The Brits at Land Rover have already launched a full range of premium hybrid SUVs with V6 diesel engines. These include the Range Rover, RR Sport and the recently launched long wheelbase model. However, none of these can be recharged. That could all change when this latest project, recently spotted on the Nurburgring track, enters production.
Two days ago, a Range Rover Sport wearing camouflage took to the German track. Thanks to the guys at TouriClips, we're able to bring you the very first video of the car running without the internal combustion engine on. This is something the current Range Rover hybrids can only do at speeds of up to 30mph (48km/h) for a range of up to one mile (1.6km). The prototype is clearly going faster than that on a track that's over 22 kilometers (14 miles) which means a plug-in is on the way.
The spotters checked the license plate of the car and found out it's registered as a petrol runner. In addition, when the engine is turned on in the video, it sounds suspiciously like a supercharged unit, something Range Rover is well known for.
We can only presume that the company has found a way to combine a supercharged 3-liter with about 380 hp and an electric motor into their brand new 4x4. We could very well be looking at something with emissions of under 100 g/km, the lowest of any British SUV ever made.
Petrol-electric plug-in vehicles are becoming relatively commonplace in the market because they combine the dynamism and engagement of a regular petrol engine with lower emissions. In a lot of markets, this makes ownership of a powerful car like this much cheaper due to tax breaks.
Porsche has already launched a plug-in version of the Panamera called the S E-Hybrid and is planning to do the same to the Cayenne. BMW, meanwhile, has revealed its plans for a lean, mean SUV in the form of the X5 eDrive. It has a turbocharged 2-liter engine delivering 245 hp and 350 Nm (236 lb-ft) at the front and an electric motor at the back with 95 hp and 250 Nm (184 lb-ft). Combined, they deliver an output of 340 hp and 600 Nm (420 lb-ft). Preliminary figures released by BMW before actually putting the model into production show an EV range of up to20 miles (32 km) and an electric-only top speed of up to 75 mph (125 km/h).
Mihnea's favorite cars have already been built, the so-called modern classics from the '80s and '90s. He also loves local car culture from all over the world, so don't be surprised to see him getting excited about weird Japanese imports, low-rider VWs out of Germany, replicas from Russia or LS swaps down in Florida. Full profile
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