Range Rover is taking the performance SUV into a new era with the introduction of the Range Rover Sport Electric, the first fully electric version of its sporting luxury SUV. Designed to deliver sharper responses, greater agility and stronger driver engagement without compromising the refinement and all-terrain capability expected from a Range Rover Sport, the new electric model combines a 550PS powertrain with an advanced chassis package engineered specifically for electric propulsion.

The result is a Range Rover Sport that is not simply electrified, but tuned to make the most of the instant and precise characteristics of electric drive. “Range Rover Sport is the most dynamic expression of Range Rover,” said Martin Limpert, Managing Director, Range Rover. “With Range Rover Sport Electric we’re taking that spirit of visceral engagement and desire into the electric age.”

Range Rover chose an appropriately demanding location to demonstrate the capabilities of its newest Sport model, putting the electric SUV through its final development test in the Carrara marble quarries of Italy. The challenge saw Range Rover Sport Electric tackle the Gioia Peak, navigating gradients of up to 45 degrees, extreme temperatures and constantly changing surfaces ranging from polished marble to deep layers of fine marble dust.

The test continues a long tradition of dramatic Range Rover Sport challenges, following previous exploits including the Pikes Peak Hill Climb, China’s 999-step Heaven’s Gate and an Icelandic spillway. For the Carrara challenge, the electric SUV relied on a specially calibrated Intelligent Traction Management system, virtual all-wheel drive, Dynamic Air Suspension and electronic Active Roll Control. The latter can apply up to 1,400Nm of force across each axle to help maintain composure.

Twin Valve Dampers and Adaptive Dynamics further enhance control, with the system monitoring 100 parameters 500 times every second to manage body roll and pitch during cornering and braking. All-Wheel Steering also proved valuable in the quarry, allowing the SUV to negotiate tight hairpin bends without needing to reverse.

Underneath the familiar muscular Range Rover Sport design is a dual-motor electric powertrain producing 550PS and 850Nm, giving the model the highest torque output of any Range Rover Sport. Torque delivery is also significantly quicker than the Range Rover Electric, with the system ramping up torque 50 per cent faster. Engage Dynamic Launch Mode and Range Rover Sport Electric can accelerate from 0-60mph in as little as 4.3 seconds, matching the quoted performance of the P540 V8-powered Range Rover Sport. Yet the character of the electric model is not defined solely by acceleration.

Range Rover engineers have developed a distinctive soundscape specifically for the Sport Electric. The system uses layered tones designed to complement different driving modes, creating an acoustic identity intended to make the near-silent electric SUV feel more engaging from behind the wheel.

The electric model benefits from a body structure that is 61 per cent stiffer than the Range Rover Sport PHEV, while its centre of gravity is 73mm lower. According to Range Rover Vehicle Engineering Director Matt Becker, the combination gives the electric SUV sharper responses and greater agility while retaining the comfort and capability associated with the nameplate. The vehicle’s development programme included testing at the Magarigawa Club private track near Tokyo, Japan, alongside extensive global testing designed to fine-tune its chassis and electric powertrain.

Power comes from a 118.5kWh lithium-ion battery housed within a high-strength aluminium enclosure and connected to two 260kW electric motors. An 800V electrical architecture enables high-speed charging, while JLR’s ThermAssist heat-management technology has been developed to maximise the electric powertrain’s efficiency and usable range.

Range Rover quotes a WLTP range of up to 609km, while a stated real-world range of up to 333 miles is intended to provide enough capacity for many daily journeys without requiring a recharge. When connected to a rapid DC public charger, the Range Rover Sport Electric can add up to 220km of range in around 10 minutes, while a 10-80 per cent charge takes approximately 22 minutes. Even aerodynamic details have been designed with efficiency in mind. The revised grille and optimised alloy wheel designs can contribute up to an additional 10 miles of driving range at motorway speeds.

Despite its new propulsion system, the Range Rover Sport Electric retains the model’s familiar muscular proportions and luxury-focused character. Order books are now open in Dynamic SE, Dynamic HSE, Autobiography and First Edition specifications. Buyers can also opt for a Black Pack and Satin Wrap for a darker appearance.

The First Edition receives a particularly distinctive treatment, combining Zadar Grey paint with a Satin Wrap, black contrast roof and 22-inch alloy wheels. Autobiography customers can also access Range Rover Bespoke, allowing extensive personalisation across paint colours, material finishes, configurations and detailing such as bespoke embroidery.

Range Rover has also focused on battery durability, serviceability and safety during development. The battery is engineered to withstand high-impact loads, while JLR’s dedicated battery testing laboratory subjects live batteries to extreme vibration and shock testing across temperatures ranging from -40°C to +90°C.

Each Range Rover Sport Electric also comes with a Battery Digital Twin, allowing Range Rover to monitor battery condition and use Software Over The Air technology to support proactive maintenance. The battery itself is covered by an eight-year or 100,000-mile warranty.

Built at Solihull in the UK alongside the petrol, diesel and PHEV versions, the Range Rover Sport Electric represents a significant evolution of the nameplate rather than a departure from its established formula. It brings the instant response of electric propulsion, a lower centre of gravity and extensive chassis technology to a vehicle that remains focused on the combination of sporting performance, luxury and all-terrain capability that has defined Range Rover Sport for more than two decades.