Range Rover Electric Revealed With Serious Off-Road Capability and Sports-Car Performance

The British automaker has unveiled the all-electric Range Rover and announced its pricing at the same time. The new SUV uses two electric motors, combining the capability of a true off-roader with the acceleration of a performance car.

The Range Rover Electric made its debut a year later than originally expected, following more than a decade of development by Land Rover.

The SUV is built on the new MLA-Flex platform. Despite the new architecture, the electric Range Rover looks remarkably similar to its internal-combustion counterpart. Most of the visual differences come down to aerodynamic improvements made for the EV.

The electric model is considerably more expensive, however, with pricing starting at $138,000.

The Range Rover Electric is powered by two electric motors producing up to 550 horsepower and 627 lb-ft of torque combined. Those figures are comparable to the output of the most powerful gasoline-powered Range Rover models.

With that much power, the electric SUV can accelerate from 0 to 62 mph in 4.5 seconds, despite weighing approximately 6,360 pounds. Its center of gravity is also lower than that of the gasoline-powered Range Rover, which should improve stability during cornering and other demanding maneuvers.

The Range Rover Electric uses a new battery developed in-house by Jaguar Land Rover, providing up to 373 miles of range. The battery supports ultra-fast charging, allowing it to go from 10% to 80% in just 22 minutes. A 10-minute charging session can add up to 137 miles of range.

According to Land Rover, the new electric Range Rover retains the brand's reputation for serious off-road performance. It can tackle water crossings up to 35.4 inches deep and climb grades of up to 45 degrees.

The SUV also features a twin-chamber air suspension with adjustable ride height. An integrated traction-control system can respond to wheel slip in just 50 milliseconds, making it up to 100 times faster than the system used in a comparable gasoline-powered model.

The electric Range Rover also gets a one-pedal driving mode that has been specifically adapted for off-road use. An intelligent torque-distribution system can send anywhere from 0% to 100% of available torque to the rear axle, depending on driving conditions.

Land Rover says it subjected the Range Rover Electric to extensive testing in some of the world's most challenging environments. The SUV was tested in temperatures as low as -40 degrees, in the Arabian Desert and under a range of other extreme conditions.

The new electric SUV incorporates roughly 300 patented technologies. Among them is an intelligent thermal-management system for the battery, electric motors and cabin. Under certain conditions, the system can increase driving range by up to 25 miles.

The Range Rover Electric also introduces a new continuous battery-monitoring function, with the vehicle's electronics tracking more than 900 individual parameters to monitor the battery's condition and performance.