Automotive

Plug-in hybrid improves Range Rover Sport's eco credentials

Plug-in hybrid improves Range Rover Sport's eco credentials
The new Range Rover Sport PHEV
The new Range Rover Sport PHEV
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Under the skin of the Range Rover Sport PHEV
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Under the skin of the Range Rover Sport PHEV 
The PHEV is still capable off-road
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The PHEV is still capable off-road 
Land Rover is keen to prove the PHEV is still capable off-road
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Land Rover is keen to prove the PHEV is still capable off-road 
The Sport PHEV has a range of 51 km in pure EV mode
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The Sport PHEV has a range of 51 km in pure EV mode 
The Range Rover Sport PHEV hits 100 km/h just over 6 seconds
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The Range Rover Sport PHEV hits 100 km/h just over 6 seconds 
The new Range Rover Sport PHEV
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The new Range Rover Sport PHEV
The charge plug on the Range Rover Sport PHEV is hidden behind the grille
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The charge plug on the Range Rover Sport PHEV is hidden behind the grille 
The Range Rover Sport plugged into the wall
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The Range Rover Sport plugged into the wall
The Range Rover Sport has an pure EV range of just over 50 km
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The Range Rover Sport has an pure EV range of just over 50 km
The new Range Rover Sport PHEV operates in the same way as most other plug-in hybrids, with a small battery and petrol engine
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The new Range Rover Sport PHEV operates in the same way as most other plug-in hybrids, with a small battery and petrol engine 
The styling of the new Range Rover Sport was inspired by the Velar
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The styling of the new Range Rover Sport was inspired by the Velar 
The Range Rover Sport PHEV
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The Range Rover Sport PHEV 
Behind the wheel of the new Range Rover Sport
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Behind the wheel of the new Range Rover Sport 
The high-tech powertrain behind the Range Rover Sport PHEV
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The high-tech powertrain behind the Range Rover Sport PHEV
The new Range Rover Sport gets down and dirty
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The new Range Rover Sport gets down and dirty 
The new Range Rover Sport has been inspired by the Velar on the outside
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The new Range Rover Sport has been inspired by the Velar on the outside 
The Range Rover Sport is still capable off-road, even though it's a prettier, more road-biased car
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The Range Rover Sport is still capable off-road, even though it's a prettier, more road-biased car 
The styling of the new Range Rover Sport is a bit fussier than before
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The styling of the new Range Rover Sport is a bit fussier than before 
New headlamps on the new Range Rover Sport
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New headlamps on the new Range Rover Sport 
Styling details on the new Range Rover Sport
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Styling details on the new Range Rover Sport
A look at the high-tech cabin in the Range Rover Sport
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A look at the high-tech cabin in the Range Rover Sport 
A look at the high-tech cabin in the Range Rover Sport
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A look at the high-tech cabin in the Range Rover Sport 
A look at the high-tech cabin in the Range Rover Sport
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A look at the high-tech cabin in the Range Rover Sport 
A look at the high-tech cabin in the Range Rover Sport
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A look at the high-tech cabin in the Range Rover Sport 
A look at the high-tech cabin in the Range Rover Sport
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A look at the high-tech cabin in the Range Rover Sport 
A look at the high-tech cabin in the Range Rover Sport
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A look at the high-tech cabin in the Range Rover Sport 
A look at the high-tech cabin in the Range Rover Sport
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A look at the high-tech cabin in the Range Rover Sport 
A look at the high-tech cabin in the Range Rover Sport
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A look at the high-tech cabin in the Range Rover Sport 
A look at the high-tech cabin in the Range Rover Sport
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A look at the high-tech cabin in the Range Rover Sport 
A look at the high-tech cabin in the Range Rover Sport
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A look at the high-tech cabin in the Range Rover Sport 
The new Range Rover Sport SVR has a carbon fiber hood
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The new Range Rover Sport SVR has a carbon fiber hood 
The SVR badge makes for seriously quick Range Rover Sport
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The SVR badge makes for seriously quick Range Rover Sport 
The new rear bumper on the Range Rover Sport SVR
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The new rear bumper on the Range Rover Sport SVR 
The decidedly un-subtle Range Rover SVR
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The decidedly un-subtle Range Rover SVR 
The SVR is still capable off-road
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The SVR is still capable off-road 
The Range Rover Sport SVR
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The Range Rover Sport SVR
The Range Rover Sport SVR
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The Range Rover Sport SVR
The heavily-stylised bucket seats in the Range Rover Sport SVR
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The heavily-stylised bucket seats in the Range Rover Sport SVR 
Carbon fiber detailing in the SVR
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Carbon fiber detailing in the SVR 
The gearstick in the SVR
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The gearstick in the SVR 
View gallery - 40 images

Land Rover has evolved the Range Rover Sport into a symbol of wealth and excess, which once meant it was best fitted with a thirsty V8. But times are changing, and buyers expect their big four-wheel drives to also be designed with the environment in mind. That's where the new Range Rover Sport PHEV, launched as a part of a mid-life refresh, comes in.

Like the powertrains popping up in rival vehicles, the setup in the Range Rover Sport PHEV couples a compact lithium-ion battery with a compact four-cylinder engine. An 85-kW (114-hp) motor is hooked up to the eight-speed ZF gearbox, offering peak torque from standstill for smooth off-road progress and quick on-road acceleration. In ideal conditions, owners will be able to cover 31 mi (51 km) on a full charge of the 13.1-kWh battery.

Although it takes more than seven hours to charge when plugged into a 10-amp wall socket, the car will be available with a 32-amp wall box, capable of topping the battery in less than three. The charging plug is neatly integrated behind the grille. Coupled with a 221-kW (296-hp) gasoline engine, the powertrain makes a total of 297 kW (400 hp) for a 6.3-second sprint to 100 km/h (62 mph). Top speed is 137 mph (220 km/h).

Under the skin of the Range Rover Sport PHEV
Under the skin of the Range Rover Sport PHEV 

The car defaults to parallel hybrid mode, automatically combining gasoline and electric drive based on what the driver demands. The driver can stop the battery from dropping below a certain charge level with SAVE mode, while Predictive Energy Optimisation automatically uses GPS information to best combine gas and electric power along a pre-determined route. There's also a dedicated EV mode for short inner-city trips.

Along with the new hybrid powertrain, the Range Rover Sport has been treated to a mid-life refresh, both inside and out. The exterior has been brought into line with that of the new Velar, with slimline LED lights and sharp new bumpers. There are also new wheel designs on offer.

Inside, the Sport has been treated to a touchscreen-intensive makeover in the form of Touch Pro Duo. Along with the 10-inch screen dedicated to infotainment on the top of the dash, there's another 10-inch screen for climate control sitting atop the transmission tunnel. Initial reviews of the Velar – which debuted the system earlier this year – have been positive, so it'll be interesting to see how it translates to the bigger RR Sport.

A look at the high-tech cabin in the Range Rover Sport
A look at the high-tech cabin in the Range Rover Sport 

There are now 14 power outlets in the cabin to run the gamut of phones and tablets that accompany every modern-day road trip – there's even a domestic plug socket for larger devices like laptops. Screens in the back of the headrests are available as an option for restless rear-seat passengers. Land Rover has been pushing to reposition itself as a technology leader, and the cabin of the new Range Rover Sport is another step in that direction.

And if I want more power?

Don't worry, there's a Sport for that as well. The SVR model has been overhauled with the rest of the range, and now makes 423 kW (567 hp) of power for a 4.5 second sprint to 100 km/h (62 mph). The exterior has been tarted up with a carbon fiber bonnet, and Land Rover says the new car will be lighter on its feet than the (already very, very fast) current version.

The decidedly un-subtle Range Rover SVR
The decidedly un-subtle Range Rover SVR 

The new Range Rover Sport is available to order at the moment, with deliveries set to begin at the end of the year.

Source: Land Rover

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