For years, we’ve known that an electric Range Rover was coming. After all, a battery-powered version of the quintessential luxury SUV just makes sense. Well, as it inches further toward production, Land Rover has released photos of the new electric Range Rover undergoing hot climate testing in the United Arab Emirates, and it looks pretty much like any other Range Rover.
Over the past few years, manufacturers have started to realize that people don’t always want their electric cars to look like stereotypical electric cars — streamlined bubbles in pursuit of pure aerodynamic efficiency. Instead, many customers want their cars to look and feel like cars, but without the noise of a combustion engine. Think electric G-Class versus the soap bar known as the Mercedes-Benz EQS SUV.
Perhaps as a result, Land Rover hasn’t made much, if any, attempt to disguise its incoming electric model. The upper radiator grille has been replaced with a relatively tasteful new element, but otherwise, this looks like a Range Rover. Same delightful hidden window rubbers, same silver accents, same silhouette.
While we don’t know that much more about the new electric Range Rover at this point, we do know is that the traction control system seems absolutely out-of-this-world. For context, the traction control system in a standard modern combustion car reacts to wheelspin by cutting engine power and braking individual wheels. While traction control started out fairly clunky, over the decades, systems have been refined to see actual torque reduction at the wheels within, say, 50 milliseconds. That’s pretty good, but not as good as what Land Rover claims is in the new electric Range Rover, which can reduce the so-called “torque reaction time” at the wheels down to one millisecond. One one-thousandth of a second.
See, instead of actuating the brakes and/or cutting spark or fuel, Land Rover is able to actually act directly on each motor controller, cutting output at the source. It’s a page straight out of Lucid’s playbook, only instead of being in the pursuit of lap times, it’s in the pursuit of driving on slippery stuff. For instance, sand is definitely a low-traction surface, and with the instant torque of electric motors, it’s pretty easy to dial up a little too much twist on sand in an EV. Having such quick-intervening traction control should make driving on loose surfaces a little easier.
Anyway, expect to learn more about the new electric Range Rover in 2025, when the model is slated to go on sale. While it isn’t for everyone, think of it as rounding out Range Rover’s portfolio. You can already buy a combustion-powered or plug-in hybrid model, so an EV is the next logical step. Considering how many Range Rover owners have the space and resources to charge at home, this feels like a safe bet.
(Photo credits: Land Rover)
Support our mission of championing car culture by becoming an Official Autopian Member.
-
I Don’t Really Understand What’s Going On With This Viral Range Rover Video
-
Someone Traded In An 18 Year-Old Supercharged Range Rover Sport And I Was Terrified. Until I Drove It
-
This Aston Martin V12-Swapped Range Rover Can Get Absolutely None More British
-
Here’s How Range Rover’s Solving Satin Paint Problems Using Plastic
-
Why This Early-2000s Range Rover Is Worth Keeping An Eye On
Please send tips about cool car things to tips@theautopian.com. You could even win a prize!
Cool! Now when it breaks, it’ll cost even more to fix! 😛
Perfect. I’ll be able to pick up an off lease example for pocket lint and a bottle of cheap Madeira.
“For sale: 2025 electric range rover, 60000 miles. Will trade for dirt bike”
Basically. That’s most of the Range Rovers on FB around me.
Except that these will be cheap on the used market, like most RRs. Again, they are not bad cars and can last 300k+ miles when taken care off, but the electronic issues which JLR has is concerning. Granted, an Escalade may have those problems and other issues serious and minor as well, but they hold their value in the used market better than an RR will. Plus, the RR parts will be expensive, more so than a Cadillac (depending on the generation.
And I forgot. Unlike the Escalade, RRs have a “female stereotype”- they are driven by immature females and ALSO actresses, female celebrities and etc. Granted men drive them as well..but what I see here in Qatar makes me think they are a lady’s car (and also based what female celebrities own as well), unlike the Escalade with its rugged and towering appearance (which unfortunately IS A BIG SAFETY ISSUE).
Again, I am not saying RRs are terrible- it simply does not make the cut for people like us. They can last 300k+ miles as I said, but the number of RRs pre-2010 (and most German/European cars) to Escalades pre-2010 in Qatar shows the number skewed unfavorably to the Escalade…even though the Escalade is not as offroad capable.
In the southeast they have a similar reputation. Incidentally the only person I know who drives them is my aunt
RRs are not prone to rust unlike Land Cruisers or GMT800 Escalades….but some Land Rovers can fail…
This particular example is begging for a decent window tint. This generation of RR is so handsome though (as they all have been), I’m glad they didn’t mess with it.
Yes generic rich NPC SUV but that traction control system does sound really neat and also props to LR for not falling down the overdesign and “oops all grille” rabbit holes.
Yeah, I’m not generally a fan of the kind of minimalist design LR is doing, but they’re doing the hell out of it – the new RR is both genuinely pretty and looks like it costs what it does.
Agreed with Dottie that this is a bland / meh design. But… jeez, what a waste of resources this is. I guess that the folks buying this don’t give a shit about emissions or resource depletion.
Combine normal RR depreciation and then mix in EV depreciation and hooooo boy, anyone buying these things brand new is gonna lose some serious money.
That’s what they used to say about Ted Bundy. (look it up.)
Just because something “looks” normal, does not a guarantee make. YMMV.
I swear, sometimes it appears LR is the only brand with common sense. Maybe they should pull adide their little brother Jaguar for a chat.
Wait, Guv’nor – it’s the same guy???
Hmm, Range Rover EV? Shouldn’t they call it a Limited Range Rover.
And the Camel Trophy edition could be the Extended Range Rover?
Second thoughts, they’d just use that for the long wheelbase version.
If this doesn’t win COTD, I’ll riot.
Electric door handles…. :'(
“modern cars are so expensive!” cry consumers who want useless crap like this.
I am somewhat satisfied the Escalade still has physical door handles (even with a lot of other horrible electronics in the refresh…)
What happens if the door handles fail?
I know Range Rovers (especially the modern ones) are rarely taken off road, but imagine these stupid door handles failing out in the middle of nowhere! Technophilic madness!
Given that there was a Land Rover down the street from me where the door handles just fell off I’m not really sure going electric will make them more prone to failure.
Thank goodness the wheels aren’t blacked out too – otherwise at night it would look like the blade of a giant chrome potato peeler flying down the road….