Land Rover Launches Second 48V Mild Hybrid

NEW YORK – Land Rover moves deeper into the 48V mild-hybrid market with the launch of a second model, the ’19 Range Rover Sport, at the New York auto show.

The system is available on 3.0L inline 6-cyl. versions of the luxury SUV – specifically, SE, HSE and HST grades which respectively produce 355 hp, 355 hp and 395 hp.

“Efficiency and performance are the main drivers of the technology,” says Simon Turner, Land Rover product manager at Jaguar Land Rover North America. “Mild hybrids make sense from a torque-performance and drivability standpoint because the electric system can assist the engine and fill gaps in the torque curve that occur during transient and low-speed driving.

“But improved drivability is the primary goal,” he says. “If there are efficiency benefits, they’re added benefits.”

Key components in the hybrid system are an integrated starter generator, electronic supercharger, twin-scroll turbocharger, DC-DC converter and 48V lithium-ion battery. Also featured is continuous variable valve-lift and variable CAM timing.

The automaker declines to name suppliers, citing a 6-month nondisclosure policy from the start of sales.

For the ’20 model year, the Range Rover Sport will come in a plug-in hybrid version in addition to the just-revealed 48V mild hybrid, while the standard Range Rover will offer only a PHEV option.

Separately, Land Rover has launched a 48V version of the ’20 Range Rover Evoque SUV, which arrived in late March at U.S. dealerships.

Powered by a 2.0L 4-cyl. turbocharged gasoline engine, the Evoque debuted late last year in Europe. It was first exhibited in the U.S. in February at the Chicago auto show.

Available in three trims (R-Dynamic S, R-Dynamic SE and R-Dynamic HSE), it produces 296 hp, 20% more than the lower grades.

Like the Range Rover Sport, the Evoque mild hybrid employs a belt-integrated starter generator, DC-DC converter and 48V Li-ion battery, resulting in an 8 g/km reduction in carbon-dioxide emissions. The Range Rover Sport hybrid powertrain cuts CO2 emissions 12%.

The automaker estimates 60% of Range Rover Sport sales and 15%-20% of Evoque sales in the U.S. will be mild hybrids.

Keeping score, Audi has introduced 48V mild-hybrid technology on five cars in the U.S.: the A6 Avant and A6 sedan, as well as the A7, A8 and Q8.

Mercedes-Benz has four mild-hybrid models, all using the automaker’s M256 turbocharged 3.0L inline-6. Included are the ’19-model-year CLS 450 SUV, AMG-CLS 53 and GT 53 coupes, and AMG-E53 coupe, cabriolet and sedan.

For the ’20 model year, the automaker will introduce the technology on its GLE 450, GLS 450, GLS 580 and AMG-GLE 53 models.

FCA US has introduced 48V eTorque technology on the Ram 1500 pickup and Jeep Renegade small SUV. A company spokesman says the technology is standard on all V-6 Ram 1500 models.