQS SUV won't be expected to conquer isolated off-road trails like the Range Rover, so Land Rover would be better off aiming for a 400-mile range or more.

With the PHEV already making 434 hp, we wouldn't be surprised if the Range Rover EV makes well over 500 hp - it'll need the extra power to compensate for the fact that it's likely to be a seriously heavy beast. Considering that the Tesla Model X can get 175 miles of range in just 15 minutes, the Range Rover EV should be capable of similarly fast charging when it arrives.

Perhaps the bigger challenge will be convincing off-road enthusiasts that electric propulsion is up for the job, especially with Jaguar Land Rover's patchy reliability record. Hopefully, the electric Range Rover can change this perception.