Land Rover has been teasing the launch of a fully electric Range Rover for over two years now, and while the official debut is still pending, we have already seen a glimpse of what this luxury SUV will look like. The design of the electric Range Rover closely resembles its combustion-engine counterpart, as they both share the same platform. Interestingly, unlike some other electric vehicles that offer a front trunk in place of an engine, the Range Rover Electric will not feature one.
In a recent interview with Australian magazine CarExpert, the chief engineer of the vehicle, Lynfel Owen, shed some light on the decision to forgo a supplementary front cargo area. Land Rover conducted customer surveys on the matter, and the feedback indicated that the rear luggage space was deemed sufficient. Owen confirmed that the rear cargo volume in the electric model will match that of the combustion-engine version, without needing to raise the floor to accommodate the 117-kWh battery pack.
The electric Range Rover will come equipped with 344 prismatic cells arranged in a double-stacked layout to maintain cargo space. This layout means that the electric Range Rover will only be offered with two rows of seats, as a seven-seat configuration was not feasible due to packaging constraints. While Land Rover will offer a spare wheel, it will occupy space above the cargo floor, eating into the luggage capacity.
Owen also explained that customer preferences were not the only reason for skipping the front trunk. He questioned the practicality of leaning against the dirtiest part of the car to access storage space. This decision deviates from the approach taken with the I-Pace, a model from Jaguar Land Rover that featured a small front storage compartment. However, the I-Pace faced reliability issues and ranked poorly in customer satisfaction surveys, prompting a different approach for the electric Range Rover.
The upcoming electric Range Rover is targeting a curb weight of 2,800 kilograms, as reported by Autocar. This weight would make it lighter than the Mercedes G580 with EQ Technology. Owen emphasized that the electric Range Rover will not directly compete with the G580, as it offers superior off-road capabilities and a luxurious cabin that is characteristic of a Range Rover.
The world premiere of the electric Range Rover is scheduled for later this year, with deliveries expected to begin in 2026. With a focus on maintaining cargo space, offering a two-row configuration, and prioritizing off-road capabilities and luxury, the electric Range Rover aims to set a new standard in the electric SUV market. Sources: CarExpert, Autocar.
