Land Rover is expected to introduce a plug-in hybrid to its Range Rover Evoque range that will come with a three-cylinder, 1.5-litre petrol engine.
The Range Rover Evoque PHEV will offer reduced emissions, better performance and a limited pure electric range. The SUV’s lithium-ion battery will be powered by the new 48V electrical architecture that was previewed by the 2015 Evoque mild hybrid Concept e. Similar to the concept, the production-spec Evoque PHEV’s electric motor will be used as the 1.5-litre engine’s starter motor.
Land Rover is mum on the car’s launch date and is sticking to its previous statement that all its cars will have an electrified variant from 2020. However, this hybrid SUV could arrive before that deadline.
The launch of the hybrid may come alongside the unveiling of the next-gen Evoque that will be underpinned by a larger platform and be offered with improved turbocharged petrol and diesel engines.
The Evoque PHEV will be the third model in Land Rover’s line-up after the Range Rover Sport and Range Rover to sport a hybrid variant. Land Rover CEO Ralf Speth confirmed at the Frankfurt motor show that the latter two will launch later this year internationally. All Range Rover hybrids will sport a petrol-electric powertrain rather than the diesel-electric drivetrain found in the current PHEV Range Rover.
There is no word on any of these hybrid vehicles coming to India.
Dipan Sur
Viraaj Bhatnagar
