Land Rover isn’t exactly known as the greenest car maker on the planet – with a lineup completely populated by SUVs – the British automaker is readying a new technology that could change its fuel-guzzling image.
Land Rover first previewed its Electric Rear Axle Drive hybrid system at the 2008 London Motor Show, and it looks as though the green tech will finally come to fruition next year. According to Autocar, Land Rover will begin fleet testing of a hybrid version of its Range Rover Sport in 2010.
The hybrid system earmarked for the Range Rover Sport will use a 3.0L diesel V6 in conjunction with a 25kW electric motor. Using a parallel hybrid setup similar to the Toyota Prius , the Range Rover Sport hybrid will be capable of operating exclusively on electric power. In fact, insiders have revealed the Range Rover Sport hybrid will be capable of traveling up to 20 miles on electric power alone.
An overall fuel economy average of about 70mpg has also been mentioned, but we suspect that number will decrease significantly in real-world driving.
Despite its hybrid drivetrain, expect the Range Rover Sport hybrid to be just as capable off-road as its gas-only siblings. Land Rover ’s ERAD system was design with serious off-roading in mind, delivering plenty of low-end grunt for even the most extreme of conditions.
If the Range Rover Sport hybrid’s testing goes as planned, expect to see the greener ‘ute in showrooms by 2012.
