Range Rover and Range Rover Sport Get Hybrid Diesel Option

JaguarJaguarUnited Kingdom, 1922 > present53 models
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Land RoverLand RoverUnited Kingdom, 1978 > present15 models
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has been developing their own hybrid powertrain for several years, and the work is finally bearing fruit with the new Range RoverLand Rover Range Rover 3....United Kingdom, 2014 > present and Range Rover SportLand Rover Range Rover Sp...United Kingdom, 2014 > present hybrid models that will launch at the Frankfurt Motor Show on September 10. Both trucks use a 3.0-liter diesel V6 engine paired to a 47hp and 125lb-ft electric motor. It lowers CO2 emissions by 26% over the standard version.

Both models are rated at 169g/km of CO2 and 44.1mpg UK combined and have 335hp (340ps) and 516lb-ft of torque (700Nm) with an eight-speed automatic transmission from ZF. The battery pack and electrical components add 120kg to the car.

The system runs on pure electric power at speeds up to 30mph for up to one mile. The system powers itself through regenerative braking.

The hybrid models will hit 100km/h in less than seven seconds and have a top speed of 135mph (218km/h).

"We are excited to introduce the Range Rover and Range Rover Sport Hybrids, the world's first hybrid SUVs with legendary Land Rover capability.  The addition of a smooth electric drive enhances refinement, cuts CO2 emissions and delivers staggering performance on a par with our SDV8 engine," said John Edwards, Land Rover Global Brand Director.

To prove the technology, Land Rover is taking the hybrid models on a 16,000km expedition along the Silk Trail in India. It starts on August 22 at the Land Rover headquarters in Solihull, England, to the Tata headquarters in Mumbai, India. The three Range Rover hybrids are expected to reach Mumbai on October 15.

To keep the electrical equipment safe, the liquid cooled battery pack is mounted beneath the floor in a sealed boron-steel housing. It does not affect interior capacity and still has a full-size spare tire. There is also no change to the car’s off-road ability, ground clearance or water wading ability.

Land Rover will begin taking orders for the hybrids on September 10 and deliveries will begin in early 2014.