Range Rover Sport: 550 KM, quietness, and 900 mm of water resistance

In short:

Range Rover enters a new chapter in its history

The Sport Electric version looks almost identical from the outside

The difference lies under the hood, and more precisely under the floor

What is it? A battery with an impressive capacity of 118.5 kWh

Two electric motors generate 550 horsepower and 850 Nm of torque

Range? Up to 600 kilometers and 4.5 seconds to reach 100 km/h in Dynamic Launch mode

First deliveries are scheduled for the first quarter of 2027.

A new version of Range Rover Sport

For over two decades, Range Rover Sport has tried to combine two things that don’t always go hand in hand: performance on asphalt and the ability to go much further off it than typical luxury SUVs. Therefore, electrifying this model was more than just replacing the internal combustion engine with a battery and two motors.

The new Range Rover Sport Electric looks almost identical from the outside. It is most easily recognized by its modified grille, different wheel designs, and of course, the absence of exhaust tips. Much greater changes have taken place where they are not visible.

Performance like a V8, but without eight cylinders

Two electric motors, one at each axle, are responsible for propulsion. Their combined power is 550 horsepower, with a maximum torque of 850 Nm. This represents the highest torque value in Range Rover Sport history.

In Dynamic Launch mode, the car accelerates from 0 to 100 km/h in 4.5 seconds. Its performance is thus comparable to that of the gasoline-powered Range Rover Sport P540 with a V8 engine.

The electric drive is supposed to respond even faster than in the larger Range Rover Electric. The manufacturer claims that torque builds up 50% quicker. Thus, the car’s character changes not only due to its quiet operation but also in how it delivers power.

Range Rover has even created a separate sound track depending on the driving mode. It does not attempt to mimic a V8 engine — instead, it aims to create its own background sound for acceleration. This is one of the few elements in the new model where the manufacturer clearly emphasizes its electric nature.

The large battery is expected to provide over 600 km of range

A lithium-ion battery with a capacity of 118.5 kWh was found under the floor. According to WLTP, it should provide up to 609 km of driving range. Range Rover also lists an estimated “real-world” range of 537 km.

An battery this large requires a correspondingly fast charging system. The Sport Electric uses an 800 V architecture and can charge from 10% to 80% on a fast DC charger in about 22 minutes. A ten-minute charging stop can restore as much as 220 km of range.

The electric Sport is meant to drive differently

The additional weight from the massive battery doesn’t make things easier for engineers, but it does have one advantage — the battery can be placed very low.

The center of gravity of the electric Sport is 73 mm lower than that of its plug-in hybrid versions. Meanwhile, the body structure is 61% stiffer than in those models.

This is complemented by a suite of active suspension systems. The vehicle features a pneumatic Dynamic Air Suspension, an active system to limit body roll, adaptive Twin Valve shock absorbers, and a responsive rear axle.

The Adaptive Dynamics system analyzes 100 parameters as many as 500 times per second, continuously adjusting the suspension’s performance. In a large and heavy electric SUV, this helps reduce body roll in corners and the tendency for the vehicle to dive under braking.

Far beyond just handling on pavement

The Range Rover did not limit the electric Sport to being just a fast SUV for asphalt roads. It retains all-wheel drive and an Intelligent Traction Management system tailored to the characteristics of electric propulsion.

It can wade through water up to 900 mm deep and climb slopes with gradients of up to 45 degrees.

Produced alongside gasoline versions

The Range Rover Sport Electric is built on the MLA-Flex platform, which has been adapted for an 800 V electrical system. The vehicle is designed and manufactured in the UK.

Interestingly, the electric version will roll off the same production lines in Solihull as the gasoline, diesel, and plug-in hybrid Sport models. Thus, the electric version does not replace the other powertrains but rather complements the range.

Initially, the available variants will be Dynamic SE, Dynamic HSE, Autobiography, and First Edition. The latter will feature 22-inch wheels, a contrasting black roof, and special interior trim elements.

However, the stylistic changes remain minimal. Range Rover apparently believes that a customer looking for an electric Sport model doesn’t necessarily need a car that looks like a separate model.

Electric version joins an already extensive range

This is also important in terms of the car’s positioning. The Range Rover Sport is now available with diesel, gasoline, plug-in hybrid, and powerful V8 engines. Therefore, the electric version will be just another driving option, not the beginning of a complete abandonment of internal combustion engines.

For some customers, this might well be the most important feature of the new version. There’s no need to choose an electric SUV with a completely different appearance and character. What changes here is primarily what’s under the hood.

The first deliveries to selected markets are set to begin in the first quarter of 2027. The price list for the electric version has not been announced yet. The car competes primarily with the latest BMW iX5, as well as the Porsche Cayenne Electric.

Piotr Sobczyk