Testing of an electric version of the Range Rover luxury SUV continues apace.
Reservations for the electric vehicle, dubbed the Range Rover Electric, opened in late 2023, with deliveries slated to start next year. That will likely make it a 2026 model in the U.S. Before that can happen, Land Rover is conducting testing in extreme conditions to ensure the Range Rover EV offers the same off-road capability as the internal-combustion version.
Range Rover Electric prototype
Land Rover said that it was close to finishing a hot-weather testing program in which prototypes were subjected to temperatures as high as 122 degrees F, as well as up to 90% humidity.
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Prototypes were also taken to Dubai and driven up a 300-foot sand dune five times. Accomplishing this without any loss of performance from high temperatures is required of all new Range Rover models, Land Rover said.
Range Rover Electric prototype
This follows a trip to the Arctic Circle last winter for cold-weather testing. Engineers evaluated how prototypes responded to temperatures as low as -40 degrees F, and tuned chassis systems for low-grip surfaces. These include a traction control system that manipulates the electric motors, rather than the brakes, as in combustion Land Rovers.
The Range Rover Electric is expected to use a modified version of the MLA (Modular Longitudinal Architecture) platform from current gasoline and plug-in hybrid Range Rover models. It will be built at the same Solihull, U.K., factory that has built Land Rovers for decades. An electric Range Rover Sport, as well as an electric replacement for the Range Rover Velar, are expected to follow as well, along with three EVs for sibling brand Jaguar.
