Range Rover is plugging in a scrappy electric brawler.
Range Rover has been a little behind in ditching the pistons for a powertrain that sparks interest, get it? It is not a cynical play for the performance segment, oh no. Sadly, “sporting luxury” usually means a bloated cabin full of screens, and a precious interior that gets skittish at the sight of a field, let alone mud and rock.
The Goodwood preview was a performance audit to whet the appetite of posh footballers and farmers with taste. By throwing these prototypes at the Goodwood Motor Circuit, JLR is trying to convince us that weight-heavy battery packs won’t ruin the agility the Sport is famous for. They are promising a chassis tune that bridges the gap between raw, immediate torque and the refined, posh experience Range Rover buyers expect, no, demand. If they nail the weight distribution, it might actually be worth a crack.
Above: The 2027 Volvo EX30 ER Ultra is NOW Superb and Bug Free
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ABOVE: The Range Rover Sport
The engineering focus pairs electric drive with artificial soundscapes, to keep the soul of a combustion engine alive. There are drivers not content with the silent bliss of electric motoring, and for them the noise is a must. In a market absolutely lousy with soulless wheeled fridges, a bit of character might go a long way.
Range Rover is rounding out the lineup to cover all bases, without committing to an EV the same way Jaguar has. That is probably for the best given the pig’s breakfast of the new Jag’s ad campaign. You can still buy the lovely V8, the more sensible hybrid, or the six-cylinder if you prefer a dose of dinosaur juice. The Electric version is the outlier, the one they are betting on to keep the brand alive as regulators tighten the thumbscrews. Range Rover is chasing the feeling of a heavy-hitting SUV that can still handle a muddy trail or a mountain pass without breaking a nail.
We are still waiting on the final technical data. Things like specific battery chemistry, thermal management, and 800-volt charging architecture are still a secret whose reveal is punishable by many lashes. That is where the truth will be hit or miss. If they hit the charging expectations and nurture that signature driving engagement, the Sport might be able to justify its existence in the electric era. If it just becomes another heavy, isolated cruiser, it will be forgotten.
Chinese brands are giving the motoring market a thorough hiding and all legacy badges are being hit. Denza, for example, is a new entry that is kicking up a bit of fuss. History or not, old names have started to tumble down sales charts, knocked down like so many skittles. Range Rover deserves a look-in so let’s hope this is it.
More Range Rover Stories
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- First Look: Range Rover Electric Conquers the Arctic with New Tech
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Alan Zurvas is the founder and editor of Gay Car Boys, Australia's leading LGBTQI+ automotive publication. Before launching GCB in 2008, Alan's automotive writing was published in SameSame.com.au and the Star Observer. With over 16 years of hands-on car reviewing experience, Alan brings an honest, irreverent voice to every review — championing value and innovation over brand loyalty.
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