Photo: Land Rover
Land Rover has just revealed the brand new Range Rover Hybrid Long Wheelbase, a model that combines two existing versions into one that's both more economical and roomier. Following the introduction of two hybrid SUVs last year, this new model seems specifically designed for the Chinese market, where extra legroom is valued above all else and car emissions are a problem.
Technical details about the new SUV were revealed during its reveal at the Beijing Auto Show. Two numbers stand out: 186mm, which is the amount of extra legroom for the rear passengers, and 6.4 liters per 100 kilometers, which is the smallest of its fuel consumption figures (equivalent to 36.7 mpg US).
As unique as it is, the Range Rover Hybrid Long Wheelbase doesn't manage to impress us. It's not a true Land Rover at its core and despite adding 265 pounds of extra electrical components, engineers only managed to give it one mile of pure electric driving range. That's what first generation hybrids like the BMW X6 or the 7 Series got and is basically enough to exit the car park on a busy Sunday.
Besides our misgivings about the technology, the Long Wheelbase is not that bad. Power comes from a combination of SDV6 3.0-liter with an electric motor and an 8-speed ZF auto. With 340 PS (250 kW) and 700 Nm (516 lb-ft) from 1,500 rpm, it's not going to be slow. 0 to 100 km/h takes 6.9 seconds and the top speed 135 mph (218 km/h). There really isn't a tradeoff here, not unless you want the sound of the supercharger.
As unique as it is, the Range Rover Hybrid Long Wheelbase doesn't manage to impress us. It's not a true Land Rover at its core and despite adding 265 pounds of extra electrical components, engineers only managed to give it one mile of pure electric driving range. That's what first generation hybrids like the BMW X6 or the 7 Series got and is basically enough to exit the car park on a busy Sunday.
Besides our misgivings about the technology, the Long Wheelbase is not that bad. Power comes from a combination of SDV6 3.0-liter with an electric motor and an 8-speed ZF auto. With 340 PS (250 kW) and 700 Nm (516 lb-ft) from 1,500 rpm, it's not going to be slow. 0 to 100 km/h takes 6.9 seconds and the top speed 135 mph (218 km/h). There really isn't a tradeoff here, not unless you want the sound of the supercharger.
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