Plug-in Range Rover Evoque and Land Rover Discovery Sport revealed
Australian buyers will be offered plug-in hybrid versions of the popular Range Rover Evoque and Land Rover Discovery Sport from the first half of 2021.
Unveiled in the UK in late April, the new 300e powertrain combines a turbo-petrol 147kW 1.5-litre three-cylinder Ingenium engine and Aisin eight-speed auto with an 80kW electric motor and a Samsung 15kWh lithium-ion battery pack.
The combined system develops 227kW of power and 540Nm of torque.
The electric motor is mounted on the rear axle, which allows the 300e to run as hybrid all-wheel drive, a petrol-fed front-wheel drive or an electric rear-wheel drive.
The system integrates into Jaguar Land Rover’s new Premium Transverse Architecture, which debuted last year with the new Evoque and also underpins the heavily revised Discovery Sport.
The smaller Evoque 300e claims a pure electric range of 66km running on electricity alone. Combined fuel efficiency on the WLTP cycle comes out at 1.4L/100km and 32g CO2/km.
Meanwhile, the Disco Sport’s key numbers are 64km, 1.6L/100km and 36g CO2/km.
The Evoque is also quicker to 100km/h, completing the dash in 6.4 seconds versus 6.6 for the Discovery. Top electric speed is 135km/h.
There are three recharging methods. A Mode 2 home charger cable plugged into a wall socket will take 6hr 42 mins for a full charge, a 7kW AC charger can top up to 80 per cent full in 1hr 42mins, while a 32kW DC fast charge takes 30 minutes for a zero to 80 per cent refill.
A belt-integrated starter generator in the engine also allows regeneration though braking and coasting.
Australian pricing and specifications for the Evoque and Discovery Sport 300e models will be advised closer to the on-sale date.
The current Evoque range of petrol and diesel Evoques ranges in price from just above $60,000 to nearly $95,000. The Discovery Sport ranges from $60,000 just over $80,000.
