Land Rover's first fully capable 4wd plug-in diesel hybrid at 2011 Geneva Motor Show

JLR all set to launch its first diesel hybrid in 2013

Land Rover’s on-going commitments to building vehicles that are more fuel and emissions-efficient reaches another milestone at the 2011 Geneva Motor Show with the first appearance of the “Range_e”. It is equipped with an advanced plug-in hybrid diesel-electric powertrain that Land Rover expects to make available in future production models, following the scheduled launch of its diesel-electric hybrid in 2013, which will definitely be a long wait.

“Range_e” is based on the Range Rover Sport model and uses the current 245PS 3.0-litre TDV6 engine, working with an eight-speed ZF automatic transmission and a 69kW electric motor.  It uses a parallel hybrid system, with a 14.2kW/h lithium-ion battery that can be recharged from an external 240 Volts power source.

A full recharge from a standard domestic power supply can be accomplished in around four hours. The EV range offered by this technology will support the majority of short urban journeys, where fuel economy and emissions are of prime concern. However, for longer journeys the diesel hybrid drivetrain can be engaged at will and continually optimise CO2 emissions, which is a breakthrough revolution in the latest emissions technology.

By and large, the CO2 emissions are just 89g/km, yet “Range_e” has a maximum system output of 339PS and a top speed of around 120mph (193kph), delivering a fuel economy of 85miles per gallon.

The “Range_e” from Land Rover is an exceptional vehicle no doubt, not as an exception but by default. All models manufactured by the JLR are so. The success that the company expects from it will largely depend on its price. The fact that it is a brand owned by Tata, may act as a catalyst, or may be even a retardant, depending on how Tata handles it. If Tata can give the customers the feel that JLR customers are accustomed to, then probably they can turn it into a catalyst. If Tata can deliver what JLR always did to its customers, it does stand a chance to achieve what it would set out to accomplish with a brand of this calibre. If they do they have winner on their hands.