Range Rover Sport 2018 revealed ahead of April launch

Jaguar Land Rover (JLR) has revealed its updated Range Rover Sport range, which is bolstered by the addition of the British carmaker's first-ever plug-in hybrid (PHEV), the P400e.

On sale in Australia from April next year, the Range Rover Sport line-up has received a mild facelift, with lightly revised styling complementing its upgraded multimedia system and new technologies.

However, the headline act is the P400e which combines a 221kW/400Nm 2.0-litre 'Ingenium' four-cylinder petrol engine with an 85kW electric motor for a total system output of 297kW/640Nm.

Its 13.1kWh lithium-ion battery can be fully charged in two hours and 45 minutes when using a dedicated 32-amp wall box.

Capable of sprinting from 0-100km/h in 6.7 seconds, the PHEV has a top speed of 220km/h.

The P400e is the most efficient Range Rover Sport variant yet, with a claimed fuel consumption figure of 2.8 litres per 100 kilometres on the combined cycle test and carbon dioxide emissions of 64 grams per km.

Furthermore, the PHEV has an all-electric driving range of 51km, according to the NEDC standard, and its 13.1kWh lithium-ion battery can be fully charged in two hours and 45 minutes when using a dedicated 32-amp wall box.

Two driving modes, dubbed 'Parallel Hybrid' and 'EV', allow the driver to alternate between petrol/electric and pure-electric power.

'Parallel Hybrid' features two charge management functions, with 'Save' preventing the battery charge from dipping below a preset level, while 'Predictive Energy Optimisation' uses built-in GPS altitude data to maximise fuel economy along a selected navigation route.

On sale in Australia from April next year, the Range Rover Sport line-up has received a mild facelift.

Like all Range Rover Sports, the P400e permanently sends drive to all four wheels via an eight-speed ZF torque-convertor automatic transmission.

The introduction of the first JLR PHEV comes hot on the heels of the company's announcement that all of its new vehicles will be electrified from 2020 onwards.

When it arrives in 2018, the P400e will go head-to-head with the BMW X5 xDrive40e ($119,900 before on-road costs), Volvo XC90 T8 ($120,900), Mercedes-Benz GLE500e ($129,500) and Audi Q7 e-tron ($139,900).

Several carbon-fibre treatments inside and out further accentuate its aggressive nature.

Meanwhile, the bahn-storming SVR flagship has received a tickle, with its 5.0-litre supercharged V8 boosted from 405kW/680Nm to 423kW/700Nm, while the less-powerful version of the same engine used by some variants has jumped from 375kW to 386kW.

Thanks to its increased power and torque outputs, the SVR now completes the triple-digit dash in 4.5s, down from 4.7s, while on the way to a top speed of 283km/h.

Additionally, several carbon-fibre treatments inside and out further accentuate its aggressive nature.

The refreshed Range Rover Sport is externally differentiated by its redesigned front grille, slimline LED head-, fog- and tail-lights, restyled front bumper, new-look rear spoiler, and revised 21- and 22-inch alloy wheel designs.

Inside, JLR's 'Touch Pro Duo' multimedia system has been added, with two 10.0-inch touchscreen displays responsible for most vehicle functions, including climate control.

The SVR now completes the triple-digit dash in 4.5s, down from 4.7s, while on the way to a top speed of 283km/h.

Other new features include a 12.0-inch digital instrument cluster, 10.0-inch colour head-up display, gesture-controlled sunblind, ambient lighting, Nuance voice control, up to 14 device charging points, and 4G Wi-Fi connectivity.

Safety and driver assistance technologies like autonomous emergency braking, lane departure warning, adaptive cruise control, blind-spot monitoring, lane keep assist, rear cross-traffic alert and park assist are available.

While the local range, specifications and pricing are yet to be confirmed, JLR Australia has revealed the refreshed Range Rover Sport line-up will kick off from $95,100 BOCs – $4200 dearer than the current entry-level SD4 S.

Are plug-in hybrids, like the Range Rover Sport P400e, soon to be the norm? Tell us what you think in the comments below.