If you’ve not seen the Range Rover Challenges over the years, then you have really been missing out. Not to be outdone by the Evoque, the Range Rover Sport PHEV (Plug-in Hybrid Electric Vehicle) has just completed the Dragon Road Challenge.
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The challenge begins at the bottom of the legendary Tianmen Mountain Road (more affectionately known as the Dragon Road), which comprises 99 corners over 11.3km. At the top of the road, Panasonic Jaguar Racing’s Ho-Pin Tung then casually flips the Terrain Response 2 system over to Dynamic Mode, and runs the 999 stair, 45-degree staircase to the very top.
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Being a PHEV vehicle, the EV part will get 50km range when fully charged, with a 221kW Ingenium petrol engine and 85kW electric motor making up any shortfall. The challenge is designed to show us that despite the Range Rover being an electric vehicle, it still shows the uncompromised all-terrain credentials of the Range Rover brand.
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Phil Jones, Land Rover Experience expert, said: “This was the hardest Range Rover Sport challenge I’ve ever been involved with because, until we reached the top, we couldn’t categorically say we would succeed. By making it to the summit, we’ve proven the phenomenal capability of the Range Rover Sport plug-in hybrid like never before – with a genuine world first.”
But enough from us – have a look at the video of the Range Rover Sport PHEV conquering the Dragon Road all the way up to Heaven’s Gate for yourself.
Article from Pat Callinan’s 4X4 Adventures.
