What is it?
This is the new Range Rover Hybrid, which is claimed to deliver similar levels of off-road capability and durability to conventional models, but with a decently improved efficiency.
It's hard not to be impressed by the headline figures. It's claimed to average 44.1mpg and emit 169g/km of CO2. That's a 17 per cent reduction in fuel consumption when compared to a Range Rover TDV6.
Land Rover's new hybrid system combines the Range Rover’s familiar TDV6 diesel and a 35kW electric motor, which is integrated within the eight-speed ZF automatic gearbox. This creates a powertrain with peak output of 335bhp and 516lb ft of torque.
Pure electric range is around one mile at speeds of up to 30mph, and there is a regenerative system that harvests kinetic energy when the car is coasting or braking.
The hybrid system, including its lithium ion battery, adds less than 120kg to the kerb weight, which is now claimed to be 2394kg. Fully sealed and mounted within the existing structure, it does not compromise the Range Rover’s wading capacity or ground clearance.
No interior or spare tyre space is given up, either, and the battery is liquid rather than air-cooled to ensure no noise can ruin the calm of the cabin.
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Hybrid Car's
Invisible obese person
For the next few years it seems the purpose of hybrid cars would simply be to fool the utterly defunct European Drive Cycle.
As somebody suggested earlier, for a mile it saves the planet after that its like carrying an invisible obese person onboard.
There's nothing innovative about the tech involved either. Other than it manages to drop the CO2 to very unlike RR levels.
Compelling case to buy! In what sense!
no idea why Steve is so impressed by the RR Hybrid headline figures…especially when you compare it to the Merc S500 hybrid launched yesterday..
“S500 is capable of driving up to 18.6 miles on electric power alone. Running in full hybrid mode allows the S500 to achieve CO2 emissions of 69g/km, and return 94.2mpg. 329bhp 3.0-litre V6 turbocharged engine, 80kW electric motor …The combustion engine puts out 354lb ft of torque, while the electric motor is capable of producing up to 251lb ft.”
Now that is impressive for a car weighing well over 2 tonnes! This RR is just a publicity stunt.. I mean a hybrid achieving 171g/ km and what the point of 1 mile capability on the electric motor..Frankly pointless even having that capabilty…. not very good these days!
Land Rover are doing some fantastic things with their tech recently.. And the RR is phenomenal piece of engineering; this however is a waste of time!