Electric Range Rover Enters Prototype Test Phase

British automaker Jaguar Land Rover releases teaser detail images as its new battery-electric flagship Range Rover begins the prototype testing phase ahead of series production.

While patents for onboard technology have been filed, test mules are entering what the automaker describes as “one of the most rigorous engineering sign-off programs ever.” The test vehicles will be subjected to extreme temperatures in “all conditions and every terrain – and of course wading through up to 850 mm (33½ ins) deep water.”

JLR says its development engineers are on target to develop “the quietest and most refined Range Rover ever created” boasting a bespoke active road noise cancellation configuration and sound design.

Along with most large battery-electric vehicles, the Range Rover employs an 800V powertrain architecture and will be built on the automaker’s flexible Modular Longitudinal Architecture which is shared with JLR’s existing mild- and extended-range plug-in electric-hybrid Range Rover vehicles.

The vehicle will be assembled at the automaker’s Solihull plant in England’s Midlands region where a new £70 million ($88 million) underbody facility is opening. Batteries and electric drive units will be assembled at JLR’s new electric propulsion manufacturing center in nearby Wolverhampton.