2020 Range Rover Sport HST Special Edition gets mild-hybrid technology

As a part of the strides being made by almost all car manufacturers to electrify their portfolio, Land Rover revealed a new mild-hybrid version of their Range Rover Sport model. Available on the Range Rover Sport HST Special Edition, the mild-hybrid harvests energy lost in braking to assist the engine when needed.

A 3.0-litre straight-six turbocharged petrol engine is combined with a mild-hybrid system with an electric motor and a 48V battery comprises of the powertrain of the Range Rover HST mild-hybrid. The energy normally lost as heat during braking is stored in the battery which is later used to assist the engine when it requires an extra oomph. An “Electric Supercharger” system is also employed to electrically spool the vanes of the turbocharger quickly, thereby reducing the turbo lag.

This combination is good for a total output of 394 hp, which can propel the Range Rover from 0 to 100 kph in less than 6 seconds and onwards to a top speed of 225 kph. The mild-hybrid system helps it to return a claimed fuel economy rating of 9.3 litres/100 km, which is quite good, considering its bulk.

This is not the only Range Rover in the line-up with mild-hybrid tech. The newly launched 2020 Range Rover Evoque also features a similar setup under its hood.

It is unclear if these models will be offered in the UAE and GCC.