Devon, Author at Autos Grind

The Range Rover Electric is finally here, and it's beaten its biggest rival to the punch. After years of teasers, prototypes, and cold-weather testing photos, Jaguar Land Rover has officially opened order books for its first-ever electric Range Rover, and the timing couldn't be better for the brand. By launching now, JLR puts its zero-emissions luxury SUV on sale well before BMW's rival iX7 even reaches showrooms, giving Range Rover a real window to win over buyers who've been waiting for an electric option without leaving the badge they trust. Prices start at £154,070, making this one of the priciest electric SUVs you can buy today, but also one that arrives with a genuine head start on the competition rather than playing catch-up. Need to Know Range Rover Electric is on sale now: starting at £154,070, it beats the rival BMW's iX7 to market by roughly two years. Seriously quick: 542 hp and 850 Nm of torque push it from 0-60 mph in just 4.3 seconds. 372 miles of range: the 118.5 kWh battery covers real-world drives of up to 333 miles on a single charge. 22-minute fast charging: a 350 kW charger takes it from 10-80%, adding 137 miles in only 10 minutes. Off-road ready: wades through 900mm of water and climbs 33-degree slopes without breaking a sweat. A Head Start Over BMW Timing matters in the luxury EV, and right now, Range Rover has the upper hand. While the Range Rover Electric is open for orders today, BMW's iX7 isn't expected to arrive until 2027, and even then it's tipped to start above $100,000. That gives JLR a solid head start to win over wealthy buyers who want a fully electric flagship SUV without waiting for the competition to catch up. It's not just about being first, either. Range Rover has stuck to a simple rule with this car: build a Range Rover first, and an electric car second. That's why the Electric looks almost identical to the petrol and diesel versions, save for a smoother grille, redesigned wheels, and tweaks underneath to cut down on drag. The idea is to let loyal customers switch to electric power without giving up the look and feel they already know. What's Under the Skin Don't let the familiar styling fool you. The Range Rover Electric packs some serious hardware. Two electric motors work together to produce 542 horsepower and a huge 850 Nm of torque, enough to send this large, heavy SUV from 0 to 60 mph in just 4.3 seconds. That's proper sports car territory for a vehicle this size. Power comes from a 118.5 kWh battery running on an 800-volt system. Plug into a 350 kW fast charger and you can go from 10 to 80 percent charge in around 22 minutes. Even a quick 10-minute top-up adds roughly 137 miles of range. On a full charge, the official WLTP figure is up to 372 miles, though JLR says real-world driving will more likely get you around 333 miles. That's still enough for most people to go about their day without needing to stop and charge. Still Built for the Rough Stuff One question hung over this car from the start: would going electric ruin the Range Rover's famous off-road ability? The answer, it turns out, is no. The Electric can wade through water up to 900mm deep, and its traction system reacts in as little as 50 milliseconds, around 100 times faster than a traditional combustion setup. That lets it constantly adjust power between the wheels, shifting from fully rear-wheel drive to no rear power at all in an instant when the terrain demands it. A new Single Pedal mode also makes it easier to crawl over tricky ground using just the accelerator. JLR also says the SUV can climb slopes as steep as 33 degrees and handle rolling gradients of up to 45 degrees. Combined with a lower center of gravity and adjustable air suspension, it should feel more composed on normal roads too, not just off them. Why the Price Makes Sense At £154,070, the Range Rover Electric isn't cheap, but it lines up with what buyers in this segment already expect to pay. It sits close to the price of the top petrol-powered Range Rover, so anyone considering an Autobiography model won't feel a huge jump moving to electric. Compared to something like a Rolls-Royce Cullinan, the price actually looks reasonable for the kind of luxury and performance on offer. With BMW's answer still a couple of years away, Range Rover has the electric luxury SUV space largely to itself for now. Whether the extra torque and refinement, plus that head-start, are enough to win over traditional buyers still weighing petrol versus electric remains to be seen. But on paper, the Range Rover Electric looks ready to set the benchmark that the iX7 will eventually have to chase.

Range Rover Electric Is Officially Here – Now on Sale From £154,070

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