By Xolile Hopa

Range Rover has begun taking orders for its first fully electric model in South Africa.

The new SUV retains the flagship’s familiar silhouette and luxury positioning but replaces the combustion engine with two electric motors producing a combined 404 kW and 850 Nm of torque, the highest torque output of any Range Rover to date.

Range Rover quotes a WLTP driving range of up to 598 km on a full charge, with real-world range estimated at up to 535 km. Using a 350 kW fast charger, the SUV can charge from 10% to 80% in around 22 minutes or add up to 220 km of range in just 10 minutes.

The vehicle draws power from a 118.5 kWh battery and uses an 800-volt electrical architecture. It is capable of accelerating from 0 to 100 km/h in as little as 4.3 seconds.

According to the manufacturer, the switch to electric power has not come at the expense of off-road capability. The Range Rover Electric retains four-wheel drive and advanced traction-control systems, offers seven drive modes and can wade through water up to 900 mm deep. A single-pedal driving mode has also been added to improve control on steep descents.

Range Rover says the model underwent more than 1.5 million kilometres of testing in conditions ranging from the Swedish Arctic to the Dubai desert.

Buyers can choose between short- and long-wheelbase variants across HSE, Autobiography, SV, SV Ultra and SV Black trim levels. A First Edition model is also available in a choice of Belgravia Green, Santorini Black or Varesine Blue.

The Range Rover Electric is priced from R3,916,800.

At the top of the range, the Range Rover LWB EV550 SV Ultra starts at R6,035,000. All Range Rover Electric models are manufactured at JLR’s Solihull plant in the United Kingdom.