The first fully electric Range Rover Sport promises V8-rivalling performance, serious off-road ability and rapid 350kW charging.
The electric Range Rover Sport is finally here
Range Rover has revealed the first fully electric version of its Sport SUV, pairing a large 118.5kWh battery with dual electric motors, up to 550PS and a claimed WLTP range of 609km.
The Range Rover Sport Electric is available to order in Dynamic SE, Dynamic HSE, Autobiography and First Edition specifications. It joins the existing petrol, diesel and plug-in hybrid models, although New Zealand pricing and local arrival timing have not yet been announced in the supplied material.
There are two power outputs. The EV550 produces up to 550PS and 850Nm, with Range Rover claiming 0-100km/h in 4.5 seconds using Dynamic Launch Mode. The EV450 lowers output to 450PS and completes the same sprint in a claimed 5.6 seconds. Range Rover says the EV550’s acceleration is comparable with the P530 V8 model.
Big battery, long claimed range
Both variants use a 118.5kWh lithium-ion battery designed and built in-house by JLR. The pack uses 344 nickel-manganese-cobalt prismatic cells arranged across 10 modules in a twin-stacked cell-to-pack structure.
Range Rover claims up to 609km of WLTP range and quotes a separate 533km real-world figure based on its own standardised-route testing. As always, actual range will vary with temperature, speed, terrain, payload and driving style.
An 800-volt electrical system allows charging at up to 350kW, where a suitable charger is available. Range Rover says a 10-80 per cent charge takes around 22 minutes, while 10 minutes can add a claimed 215km of WLTP range. The battery can also operate with 400-volt charging infrastructure through a split-pack design.
AC charging is rated at up to 22kW. A full charge is claimed to take less than eight hours at 22kW, or less than 20 hours using a 7kW wallbox. The battery is covered by an eight-year or 160,000km warranty, subject to market-specific terms.
Designed to drive like a Sport
Rather than treating the electric model as a quieter version of the regular Range Rover Sport, JLR says it has tuned the car around sharper responses and more precise torque delivery.
Each axle carries a 260kW electric drive unit. The all-wheel-drive system monitors grip and driver inputs 100 times per second, while the traction system can manage motor speed within 50 milliseconds. Torque is said to build 50 per cent faster than in the larger Range Rover Electric and can be delivered in as little as five milliseconds.
The MLA-Flex structure is claimed to be 61 per cent stiffer than the Range Rover Sport plug-in hybrid, while the battery placement lowers the centre of gravity by 73mm. Chassis hardware includes adaptive air suspension, twin-valve dampers, torque vectoring by braking and an electronic active roll-control system.
All-wheel steering is standard on the EV550 and optional on the EV450. At lower speeds, the rear wheels can turn up to 7.3 degrees in the opposite direction to the fronts, helping produce a turning circle of less than 11 metres. At higher speeds, the rear wheels turn with the fronts to improve stability.
Still intended to work off-road
The electric drivetrain has not removed the traditional Range Rover capability claims. The Sport Electric retains a 900mm wading depth and uses Terrain Response 2, configurable terrain settings and adaptive off-road cruise control.
A new Single Pedal Driving mode can bring the vehicle to a complete stop without the brake pedal. Range Rover says the system is useful both on-road and during slow off-road driving, where reducing the driver’s workload can make steep or rocky sections easier to manage.
The vehicle can tow up to 2.5 tonnes and includes an optional electrically deployable towbar, Advanced Tow Assist and a towing range-prediction function. Vehicle-to-load capability will also allow the battery to power small electrical appliances through an adaptor.
Managing heat and repeat performance
A new ThermAssist thermal-management system monitors 600 parameters covering the battery, motors and cabin. Range Rover claims the system contributes up to 40km of certified range by itself and reduces heating energy use by 40 per cent.
The heat pump can recover waste heat from the motors for the cabin or battery. The electric drive units also use pressurised oil cooling, including dedicated spray nozzles and channels through the motor laminations, to maintain performance under sustained loads such as sand driving.
Development included more than 250,000 hours of virtual testing, along with physical testing in temperatures down to minus 40 degrees Celsius, desert heat, the Nurburgring and JLR’s Eastnor Castle off-road facility.
Familiar shape, EV-specific details
Visually, Range Rover has kept the existing Sport formula largely intact. The electric version gains a flush EV-specific grille, revised lower bumper details and unique 21- or 22-inch wheels. Range Rover quotes a drag coefficient of 0.29Cd.
Inside, the familiar 13.1-inch curved Pivi Pro touchscreen is paired with a 13.7-inch driver display. Wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto are standard, along with a 15W wireless phone charger. Range Rover also says its voice assistant uses large-language-model and ChatGPT technology for more conversational commands.
Boot capacity is listed at 835 litres to the roof with the rear seats up and 1,860 litres with them folded. Available equipment includes 22-way heated, ventilated and massaging front seats, cabin air purification, a 29-speaker Meridian sound system and, for the first time in a Range Rover, an in-cabin fragrance diffuser.
What Range Rover says
Range Rover managing director Martin Limpert said the electric model had been developed to preserve the Sport’s character rather than simply replace its engine.
‘It is first and foremost a Range Rover Sport,’ Limpert said. ‘The seamlessly integrated electric propulsion system means we’ve been able to unlock new levels of responsiveness and precision, with a uniquely tuned chassis set-up, performance-focused torque delivery, and distinctive sound profiles.’
DriveLife take
On paper, the Range Rover Sport Electric looks more convincing than a simple battery conversion. The big numbers are predictable for a modern luxury EV, but the more interesting work appears to be in the chassis, thermal management and off-road systems.
The 609km claimed WLTP range and 22-minute rapid-charge figure should make long-distance use realistic, provided drivers can access chargers capable of delivering close to the vehicle’s peak rate. Its 2.5-tonne towing limit is useful, although it sits below the capability of some combustion-powered luxury SUVs.
The unanswered question for New Zealand buyers is price. With no local figure supplied yet, it is too early to judge value, but the combination of performance, refinement and genuine off-road hardware suggests Range Rover is aiming well above mainstream electric SUVs.
Range Rover Sport Electric: key claimed specifications
| Specification | Figure |
| Battery | 118.5kWh lithium-ion |
| Drive | Dual-motor all-wheel drive |
| Outputs | 450PS or 550PS |
| Peak torque | 850Nm |
| 0-100km/h | 5.6 sec EV450; 4.5 sec EV550 |
| Claimed WLTP range | Up to 609km |
| JLR real-world estimate | Up to 533km |
| Maximum DC charging | 350kW |
| 10-80% DC charge | Around 22 minutes |
| AC charging | Up to 22kW |
| Wading depth | 900mm |
| Maximum towing | 2,500kg |
| Boot capacity | 835-1,860 litres |
Note: All performance, range and charging figures are manufacturer claims. New Zealand pricing and delivery timing were not included in the supplied press kit.
