The Range Rover Sport has gone electric for the first time. It is the second battery-powered model from Land Rover, and it brings the brand's most popular luxury SUV into the EV age.
Sport, Now Silent
The electric Sport follows the larger Range Rover EV, but it matters more. The Sport is the volume seller, the one that actually fills driveways, so going electric here is the bigger statement.
It keeps the familiar clean-sided Range Rover Sport look, just with the engine swapped for batteries. From the outside, you would struggle to tell it apart from the petrol cars.
The Hardware
Under the floor sits a large 117 kWh battery feeding dual motors for a combined 550 hp. That is serious performance for something this big and this plush.
Air suspension and the brand's clever off-road hardware carry over, so this is still a proper Range Rover, not a soft-road pretender.
It rides on Land Rover's MLA-Flex architecture with an 800-volt system, which means fast charging at up to 350 kW. Range lands at around 300 miles on a full charge.
Familiar Inside
The cabin carries over the look buyers already know, with the big curved Pivi Pro touchscreen and a 13.7-inch driver display. There is a dedicated welcome screen for the electric version.
Buyers can still option the long list of leathers, woods and trims, so the electric Sport can be as restrained or as lavish as the petrol versions.
The idea is simple. Land Rover wants the electric Sport to feel like a Range Rover first and an EV second, with none of the gimmicks that scare traditional buyers off.
images via https://media.landrover.com
When and Why
Land Rover confirmed the car at its June investor day, with the waiting list for its electric models already running into the tens of thousands.
The Sport is where the real money is for Land Rover, so an electric one had to be good. On paper, with 550 hp and 800-volt charging, it has the numbers to back up the badge.
Deliveries follow later, after the larger Range Rover EV leads the way. For buyers who wanted electric luxury without leaving the brand, the wait is nearly over.
Pricing has not been confirmed, but expect it to sit above the petrol and hybrid Sports. Electric luxury rarely comes cheap.
