Jaguar Land Rover have unveiled it's first hybrid electric vehicle. And it's a Range Rover Sport.

A recent press release announced the mid-life facelift specifications and options for the 2018 Range Rover Sport. Revisions include exterior design changes that have been 'enhanced to underline its dynamic character' and a super pursuit mode SVR model, with a whopping 575 BHP and a 0-60 time standing at a mere 4.3 seconds.

Brushing those announcements aside, what's really got us excited is the new plug-in hybrid-electric model. JLR's first. The hybrid model is fitted with a 2.0-litre, 300 BHP Ingenium engine, supplemented by an 85KW electric motor, neatly housed within the 8 speed ZF auto transmission. Electric drive is perfectly suited to off-roading, as an electric motor provides 100% torque, all of the time, perfect for low-speed, all-terrain manoeuvres.

In addition to it's typical fuel tank, the hybrid RRS, badged the P400e, carries a 13.1kWh Lithium-ion battery. In all-electric mode, the range is 31 miles and the battery can be topped up through rapid charging and it's 7Kw on-board charger in 2 hours 45 minutes, using a 32 amp wall box. Using a standard 10amp plug takes the time to 7 hours and 30 minutes.

The charging plug is discreetly hidden behind the Land Rover badge on the front grill. Combined performance stands at 404 BHP, a 0-60 time of 6.3 seconds and an earth's crust rippling 640nm of torque. To put it frankly, it's a bit of an animal. Albeit, an environmentally friendly one.

To further increase efficiency, JLR have developed 2 driving modes, EV (making the RRS an electric vehicle) and Parallel Hybrid mode. The default driving mode, which combines electric drive with petrol and makes use of the sat-nav to determine the optimal combination of electric and petrol power, maximising fuel efficiency.

The Future

JLR have pledged that from 2020, all new Jaguar and Land Rover models will be electrified. Personally, I find this announcement very exciting. Electric power is perfectly suited to off-road driving and I cannot wait to see how the technology progresses. I hope that the new Defender will also make heavy use of EV technologies.

The old Defender was immensely capable off-road, thanks to lashings of grip, great ground clearance and a centre-diff. Coupled with driver know how and a bit of mechanical sympathy, it was almost unstoppable. So, why shouldn't the new one be?