It’s officially happening. The Range Rover, widely regarded as one of the most luxurious, comfortable, and capable off-road SUVs globally, will have an all-electric variant. You wouldn’t be wrong to think that the Range Rover Electric—its official designation—might still be fueled by traditional gasoline.
This is because the electric Range Rover appears identical to its petrol-powered version. At least, that’s the impression I get from the latest official images shared by Land Rover. Currently, electric Range Rover prototypes are undergoing hot weather trials in the UAE, and the British brand seems confident enough to showcase the luxury EV, as it closely resembles the internal combustion engine (ICE) SUV we already know.
Take a look for yourself. All the official photos are in the gallery below, and aside from a few additional monitoring equipment that are typical for development models, the Range Rover Electric retains the same refined appearance that has become synonymous with understated luxury—and steep depreciation rates, but that’s another topic altogether.
Details about what powers this large electric SUV are still lacking, but Land Rover has indicated that the Range Rover EV will feature something called Intelligent Torque Management. According to the manufacturer, this system allocates wheel slip management to each separate electric drive control unit, decreasing the torque reaction time at each wheel from about 100 milliseconds to as little as 1 millisecond.
That’s quite remarkable. It suggests that the Range Rover Electric may be equipped with four motors, potentially one for each wheel—something we’ve seen only in a few production vehicles to date, including the Rivian R1S Quad-Motor, Rimac Nevera, and the Mercedes-Benz with EQ Technology. (Good luck saying that three times fast.)
Nonetheless, this is still not confirmed, so take it with a pinch of caution. The capacity of the battery and the output of the electric motors are still undisclosed. Still, I wouldn’t anticipate outstanding driving range numbers, given that the gas-powered Range Rover is already hefty, weighing roughly 5,000 pounds. Adding a substantial battery will only increase its weight, likely affecting the range.
However, in the luxury segment, it seems that achieving significant distance on a full charge is not as critical as the overall experience. Just look at the Rolls-Royce Spectre—it weighs a substantial 6,600 pounds and can travel up to 277 miles on a complete charge. Yet, this hasn’t deterred Rolls-Royce from achieving record sales.
The Range Rover EV will be a new entry in the Land Rover family for 2025. It is derived from the long-wheelbase gas-powered Range Rover, designed with a unique multilink suspension system that minimizes the space required for wheel articulation, allowing for additional room for the EV’s battery and rear-wheel steering apparatus.
Pricing and Recommendations
The starting price for the 2025 Land Rover Range Rover EV is anticipated to be around $120,000, rising to about $160,000 based on trim levels and features. Land Rover has yet to announce pricing or specifics about its forthcoming fully electric Range Rover, so I won’t recommend one just yet until we obtain further information about the 2025 model.
Back in the 1970s, the Land Rover Range Rover’s impressive four-wheel-drive system and elegant interior convinced affluent individuals that it was enjoyable to take their luxury vehicles through muddy terrains. Now, the brand’s flagship model is taking a significant step forward, transitioning into the all-electric era with the 2025 Range Rover EV. While it closely resembles the gas-powered Range Rover SUV, the electric variant reportedly features multiple electric motors, and the company states that this powertrain will at least equal the performance of the gas-powered V-8 variant.
Land Rover might have engineered a four-motor configuration with individual wheel control akin to what has recently debuted on the Mercedes-Benz G-Class EV, but more information should surface as we approach the SUV’s release date. Key aspects like range, power, and pricing remain undisclosed, but we expect the Range Rover EV to uphold the luxury and formidable off-road capabilities that have been synonymous with the brand since it first arrived in the U.S. in 1987.
Recent images showcase JLR’s second production EV being tested in the UAE—following cold-weather tests earlier this year—where temperatures are soaring to 50 degrees Celsius with 90% humidity. Among the critical elements being evaluated, aside from their off-road performance, is whether the new thermal management system—the most sophisticated ever implemented in a Range Rover—can handle the heat “to ensure maximum client cabin comfort.” JLR asserts that all vehicles exceeded expectations in this regard.
The test mules are currently being driven up Big Red, a 300-foot sand dune located in the center of Sharjah’s Al Badayer desert, to evaluate the EV’s new Intelligent Torque Management system, which replaces a traditional ABS-based traction control system.
This system is said to enhance off-road traction control by redirecting power to each electric motor, which reduces torque reaction time from approximately 100 milliseconds to as quick as one millisecond. JLR reports that after five consecutive attempts, none of the vehicles showed any decline in performance.
Product engineering director Thomas Müller explained: “A hot environment poses one of the toughest challenges for any battery-electric vehicle, as it requires simultaneously cooling the cabin and optimizing battery efficiency.
“The added difficulty of navigating on sand demands controlled low-speed torque, so our specially designed traction control and thermal management systems operate in tandem to ensure that power delivery remains unaffected.
“Our trials have demonstrated that in this environment, repeatedly driving the equivalent of 100 meters uphill on fine sand, the Range Rover Electric matches the capability of its internal combustion engine counterparts; in some cases, it even surpasses them – thanks to these new features.”
Just like the vehicles seen in the Arctic Circle, these Range Rover EV prototypes are presented completely uncamouflaged – a choice made to “highlight the build quality of the initial prototypes,” according to JLR.
Painted entirely in black and lacking the contrasting matte trim elements that JLR has indicated will differentiate the EV powertrain, the prototype looks almost identical to the internal combustion engine Range Rover sold since 2022.
JLR stated that this demonstrates how the prototype’s “modernist design language remains true to the Range Rover lineage,” implying that the Range Rover Electric – its official name – will only have minor distinctions from the straight-six, V8, and plug-in hybrid variants.
JLR previously mentioned that this is the first vehicle to feature a battery and electric drive unit assembled in-house. However, no specific technical information or performance specifications have been disclosed yet, other than the earlier confirmation that it will utilize an 800V charging architecture.
While officials have yet to provide any performance particulars for the new Range Rover, it is promised to possess the same “go-anywhere” capability as the internal combustion engine version, with assurances that it will deliver towing, wading, and all-terrain capabilities that will surpass any other luxury electric SUV – including the capacity to wade through water 850mm deep.
The implication that the Range Rover Electric will provide performance “comparable” to the existing V8 suggests a total output nearing the 523bhp that this model delivers.
It is anticipated to implement a dual-motor system, which will enhance its four-wheel-drive capabilities and allow for features like torque vectoring to improve its off-road performance.
JLR stated that its testing program has been specifically modified to closely examine the vehicle’s underfloor, battery strength, and thermal derating.
The Range Rover Electric will be manufactured in Solihull alongside the existing mild-hybrid and PHEV versions. Initially, it will rely on batteries from an external supplier, eventually transitioning to packs produced in the new Somerset gigafactory that JLR’s parent company Tata has planned.
Interestingly, Land Rover program director Nick Miller previously informed Autocar that the MLA architecture is also readily able to accommodate a hydrogen powertrain, indicating that a Range Rover FCEV could be in the works – although the company has not provided an update on its Project Zeus hydrogen development initiative for quite some time.
Land Rover has previously been evaluating a hydrogen-fueled Defender prototype and indicated that hydrogen will be “complementary” to battery-electric technology throughout its lineup as it aims to achieve zero tailpipe emissions by 2036.
The new Range Rover Electric closely resembles the existing combustion engine model but features a more sealed upper front grille, copper-colored accents, and EV-branded center caps on the alloy wheels.
During testing, the battery-powered Range Rover successfully climbed the iconic 90-meter-high Big Red sand dune five times to validate its advanced torque management system which can adeptly distribute torque among each wheel, mimicking the brand’s ABS-driven Terrain Response technology.
The electric Range Rover claims to deliver power to each wheel individually, allowing it to adapt to diverse surfaces below in just one millisecond—well below the 100 milliseconds required by other Land Rover models.
An additional challenge for the new electric vehicle was maintaining a cool cabin while consistently optimizing battery performance.
The testing also emphasized the durability of the battery and performance under extreme heat, alongside how well the underbody could withstand continual sand and rock impacts.
Constructed on the same Modular Longitudinal Architecture (MLA) platform as its petrol, diesel, and plug-in hybrid counterparts, the luxury SUV brand has yet to disclose the specific power output of the new electric model but has suggested it will “achieve performance on par with a flagship V8.”
Anticipate a power output close to 500kW, providing impressive torque to achieve a sub-five-second time in the 0-100km/h sprint.
Land Rover has already confirmed that the Range Rover Electric will feature an 800-volt electrical architecture, enabling rapid DC charging rates between 270-350kW.
With an estimated battery capacity of around 100kWh or more, expect to recharge from 20-80 percent in roughly 25 minutes.
“Our tests have indicated that driving the equivalent of 100 meters uphill on fine sand in this environment, the Range Rover Electric matches the performance of its ICE counterparts; in some cases, it even exceeds them,” remarked engineering lead Thomas Muller.
“We aim to develop the quietest and most luxurious Range Rover to date. The key elements that drive Range Rover’s success remain unchanged—now with zero emissions.”
When it launches, the new electric Range Rover is expected to have the same wading capability of 850mm as the current Defender.
Complete specifications and pricing will be unveiled after its official launch next year, but Land Rover has announced that pre-orders are currently being accepted for the 2025 Range Rover Electric.
Range Rover is diligently working on its inaugural electric vehicle, which will visually mirror the current models, yet it will differ significantly beneath the surface. However, despite transitioning from combustion to electric power, the manufacturer asserts that the forthcoming EV will maintain all the attributes synonymous with the brand, combining luxury and comfort with exceptional off-road prowess.
Utilizing the same MLA platform as the traditional fuel-powered Range Rover, adjustments are necessary to accommodate a significant battery pack in its floor. This has led the automaker to revise the rear suspension arrangement, which previously occupied excessive space, resulting in the development of a compact multilink system that still permits comparable wheel articulation as the combustion version.
Nevertheless, although the electric Range Rover is merely an electric adaptation of the existing model, its development has posed considerable challenges. MotorTrend conversed with Jaguar-Land Rover COO Lennard Hoonik, who stated that “the electric Range Rover must prioritize being a Range Rover first,” adding that “regardless of whether your eyes are closed, it shouldn’t matter if it’s a V8 or an EV or an I-6. It has to be a genuine Range Rover.”
As electric vehicles can operate in complete silence, transitioning to an electric Range Rover will result in the creation of the brand’s most refined vehicle yet. The feeling of supreme luxury holds greater importance for most Range Rover purchasers than off-road capabilities, so the tranquil experience of driving an electric vehicle while enveloped in the brand’s opulent interiors is certainly appealing.
Even with the alterations to the suspension and electric powertrain, the electric Range Rover will still excel off-road. According to Range Rover managing director Geraldine Ingham, “Capability is intrinsic to our identity, and customers indeed value capability,” although the majority of buyers do not fully utilize these vehicles’ extensive capabilities, opting instead for the luxurious experience they provide.
The driving experience is expected to be akin to that offered by the Rolls Royce Spectre, the manufacturer’s first production EV, which finally accomplishes what Rolls has aimed to achieve since its beginning: delivering wholly silent and effortless powertrains. It stands as the most serene Rolls to date, and the electric Range is expected to resemble that, albeit with a higher ground clearance.
While the manufacturer has not disclosed the capacity of the EV’s battery, it is reasonable to expect its capacity to be 100 kilowatt-hours or more. For context, its direct competitor, the Mercedes EQG 580, features a 124 kWh battery, granting it a range of up to 290 miles on a single charge.
