Plug-in hybrid Range Rover confirmed for Australia

RANGE Rover has confirmed a facelifted range of its large SUV will be arriving in Australia late this year with a new plug-in hybrid variant added to the line-up, elevating the “serene comfort” of its flagship model, it says.

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. Acceleration is swift, with 0-100km/h dealt with in 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.

A pair of driving modes are available on the new model, with Parallel Hybrid using both combustion and battery power in unison, and an EV mode for running purely on electricity.

The model update is not purely focused on saving Polar Bears, and the refreshed line-up brings a new SVAutobiography Dynamic – the most powerful production Range Rover so far.

The supercharged 5.0-litre V8 under its bonnet produces 416kW and 700Nm, an increase of 12kW over the previous model, and propels the SUV to 100km/h in just 5.4 seconds.

In total, there are six different engines available across the range. Along with the aforementioned SVAutobiography Dyamic and P400e PHEV, there is a 3.0-litre turbo diesel V6, which produces 190kW and 600Nm, a 4.4-litre twin-turbo diesel V8 producing 250kW and 740Nm, a 3.0-litre supercharged V6 with 380kW and 450Nm, and finally a 5.0-litre supercharged V8 pumping out 386kW and 625kW. Prices kick off from $190,000 before on-road costs.

There have been subtle changes to the exterior of the car, with a refreshed grille and new LED headlights, while the cabin has an adapted version of the twin touch screens found in its smaller brother, the Velar.

The new infotainment system is available across the entire updated Range Rover family.

There are also wider, softer seats, which can recline by up to 40 percent for increased passenger comfort. It’s also the most connected Range Rover the company has produced, with up to 17 connection points inside the cabin, including USB, HDMI, and 12-volt ports.