2024 Range Rover Electric is expected to be unique & capable [Update]

Update: ‘Design,’ ‘Interior’ and ‘Specifications’ sections revised.

Jaguar Land Rover looks confident about successfully electrifying even the biggest models, including the Range Rover and Range Rover Sport. As part of the fifth-gen Range Rover announcement, it has confirmed the launch of a Range Rover Electric in 2024. Besides the Land Rover Defender EV, the Range Rover Sport Electric, and Range Rover Electric will be the most daring vehicle projects under the company’s Reimagine strategy.

I’m also very excited to let you know and to announce that we are going to launch the all-electric, 100% electric Range Rover by 2024.

Lennard Hoornik, Chief Commercial Officer, Jaguar Land Rover (Fifth-generation Range Rover world premiere on October 26, 2021)

Here’s what we expect from the Range Rover Electric.

Design

A clip of what we reckon is the Range Rover EV, released in October 2022 when Land Rover announced its partnership with Wolfspeed, indicates that the electric version will repurpose the fifth-gen Range Rover’s body. There’s no doubt the company kept in mind that it planned to fully electrify the latter when it started creating its reductive design.

The drag coefficient (0.30 Cd) is around 10% lower than in the outgoing model (0.34 Cd), beats the Mercedes GLS (0.32 Cd), and gives it best-in-class aerodynamics. With this significantly lower drag coefficient figure, the all-new Range Rover is the world’s most aerodynamically efficient luxury SUV, JLR claims. Any further refinement in this area can only help improve the range of the EV model.

Land Rover has prepared an excellent base for the Range Rover Electric. With such a clean and aerodynamic body, drastic changes are unlikely. The only real changes will be a shut-off/faux radiator grille, unique bumpers, and aerodynamic wheels.

The Electric Range Rover should have subtle design cues to let the world know where the brand is headed in its evolution. So, while we haven’t thrown in a glossy or curvy panel in place of the radiator grille, we used a slightly cleaner yet just as sophisticated grille—some may think even more so—featuring a square mesh pattern, in our illustration (above). A royal blue V-shaped frame for the exquisitely blanked-off upper grille and a metal blade in a matching color above the skid plate are among the subtle exclusivities at the front.

On the sides, the trademark signature side graphic features a contrasting blue highlight. The chunky multi-spoke alloy wheels carry a special aerodynamic design without hassling the planted and purposeful stance. An electrically-operated flap secures the EV’s charging port. The roof would be configurable in blue, seen on the EV-specific highlights elsewhere on the exterior.

LWB version has a big future

JLR’s North American CEO Joe Eberhardt told Automotive News on May 7, 2022, that customers were looking forward to the three-row version of the Range Rover gasoline model. The CEO expects 60% of orders to be the short-wheelbase version and 40% of orders to be the long-wheelbase SUV in the United States. The majority of the long-wheelbase cars are expected to be configured with three rows of seats.

Moreover, Eberhardt also stated that the three-row SUV is the most usable variant, where the seats can be folded to expand the boot. As it’s clear that many customers prefer three-row seating, Land Rover is unlikely to ignore their needs in the EV.

Range Rover Electric SV

A Range Rover Electric SV is also in the pipeline. Arriving from the Special Vehicle Operations (SVO) division, the all-electric Range Rover SV should offer exclusive design details, colors, and materials. A high degree of personalization would let customers configure a more luxurious and unique SUV.

Michael van der Sande, MD – SVO, Jaguar Land Rover, has told Autocar that the company wants the first SV EV as emotionally attractive as the SV models with an internal combustion engine. The electric SVs from Land Rover will likely include some go-fast SUVs and perhaps some off-road-specializing SUVs, as electric powertrains can improve off-road capability.

Interior

According to Hennessy Land Rover Gwinnett (landrovergwinnett.com), a Land Rover dealership in Duluth (Georgia), USA, the Range Rover Electric is expected in 4-7 seat versions. The pure-electric Range Rover will feature the largest screens Land Rover offers. A leather-free interior will be available optionally to make it even more appealing for eco-conscious customers who stand against animal cruelty and seek a vegan alternative. Wireless Apple CarPlay, wireless Android Auto, and a wireless smartphone charger will be standard, helping customers to avoid extra wires and further save the environment.

In the combustion model, JLR has used the Pivi Pro touchscreen infotainment system with a 13.3-inch curved, floating screen—the largest ever touchscreen in a Land Rover. The new central display, in what’s a Land Rover-first feature, provides haptic feedback on touching and pressing the screen, making its usage less distractive. Expect the same in the pure-electric version.

Likewise, a 13.7-inch semi-floating, fully digital instrument cluster works in sync with the Pivi Pro system. The new climate control panel is more conventional. The electronic gear selector is a new short and compact unit, in line with the new reduced design theme. Rear-seat passengers can entertain themselves with adjustable 11.4-inch HD touchscreens. We don’t see why Land Rover will change these features in the EV model.

An 8-inch touchscreen residing in the rear center armrest allows controlling the seating position and making other adjustments to fine-tune the rear cabin environment. For the first time, customers can specify their Range Rover as a seven-seater, and so, big families no longer need to settle for the Range Rover Sport.

Specifications

MLA-Flex platform

The all-new Range Rover opens a new chapter for the brand, debuting a game-changing platform, MLA-Flex, that will prepare it to go all-electric. MLA-Flex will enable Land Rover to package even the heaviest SUVs with everything from conventional engines to hybrid systems and fully electric powertrains. Land Rover plans to utilize MLA-Flex for every model above the Evoque eventually, in a top-down approach, and the big daddy Range Rover is the first of the lot.

Ultimately, New Range Rover will also become the first all-electric Land Rover as we deliver the vision laid out in our Reimagine strategy

Nick Miller, Range Rover Product Chief, Jaguar Land Rover (World Premiere on October 26, 2021)

Thanks to the MLA-Flex platform, the all-new Range Rover’s body is up to 50% stiffer, with a static torsional stiffness of 33 kNm/deg. The torsional stiffness is up to 50% higher even with a full-length panoramic roof. The all-new Range Rover is the brand’s first model available with 23-inch wheels, and they would look great on its electric variant. The 75 mm extra wheelbase of the MLA-Flex platform provides a roomier interior. With the additional 200 mm wheelbase of the Long Wheelbase version, for the first time ever in the Range Rover, seven occupants can comfortably travel together.

The MLA platform – it’s a unique platform. It’s a platform which is bringing (not only) all this proportion that you can see on our cars, but also all the extraordinary capabilities which make them completely unique.

Thierry Bollore, former CEO, Jaguar Land Rover (Tata Motors Q3 FY22 earnings conference call on January 31, 2022)

Range Rovers are renowned for their refinement, comfort, and capability. All those aspects stand to gain by making it electric. The zero-emission variant would be smoother and quieter, so whether you’re behind the wheel or in the back seat, you could find it a more relaxing vehicle. Plus, more power and torque should make it quicker and zippier, if you choose to drive.

Compared to the combustion model, the Range Rover Electric may even be more capable off-road thanks to better weight distribution, higher ground clearance, more torque vectoring, and better responsiveness. The next generation SUV may have better approach and departure angles if it moves over to a skateboard platform.

Range Rover Electric Powertrain

The Range Rover Electric could get powertrains co-developed with the BMW Group. In June 2019, Jaguar Land Rover collaborated with the German automaker to develop next-generation Electric Drive Units (EDUs) jointly. However, the companies plan to manufacture them for their respective models individually. JLR plans to make electric drive systems at the Wolverhampton-based Engine Manufacturing Centre (EMC). Could they be related to the fifth-gen BMW eDrive powering the iX and i4? Possibly.

Aspect	Range Rover Electric Specification (Expected)
Battery Pack Capacity	~110 kWh
Drivetrain Layout	AWD
No. of Motors	Two
Power	Up to 530 hp
Torque	Up to 750 lb.-ft.
EPA-est. Range	250-300 miles
Peak Charging Power	11 kW (AC)/200 kW (DC)
Least Charging Time	10 hours (10-100% SoC, AC)/35 minutes (10-80%, DC)

Wide-bandgap semiconductors

Jaguar Land Rover has struck a deal with Wolfspeed to source the company’s Silicon Carbide semiconductors. The company plans to use these wide-bandgap semiconductors in the inverters of future electric vehicles, beginning with the Range Rover Electric in 2024. As part of the deal, JLR enjoys the benefits of the Wolfspeed Assurance of Supply Program, which will give it greater visibility and control over its future supply chain.

Silicon Carbide semiconductor has a bandgap of 3.26, which is almost three times the bandgap of Silicon semiconductor (1.12). Thus, electronics using Si semiconductors can be smaller, operate much faster and more reliably, and function at higher temperatures, higher voltages and higher frequencies. This would help the Land Rover electric vehicles to deliver more driving range and higher efficiency.

Customizable home charging

On July 8, 2022, Jaguar Land Rover announced that it will offer high-end, customizable home charging point points for its electrified models, which will include the Range Rover Electric from 2024, in the UK. The company may offer the same in the U.S. as well.

In the UK, JLR has collaborated with Andersen EV, a London-based company that manufactures and supplies luxury, vehicle-customizable charging points. As many customers don’t want the standard wall-mounted EV chargers because they can be an eyesore, the company will offer them Andersen EV’s stylish wall-mounted EV charger called A2.

The Andersen EV A2 home charger comes in 7 and 22 kW variants. It features a premium design and a hidden compartment to hide the charging cable and plug when not in use. With 96 color options and two material choices – metal and (sustainably sourced) Accoya wood, customers can order their A2 home charger in a look that best suits the color theme of their residence.

Price

The all-new Range Rover’s P440e plug-in hybrid variant costs USD 110,500 in the U.S. The prices of the pure-electric variant could start at around USD 130,000.

In the Q&A session after JLR detailed its new direction in February 2021, an analyst asked if it sees the Range Rover BEVs as a priority and its views on the risk involved in demand and profitability. In response, Thierry Bollore, the former CEO of the British luxury automaker, indicated that both Range Rover Sport EV and Range Rover Electric will be profitable models.

Well, when we design our programs, vehicle programs, I can tell you that we even do not imagine to design them with level of profitability which would be detrimental in terms of contribution to our targets. And I think it was quite clear in our presentations that we want all models of each brand to contribute to the profitability targets of the company. So, there is no margin here of mistaking, and we won’t. We know, we are going to make sure that we will get right profitability with these products as well.

Thierry Bollore, former CEO, Jaguar Land Rover

6 new Land Rover EVs by 2025 under the ‘Reimagine’ strategy

In its annual report for 2022, JLR says that the Land Rover portfolio will see the inclusion of six pure-electric variants based on Modular Longitudinal Architecture (MLA) and Electric Modular Architecture (EMA) over the next four years. The company expects Land Rover electric models to account for 60% of the brand’s global sales by 2030.

TopElectricSUV says

Land Rover intends for the Range Rover to be the most capable and luxurious SUV, and the pursuit is deemed to fail if efforts are not directed at a fully-electrified carriage. The British icon would also have to protect its business equally from legacy brands and startups like Rivian, Lucid, and Polestar that are younger than the iPhone and are proving that customers are comfortable up to coughing up six-digit figures for luxury, performance, and off-road vehicles from unknown marques.

Also Read: Land Rover Discovery Electric expected mid-decade

Range Rover Electric FAQs

Featured Image: TopElectricSUV’s rendition of the Range Rover Electric