Jaguar Land Rover is expanding its electrified vehicle line-up with the introduction of its latest plug-in hybrid system, which debuts in the company’s two best-selling vehicles.
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The 1.5-litre three-cylinder plug-in hybrid combines a conventional petrol engine, the smallest in the Ingenium range, with an electric motor to provide sustainable, efficient all-electric performance for shorter trips plus traditional power or combined petrol and electric drive for optimum efficiency on longer journeys.
The new technology is being introduced in the latest generation Range Rover Evoque and comprehensively updated Land Rover Discovery Sport, making them among the most cost-efficient compact premium SUVs available.
The 147kW engine, combined with an 80kW electric motor on the rear axle, gives all-wheel drive capability. Efficient electrification, downsizing and lightweighting also enables incredibly low CO2 of just 32g/km on the Evoque and 36g/km on the Discovery Sport. Additionally, both vehicles have an impressive all-electric, zero tailpipe emission range of 66km and 62km, respectively.
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As a third option for longer distances, the vehicle can be powered solely by the 1.5-litre Ingenium petrol engine, maintaining the battery charge.
The company’s new 147kW 1.5-litre three-cylinder Ingenium petrol engine is at the heart of its latest plug-in hybrid system. Designed, engineered and manufactured in-house, the lightweight aluminium engine is 37kg lighter than the four-cylinder version.
Jaguar Land Rover claims fuel consumption figures as low as 1.4 lites/100km.
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Both the Range Rover Evoque and the Land Rover Discovery Sport are built on Land Rover’s Premium Transverse Architecture, which was designed from the outset for both plug-in and mild-hybrid technologies. The hardware has been packaged beneath the cabin floor without compromising cabin and luggage space, or all-terrain capabilities.
The South African introductions of the plug-in hybrid Range Rover Evoque and Land Rover Discovery Sport are unconfirmed. More information will follow in due course.
