BEIJING MOTOR SHOW: Rangie Hybrid stretched

Land Rover has confirmed its stretched Range Rover LWB, which made its world debut in hybrid form last week in China, will be available in Australia from June.

Priced from $190,100 plus on-road costs for the entry-level TDV6 Diesel Vogue, the cheapest long-wheelbase Rangie will command an $11,500 premium over the model on which it’s based, the six-cylinder Range Rover Vogue ($178,600 plus ORCs).

The Range Rover LWB, which offers an extra 186mm of rear legroom, will also be available here in Vogue SE and top-shelf Autobiography specification, powered by 4.4-litre V8 turbo-diesel and 5.0-litre V8 supercharged petrol engines.

Meantime, Land Rover’s first hybrid models – the diesel-electric Rangie and Rangie Sport – have already been confirmed for Australia, where both models will go on sale next year.

Land Rover launched its first hybrid Range Rover last year and now full technical details accompany the LWB version’s world debut in Beijing last week.

Like the short-wheelbase hybrids, the Rangie Hybrid LWB combines a 3.0-litre V6 turbo-diesel with a 35kW electric motor integrated with an eight-speed ZF automatic transmission.

Claimed to 26 per cent more efficient than the pure-diesel Rangie, it consumed 6.4L/100km and emits 169g/km of CO2.

As in SWB hybrid models, the complete diesel-electric system -- including a lithium ion battery pack, inverter and electric motor -- weighs less than 120kg.

Apart from boosting acceleration when required, the 170Nm electric motor drives the vehicle in EV (electric vehicle) Mode at speeds of up to 30mph (48km/h) for up to a mile (1.6km) and acts as a generator by harvesting kinetic energy via regenerative braking.

With combined system outputs of 254kW at 4000rpm and a class-leading 700Nm of torque between 1500 and 3000rpm, Land Rover says performance is on par with the SDV8 engine.

It also claims the Rangie Hybrid LWB, which together with the Rangie Sport Hybrid is claimed to be the first diesel hybrid model from any manufacturer to be offered in China, comes with the same breadth of capability as conventional models.

Fitted with the same Terrain Response system and all-wheel drive hardware as petrol- and diesel-powered models, its water-wading depth capability remains a best-in-class 900mm.

Aimed at flagship versions of German limousines, the Rangie LWB adds a host of rear-seat equipment, including tray tables, drink chillers, electric rear window blinds, a panoramic sunroof and the option of an ‘executive seating package’, which increases the rear-seat recline angle to 17 degrees.