The next, fifth-generation Range Rover will continue to deepen the extent of its electrification when it arrives, and it is expected to feature a version with a zero-emissions, fully-electric powertrain alongside plug-in hybrid and internal combustion models, according to Car magazine.
The MLA platform to be used in the great Jaguar Land Rover group will actually first enter service in the next Jaguar XJ flagship, which is expected to become an all-electric model, Autocar reported in May.
This ‘skateboard’ architecture’s versatility means the forthcoming Range Rover won’t be confined to just a pure electric powertrain, though all internal combustion engines in the new Range Rover’s line-up will feature some form of electrification, the report said. On the internal combustion front, the group’s new turbocharged inline-six as well as petrol and diesel V8s are said to stay.
The battery-electric version of the next Range Rover is expected to include a battery pack with up to 90 kWh in capacity, and the drive components should be the result of Jaguar Land Rover’s collaborative work with BMW on electric motors and control systems, with a state-of-the-art all-wheel-drive setup also expected.
Beyond the flagship Range Rover, the brand’s electrification roll-out with a wide range of plug-in hybrid models begins with the second-generation Evoque which will be powered by 1.5 litre three-cylinder Ingenium engine mated to an electric motor producing an estimated 108 hp. This driveline will then be adapted to the Discovery Sport PHEV, which is slated for debut shortly after the plug-in Evoque.
The nature of electric powertrains works for the character of the Range Rover, said Jaguar Land Rover vehicle line director Nick Collins. “On the road, the increased refinement and silent running of an electrified powertrain excites me. And off-road, you get peak torque at zero revs together with much more accurate control,” he told the magazine.
The EV Range Rover won’t drastically depart from its recognisable shape, however, even if the new powertrain allows for various packaging opportunities. “Technologies will not dictate our form. We want to control these technologies and do what we think is right for the car,” said creative director Massimo Frascella. “Designing a new Range Rover comes with a certain pressure – it is clear how important Range Rover is to defining our brand,” he added.
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