The automotive world isn’t what it was 5 years ago. The world isn’t what it was 5 years ago, technologically speaking that is. Cellphone technology has evolved so much so that it has come to influence every facet of our lives. Every piece of technology is being optimised to be as user friendly and as intuitive as our beloved handheld devices. Cars now feature better connectivity than ever before. Things such as haptic feedback have transitioned successfully from iPhones to the infotainment displays in Audis and Porsches.

The one area where the automotive world hasn’t made much headway is in alternative propulsion systems. While Tesla has proven to the world that purely battery powered cars are feasible no other manufacturer has been able to replicate their success with any series production model yet. For the moment, the cons of purely electric cars seem to outweigh the pros. However, most manufacturers seem to have dipped their toes in that pool and gone for the compromise that is hybridisation. This solves electric powered cars’ biggest challenges, namely: infrastructure and range.

Land Rover has finally joined this frenzy and will burden the next generation of Range Rovers with hybrid systems. The first product of this new generation is the Range Rover Sport P400e. Powered by Jaguar Land Rover’s ingenium 2.0 litre four cylinder petrol engine and an 85kw motor the P400e has a combined output of 297kw(404hp).  The petrol engine delivers 221kw(300hp). Combined torque is 640Nm. All of this will launch the Range Rover from a standstill to 100kph in a claimed 6.7s and onto a top speed of 220kph.

The P400e has two driving modes. The first driving mode has the car utilise both the four cylinder petrol engine and the electric motor. In hybrid mode the car can also be set up to have the GPS optimise the powertrain to juggle power between the electric motor and the engine to aid fuel economy. While the second mode is activated the car runs purely on electricity. The P400e has 51km of range in this mode. Land Rover’s Terrain Response 2 has been tailored to work specifically with the hybrid system. A unique challenge as electric motors generally generate all their torque from the moment they start spinning. Think of Terrain Response as  Land/Range Rover’s equivalent to Ferrari’s Manettino switch where a series of preconfigured settings adjust the car’s different parameters(chassis, springs and dampers, throttle response etc)to suit the driving conditions.

To solve packaging problems the Ingenium engine has been mounted longitudinally while the electric motor has been fitted in the transmission housing in the center of the car. For weight distribution the lithium ion battery is located beneath the boot floor in the back of the car.

To allay any fears that Range Rover enthusiasts and customers have about the P400e abilities Land Rover organised an unusual challenge. One that would certainly meet the strictest criteria of any off road aficionado. The P400e took part in the first ever Dragon Road challenge in China. A factory standard P400e was driven along Tianmen Mountain Road(Dragon Road)for 11.3km before tackling the legendary 999 steps that lead to  Heaven’s Gate, a natural rock arch at the summit of Tianmen Mountain. Le Mans veteran Ho-Pin Tung was behind the wheel and described the challenge as one of his toughest yet. Even though this stunt was done for marketing purposes it really is testament to the P400e’s pedigree.

The interior of the new Range Rover has also been updated and brought inline with the design first introduced in the Range Rover Velar. Two ten inch touchscreen displays grace the centre console just like the Velar. The top display can be adjusted for rake and when off fades back into the dash much like the unit found in the new Audi A8. Users can swipe content between the two screens which control nearly every auxiliary function of the car.

The P400e will be in showrooms from the first quarter of this year. Here is the video of the Dragon Challenge: