Range Rover Sport Gets an Update, PHEV Version Revealed

Land Rover announced updates to the Range Rover Sport lineup today, starting with 2018 models that receive a new exterior and interior design. For the 2019 model year, Range Rover will offer a plug-in hybrid version that delivers 398 hp and can travel 31 miles on electricity alone.

Updated Range Rover Sport models feature a completely new grille, bumper, and headlight design. The SUV also dons slimmer LED fog lights, a new spoiler profile in the rear, and optional appearance packages including the Carbon Fiber Exterior Pack and Supercharged Dynamic Black Exterior Pack.

Inside, the Range Rover Sport boasts new technology and ergonomic updates. On the center console, look for two 10-inch touchscreens, one controlling entertainment functions and the other in charge of climate controls. A new 12-inch digital instrument cluster sits right in front of the driver, complemented by a new head-up display with 10-inch projection. Other updates include slimmer front seats, ambient interior lighting with 10 color options, new storage cubbies, a gesture-controlled sunblind, and a rear seat entertainment display that now uses a touchscreen.

Range Rover will offer the familiar diesel and 3.0-liter V-6 gas options. But V-8 models receive more power for the new model year. The standard 5.0-liter supercharged V-8 boosts output from 510 to 518 hp, while the even more powerful SVR jumps from 550 to 575 hp. This high-performance model can accelerate to 60 mph in an estimated 4.3 seconds.

The 2018 Range Rover Sport arrives in U.S. dealerships early next year. Starting in summer 2018, buyers will have the option to purchase a plug-in hybrid version, which gets a 2019 model year designation. Equipped with a 2.0-liter four-cylinder turbo engine and an electric motor, the PHEV puts out 398 hp and 472 lb-ft of torque. Hitting 60 mph from a standstill takes 6.3 seconds, according to Land Rover, and speed tops out at 137 mph.

A 13.1 kilowatt-hour lithium-ion battery powers the electric motor, which is located in the ZF eight-speed automatic transmission alongside a 7 kW on-board charger. Drivers can choose to use both the engine and electric motor or travel in EV-only mode. A SAVE function prevents the battery charge from dropping below a pre-selected level, and a separate energy saving function looks at your route to decide how to use the engine and motor to maximize fuel economy. When using electric power only, top speed is just 85 mph.

The PHEV is poised to offer the all-terrain capability of the original Sport model. The automaker retuned the Land Rover Terrain Response 2 system to precisely distribute torque to all four wheels from the electric motor. Like other Range Rovers, the PHEV gets a host of driving modes including Comfort mode and Dynamic mode, in addition to Grass/Gravel/Snow, Mud/Ruts, Rock Crawl, Sand, and Eco.

Source: Land Rover

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