Range Rover opens bookings for its first electric SUV in India

Bookings open in India

Jaguar Land Rover opened bookings for the all-electric Range Rover in India on Wednesday, with customers able to reserve the luxury SUV for a token amount of ten lakh rupees. The electric SUV will be sold in India as a fully imported model, with its price to be announced later, as reported by The Economic Times.

Bookings are open for the standard-wheelbase Range Rover Electric in Autobiography and First Edition variants, while the long-wheelbase version will be available in SV, SV Ultra and SV Black variants.

Powertrain and range

The Range Rover Electric is powered by a battery pack that The Economic Times reports as having a capacity of 118.5 kWh, while NewsBytes reports the battery as 119 kWh. The battery comprises 344 prismatic cells and powers two permanent-magnet electric motors producing a combined 542 hp and 850 Nm of torque, according to The Economic Times. NewsBytes also reports the combined output as 542 hp and 850 Nm of torque, delivered via all-wheel drive.

Land Rover claims a range of up to 600 km on the WLTP cycle, as reported by The Economic Times. NewsBytes reports an EPA-estimated driving range of 536 km when charged to 100 percent.

Charging capabilities

The electric SUV supports DC fast charging at up to 350 kW, with the battery being part of an 800-volt architecture, as reported by both outlets. Using a compatible charger, the battery can be charged from 10% to 80% in about 22 minutes, according to The Economic Times and NewsBytes. Land Rover claims that a 10-minute charging session can add up to 125 miles of driving range when charging at the vehicle's peak rate, as reported by The Economic Times. NewsBytes reports that the same 10-minute charge can add up to 201 km of range.

Design and interior

The Range Rover Electric retains the familiar design of the combustion-engine Range Rover, with differences largely limited to details such as an aero-optimised grille and wheels, as reported by The Economic Times. NewsBytes similarly notes that the design is similar to the gas-powered sibling, with minor changes such as a new grille, wheels, and underbody panels for improved aerodynamics. The cabin follows the same luxury-focused layout as the internal combustion engine model, according to The Economic Times, with NewsBytes adding that the interior remains largely unchanged despite housing a large battery pack underneath.

The electric version gets an AI-based range predictor and a digital twin designed to monitor battery health and other vehicle parameters, as reported by The Economic Times. A First Edition model will be available this year in Belgravia Green, Santorini Black, and Varesine Blue colors with an interior theme called Light Cloud featuring Ultrafabric upholstery, according to NewsBytes.

Off-road and performance features

Land Rover has focused on retaining the Range Rover's off-road credentials, with the new traction management system capable of responding in as little as 50 milliseconds, as reported by The Economic Times. NewsBytes reports that the traction-management system responds to wheel spin in as little as 50 milliseconds, which it says is 100 times faster than the combustion-engine counterpart. The SUV can tackle gradients of up to 45 degrees, according to The Economic Times, which also reports that the electric model gets single-pedal driving and can wade through water up to 35 inches deep.

NewsBytes also reports that the electric Range Rover can accelerate from 0-97 km/h in 4.3 seconds and comes with an air-spring suspension with adjustable height.

Development and availability

The Range Rover Electric is the brand's first fully electric SUV, representing a major step in its electrification strategy, as reported by The Economic Times. Land Rover has said the model underwent an extensive development programme, including physical testing covering a cumulative distance equivalent to 38 trips around the globe and more than 250,000 hours of virtual validation, according to The Economic Times.

NewsBytes reports that the starting price of the new electric Range Rover is $140,550, compared to $115,750 for the base internal combustion engine model, and $131,350 for the plug-in hybrid P550e version.