Range Rover Electric Finally Launches After Extended Delays, Starting at $138,000 in US
Jaguar Land Rover's luxury electric SUV arrives with 542 horsepower, 372-mile range, and premium pricing after development was pushed back from its original 2024 target.
What happened
The Range Rover Electric, first announced in December 2023, has launched after extended development testing forced delays from its originally planned 2024 arrival. The vehicle features dual 260-kilowatt motors producing 542 horsepower and 850 newton-meters of torque, with a 118.5-kWh battery offering 0-80 percent charge in 22 minutes and a maximum range of 372 miles (WLTP standards) or claimed real-world distance of 333 miles. Acceleration reaches 0-60 mph in 4.3 seconds. US pricing starts at $138,000 for the SE-spec model plus $2,550 delivery; UK pricing begins at £154,070 ($208,000) for the Autobiography model and rises to £225,240 ($304,000) for the SV Black long-wheelbase, with Ultra models listed as "price on application." The vehicle includes 900-millimeter wading capability and claims traction control 100 times faster than internal combustion equivalents. JLR has filed over 300 patent applications for the Range Rover Electric, the most for any single vehicle in the company's history, and offers an eight-year or 100,000-mile warranty.
Context
The extended delays were reportedly influenced by lukewarm market response to luxury EVs, with competitors like the electric Mercedes G-Wagen and vehicles from Porsche and Audi experiencing weak sales. JLR's strategy emphasizes a "Range Rover first, electric second" positioning to differentiate the vehicle from struggling luxury EV competitors. The delays allowed extensive testing: batteries underwent extreme temperature and vibration testing, and the vehicle was driven virtually the equivalent of 38 times around the world with over 250,000 hours of simulation. The vehicle's electric powertrain is designed specifically for off-roading capability, featuring advanced traction management and single-pedal driving on climbs up to 45 degrees. A related all-electric grand tourer, the Range Rover GT, is also undergoing final testing on the same platform.