Range Rover Electric Prototype Undergoes Winter Testing in Arctic Circle Ahead of Global Debut

The Range Rover Electric is undergoing rigorous testing across a range of climates and temperatures, ranging from -40°C in the Arctic Circle to +50°C in the Middle Eastern deserts, before its global debut later this year. JLR has officially released the first test images of the electric SUV cruising through snow in Sweden's Arctic Circle. Visually, the electric prototype looks a lot like the ICE-powered Range Rover (Rs 2.39 crore). It has an all-black paint job. 

According to the press statement, the initial tests focused on the performance of transmission, electric motors, and electronics at temperatures below zero. For the first time, the manufacturer developed its own battery and electric drive unit (EDU). Here are more details on the Range Rover Electric that will go on sale in several markets, including India, after its global debut.

Thomas Mueller, Executive Director, Product Engineering, said, ''Range Rover with electric power – means customary Range Rover luxury, refinement and capability plus near-silent fully electric propulsion; with effortlessly smooth and relaxed journeys.''

He added ''To ensure we leave no stone uncovered, we are well underway with our physical testing and development programme, all designed at pushing Range Rover Electric to the extremes to ensure its capability remains unparalleled when it reaches you.''

Range Rover Electric Prototype Winter Testing: More Details

JLR claims that the upcoming e-SUV will perform better on icy or low-grip surfaces compared to its traditional counterpart. It stated ''Rather than a traditional traction control setup based solely in the ABS unit, Range Rover Electric distributes the wheel slip management task directly to each electric drive control unit, reducing the torque reaction time at each wheel from around 100 ms, to as little as 1 ms'. The company also added ''Innovative software, developed in-house by JLR, enables precise EDU speed control for accurate management of wheel slip, reducing the need for ABS intervention.''

Range Rover Electric: Powertrain and Other Details 

The technical specifications of the electrified SUV are currently unclear, except for the 800V charging architecture that allows for fast charging. The EV will include Jaguar Land Rover's flexible Modular Longitudinal Architecture (MLA). It is expected to have a dual-motor setup and 4WD and torque vectoring. The Range Rover Electric will be manufactured in Solihull, UK, besides the current mild-hybrid and PHEV versions. While there is no official announcement, the Range Rover Electric is predicted to go on sale in India by next year, with an expected price of Rs 3 crore (ex-showroom).

A Look At JLR's Recent Sales Success in India 

Jaguar Land Rover (JLR) India recorded 81% sales growth in FY2024, the highest rate in the last 5 years. It delivered 4,436 units in the previous fiscal year, which ended March 31, 2024. In India, JLR offers several models such as the Defender, the Discovery, the Discovery Sport, the Range Rover, the Range Rover Velar, the Range the Rover Evoque, the Jaguar I-Pace, the Jaguar F-Pace, and the Jaguar F-Type.