Land Rover Enters Range_e Concepts in RAC Future Car Challenge 2011

Land Rover is using the RAC Future Car Challenge as an opportunity to show its Range_e concept that debued at this year’s Geneva Motor Show. Land Rover is the latest manufacture to enter the event, and has allocated three of its concept vehicles.

This development model is equipped with an advanced plug-in hybrid diesel-electric powertrain that Land Rover expects to make available in future production models, following the scheduled launch of its diesel-electric hybrid in 2013.

The Range_e is just one of a number of projects supported by the UK Government's Technology Strategy Board, and five prototypes are currently taking part in a test programme with Land Rover's fellow members of the Coventry and Birmingham Low Emissions Demonstrators (CABLE) consortium.

Land Rover's diesel hybrid plug-in prototype, the Range_e, will be making its motor show debut. The Range_e is powered by a 3.0-litre TDV6 diesel with an eight-speed ZF automatic transmission, matched with a plug-in parallel diesel hybrid system. It achieves 89g/km of CO2, has a pure electric range of 20 miles (32km) and a top speed of around 120 mph (193 km/h).

"We very much welcome the involvement of Land Rover by entering three of its prototype Range_e vehicles. The RAC Future Car Challenge is, by definition, an event to bring future vehicle technology to the attention of the car buying public. This will enable them to make better informed choices when considering the environmental impact of future vehicle purchases," said Ben Cussons, Chairman of the Royal Automobile Club Motoring Committee and the FCC Technical Panel.