2018 Range Rover: Plug-in hybrid confirmed for Australia

The updated Range Rover lineup will arrive in Australia later this year bookended, eco wise, by a new plug-in hybrid (PHEV) powertrain and a new supercharged 5.0-litre V8.

The P400e PHEV combines a 221kW Ingenium 2.0-litre petrol four-cylinder engine, with an 85kW electric motor for a combined output of 297kW and 640Nm.

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Combined fuel economy is a stingy 2.8L/100km but it’s now slouch, with swift 0-100km/h of 6.8 secs, and a top speed of 220km/h.

With an all-electric range of up to 51-kilometres, Range Rover claims the 13.1kWh battery can be fully recharged from empty in two hours and 45 minutes, using a special wall box charging unit.

At the other end of the scale is the new SVAutobiography Dynamic, which Land Rover says is the most powerful production Range Rover so far.

It’s powered by a brutish 416kW/700Nm supercharged 5.0-litre V8 (12kW over the previous model) and sends the big SUV from 100km/h in just 5.4 seconds.

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The rest of the six-engine range includes more relatively conventional offerings including a 190kW/600Nm 3.0-litre V6 turbo diesel, a 250kW/740Nm 4.4-litre V8 twin-turbo diesel, a 380Kw/450Nm 3.0-litre supercharged V6 and a 5.0-litre supercharged V8 pumping out 386kW and 625kW.

Visually, the 2018 Range Rover receives subtle exterior changes including a refreshed grille and new LED headlights, while the cabin gains an adapted version of the twin touchscreens found in its all-new Range Rover Velar that’s been rolled out across the Range Rover family.

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There are also wider, softer seats, which can recline up to 40 degrees for increased passenger comfort and there should be no arguments about plugging in phones with 17 connection points inside the cabin, including USB, HDMI, and 12-volt ports.

The 2018 Range Rover will arrive in showrooms in March priced from $190,000 before on-road costs.