Building on its ERAD concept from 2008, Land Rover has officially announced it is working on its first ever hybrid system. Based on the company’s Range Rover Sport model, Land Rover will begin testing its first diesel-electric hybrid later this year.
Dubbed the ‘range_e’, Land Rover will begin prototype testing later this year. Production of the range_e will begin in late 2012, with the diesel-electric SUV set to hit dealer lots in early 2013.
Power for the range_e will be provided by a 3.0L diesel V6 shifting through a new ZF eight-speed automatic transmission. Land Rover failed to detail the range_e’s battery pack, but did reveal it is targeting an all-electric range of 20 miles and an emissions target of under 100 g/km of CO2. The range_e’s top speed will be about 120mph.
Although not confirmed, Land Rover is said to be working on a gas version of the range_e’s diesel hybrid system, with a plug-in version likely to bow in 2015. Whatever the case, Land Rover’s future is looking greener than ever.
