Updated Range Rover Sport now features 101mpg plug-in hybrid
The Range Rover Sport has been updated inside and out, while the PHEV is JLR’s first ever plug-in hybrid
The facelifted Range Rover Sport has been officially revealed. A tweaked design and updated interior tech have been introduced as part of the 2018 model year, plus there’s the option of an all-new plug-in hybrid powertrain, making it Jaguar Land Rover’s first PHEV.
The plug-in Range Rover Sport receives the P400e badge, and combines a 296bhp turbocharged 2.0-litre four-cylinder petrol engine with an 85kW electric motor for a total system output of 398bhp and 640Nm of torque. Land Rover claims it’s capable of 0-62mph in 6.7 seconds with a top speed of 137mph, so it’s only outgunned by its two 5.0-litre V8 powered stablemates.
It claims 101mpg economy and emits 64g/km of CO2, attracting a 16 per cent Benefit in Kind rating. But boot capacity drops by 77 litres to 703 due to the PHEV powertrain.
The P400e is capable of driving on electric power only, with Land Rover claiming a 31-mile pure-electric range with a top speed of 85mph. By default it’ll drive as a hybrid, combining electric power with petrol. A new drive setting called Predictive Energy Optimisation works with the sat-nav system to switch between petrol and electric power to maximise fuel economy.
The charging connector is hidden behind the badge on the front grille, while a full charge can be achieved in less than three hours using a dedicated 32 Amp wall box.
Elsewhere, the rest of the engine line-up remains the same, bar the SVR flagship. The supercharged 5.0-litre V8 is now up to 567bhp, and its 0-62mph time has dropped to 4.5 seconds.
In contrast to the new hybrid technology, the exterior redesign is subtle. One or two design cues have been carried across from the Velar – the car’s fresh grille and design of the new Pixel-laser LED headlights are plucked straight from Land Rover’s newest model, and feature alongside new bumpers.
More Velar features appear in the cabin, with the arrival of the Touch Pro Duo twin 10-inch touchscreen infotainment system. These are available alongside a digital instrument display and new leather upholstery combinations.
Prices for the updated Range Rover Sport start from £61,315 – a premium of £1,300 over the outgoing version. The new P400e plug-in model costs £70,800.
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