2025 Range Rover Electric is expected to be both unique & capable

Update: All sections revised with new information.

Jaguar Land Rover (JLR) looks confident about successfully electrifying even the biggest models, including the Range Rover, Range Rover Sport, and Discovery. The Range Rover Electric will be the most daring vehicle project under the company’s Reimagine strategy. Here’s what we expect from the Range Rover EV:

Range Rover first, electric second

The Range Rover EV will be every bit Range Rover as the gas model, if not even more. Checking all the boxes required to be worthy of the esteemed name is the first priority for this model, JLR COO Lennard Hoornik indicated in an interview with Forbes India in September 2023. He said that JLR doesn’t want to build just an EV, it wants to make a Ranger Rover EV.

Stating some examples, Hoornik said that the Range Rover Electric must be capable of rock crawling and managing submersion of 90 cm (35.4 in.) – the same as the gas model. We must make a note here that the wading depth has turned out to be slightly lower – 33.4 in. Engineering such an SUV, which also has a big battery at the bottom, is difficult, Hoornik added, but he’s confident that JLR will accomplish the challenge by releasing it on the market (starting customer deliveries) by 2025.

Design

A clip of what we reckon is the Range Rover EV, released in October 2022 when Land Rover announced its partnership with Wolfspeed, had indicated that the electric version would repurpose the fifth-gen Range Rover. There’s no doubt the company kept in mind that it planned to fully electrify the latter when it started creating its reductive design.

The drag coefficient (0.30 Cd) is around 10% lower than in the previous model (0.34 Cd). With this significantly lower drag coefficient figure, the all-new Range Rover is the world’s most aerodynamically efficient luxury SUV, JLR claims. Any further refinement in this area can only help improve the range and quietness of the EV model.

JLR has released a set of teasers that reveal most of the design changes on the Range Rover Electric. The upper grille of the EV has a similar design, but it is almost fully covered and features slim rectangular openings. On the sides, the trademark signature side graphic has an elegant, rose gold-like shade.

The chunky multi-spoke alloy wheels carry a special aerodynamic design without upsetting the planted and purposeful stance. They feature a two-tone silver-black finish and an “EV” center cap instead of the familiar Land Rover oval center cap. However, JLR may offer other design and finish options for the wheels. The electric SUV features a unique power-sliding cover to open or secure the charging port.

LWB version has a big future

JLR North America President and CEO Joe Eberhardt told Automotive News on May 7, 2022, that the three-row SUV is the most usable variant, where the seats can be folded to expand the boot. As it’s clear that many customers prefer three-row seating, Land Rover is unlikely to ignore their needs in the EV.

Range Rover Electric SV

A Range Rover Electric SV is also in the pipeline. Arriving from the Special Vehicle Operations (SVO) division, the all-electric Range Rover SV should offer exclusive design details, colors, and materials. A high degree of personalization would let customers configure a more luxurious and unique SUV.

Michael van der Sande, former MD – SVO, Jaguar Land Rover, had told Autocar that the company wants the first SV EV as emotionally attractive as the SV models with an internal combustion engine. The electric SVs from Land Rover will likely include some go-fast SUVs and perhaps some off-road-specializing SUVs, as electric powertrains can improve off-road capability.

Interior

According to Hennessy Land Rover Gwinnett (landrovergwinnett.com), a Land Rover dealership in Duluth (Georgia), USA, the Range Rover Electric is expected in 4-7 seat versions. The pure-electric Range Rover will feature the largest screens Land Rover offers. A leather-free interior will be available optionally to make it even more appealing for eco-conscious customers who stand against animal cruelty and seek a vegan alternative. Wireless Apple CarPlay, wireless Android Auto, and a wireless smartphone charger will be standard, helping customers avoid extra wires and further save the environment.

In the combustion model, JLR has used the Pivi Pro touchscreen infotainment system with a 13.3-inch curved, floating screen—the largest ever touchscreen in a Land Rover. The new central display, in what’s a Land Rover-first feature, provides haptic feedback on touching and pressing the screen, making its usage less distractive. Expect the same in the pure-electric version.

Likewise, a 13.7-inch semi-floating, fully digital instrument cluster works in sync with the Pivi Pro system. The new climate control panel is more conventional. The electronic gear selector is a new short and compact unit, in line with the new reduced design theme. Rear-seat passengers can entertain themselves with adjustable 11.4-inch HD touchscreens. We don’t see why Land Rover will change these features in the EV model.

An 8-inch touchscreen residing in the rear center armrest allows controlling the seating position and making other adjustments to fine-tune the rear cabin environment. For the first time, customers can specify their Range Rover as a seven-seater, and so big families no longer need to settle for the Range Rover Sport.

Specifications

MLA-Flex platform

The all-new Range Rover opens a new chapter for the brand, debuting a game-changing platform, MLA-Flex, that will prepare it to go all-electric. MLA-Flex will enable Land Rover to package even the heaviest SUVs with everything from conventional engines to hybrid systems and fully electric powertrains. Land Rover plans to utilize MLA-Flex for many models in a top-down approach, and the big daddy Range Rover is the first of the lot.

Thanks to the MLA-Flex platform, the all-new Range Rover’s body is up to 50% stiffer, with a static torsional stiffness of 33 kNm/deg. The torsional stiffness is up to 50% higher even with a full-length panoramic roof. The all-new Range Rover is the brand’s first model available with 23-inch wheels, and they would look great on its electric variant.

The 75 mm extra wheelbase of the MLA-Flex platform provides a roomier interior. With the additional 200 mm wheelbase of the Long Wheelbase version, for the first time ever in the Range Rover, seven occupants can comfortably travel together.

This is the Range Rover with a BEV powertrain. And BEV happens to give the exact combination of power, quietness and serenity that is perfect for the Range Rover brand. So this will be the top end of Range Rover. This will not be any other thing than probably the best performing Range Rover that you can get.

Richard Molyneux, CFO, Jaguar Land Rover (Tata Motors Group Q4 FY24 earnings call on May 10, 2024)

The Range Rover stands to gain going all-electric

Range Rovers are renowned for their refinement, comfort, and capability. All those aspects stand to gain by making it electric. The zero-emission variant would be smoother and quieter, so whether you’re behind the wheel or in the back seat, you could find it a more relaxing vehicle. Plus, more power and torque should make it quicker and zippier, if you choose to drive.

It’s going to be a peerless symbol of our vision of modern luxury, with whisper quiet levels of performance, and delivering all the values you’d expect from a Range Rover: off-road capability, usability, refinement, and performance.

Nick Collins, former Executive Director – Vehicle Programmes, Jaguar Land Rover (JLR Investors Day, on June 12, 2023)

Wide-bandgap semiconductors

Jaguar Land Rover has struck a deal with Wolfspeed to source the company’s Silicon Carbide semiconductors. The company plans to use these wide-bandgap semiconductors in the inverters of future electric vehicles, beginning with the Range Rover Electric in 2024. As part of the deal, JLR enjoys the benefits of the Wolfspeed Assurance of Supply Program, which will give it greater visibility and control over its future supply chain.

Silicon Carbide semiconductor has a bandgap of 3.26, which is almost three times the bandgap of Silicon semiconductor (1.12). Thus, electronics using Si semiconductors can be smaller, operate much faster and more reliably, and function at higher temperatures, higher voltages and higher frequencies. This would help the Land Rover electric vehicles to deliver more driving range and higher efficiency.

In-house EDU

JLR has said that this vehicle marks the debut of their in-house assembled battery and electric drive unit (EDU).

Additionally, the company disclosed that the new EV ditches a traditional ABS-based traction control system in favor of advanced software designed to precisely manage wheel slip. This innovation reportedly decreases the “torque reaction time at each wheel from 100 milliseconds to just one millisecond.” Consequently, “traction is maximised on all surfaces with exceptional response and composed refinement, significantly enhancing the Range Rover drive experience.”

Charging

JLR has confirmed that the Range Rover Electric’s batteries will operate at double the normal voltage – 800 volts. Thus, they’ll be able to reap the benefits of rapid chargers with 350 kW or higher capacity. A 10-80% charging session using such a charger may take just about 25 minutes.

On July 8, 2022, Jaguar Land Rover announced that it will offer high-end, customizable home charging point points for its electrified models, which will include the Range Rover Electric from 2024, in the UK. The company may offer the same in the U.S. as well.

In the UK, JLR has collaborated with Andersen EV, a London-based company that manufactures and supplies luxury, vehicle-customizable charging points. As many customers don’t want the standard wall-mounted EV chargers because they can be an eyesore, the company will offer them Andersen EV’s stylish wall-mounted EV charger called A2.

The Andersen EV A2 home charger comes in 7 and 22 kW variants. It features a premium design and a hidden compartment to hide the charging cable and plug when not in use. With 96 color options and two material choices – metal and (sustainably sourced) Accoya wood, customers can order their A2 home charger in a look that best suits the color theme of their residence.

Release Date

JLR is set to begin deliveries of the Range Rover Electric in early 2025, having initially aimed to start accepting orders in late 2023. Due to delays, the company instead opened a waiting list, attracting 33,000+ registrations, as announced during the Tata Motors Group Q4 FY24 earnings call on May 10, 2024.

We will expect to take those people who have signed up to the waiting list (for the Range Rover Electric) into orders early next year and then to deliver, start delivering the vehicles during the
course of next year.

Richard Molyneux, CFO, Jaguar Land Rover (Tata Motors Group Q4 FY24 earnings call on May 10, 2024)

The Range Rover Electric will arrive at dealers in global markets in a phased manner. Countries with a strong demand for EVs, be it because of government policy or just the love for electric cars, would get it first. The UK, Ireland, Sweden, Germany, and the Netherlands are likely to be top priorities, while the United States and China should be its biggest markets.

Manufacturing

Production of the Range Rover Electric will take place at JLR’s Solihull (UK) plant, which has been home to the Range Rover ever since its launch in 1970. The batteries will come from an external supplier for a few years, as per the Autocar report. JLR will kick off production of its first EV by the end of 2024.

JLR is setting up a new production system at the Solihull factory to support the production of the Range Rover Electric with an investment of approximately GBP 70 million (USD 90 million). This is in addition to a ~GBP 130 million (USD 166 million) investment in adding a new body shop to increase the production of the Range Rover and Range Rover Sport model lines by 30%. The Range Rover Electric will be followed by the Jaguar 4-door GT, also confirmed to be built in Solihull.

Price

Prices of the Range Rover Electric could start at around USD 130,000 in the American market.

In the Q&A session after JLR detailed its new direction in February 2021, an analyst asked if it sees the Range Rover BEVs as a priority and its views on the risk involved in demand and profitability. In response, Thierry Bolloré, the former CEO of the British luxury automaker, indicated that both Range Rover Sport EV and Range Rover Electric will be profitable models.

Well, when we design our programs, vehicle programs, I can tell you that we even do not imagine to design them with level of profitability which would be detrimental in terms of contribution to our targets. And I think it was quite clear in our presentations that we want all models of each brand to contribute to the profitability targets of the company. So, there is no margin here of mistaking, and we won’t. We know, we are going to make sure that we will get right profitability with these products as well.

Thierry Bolloré, former CEO, Jaguar Land Rover

TopElectricSUV says

Land Rover intends for the Range Rover to be the most capable and luxurious SUV, and the pursuit is deemed to fail if efforts are not directed at a fully electrified carriage. The British icon would also have to protect its business equally from legacy brands and startups like Rivian, Lucid, and Polestar that are younger than the iPhone and are proving that customers are comfortable up to coughing up six-digit figures for luxury, performance, and off-road vehicles from unknown marques.

Range Rover Electric FAQs

Featured Image: TopElectricSUV’s illustration of the Range Rover Electric

I got my Master’s in Business Management & Administration and have been an International Automotive News Editor since 2014. I’ve traveled to global motor shows and automotive events, driven various types of vehicles, and focused on hybrid and electric cars in the last 4 years.