Land Rover is finally doing something about it. After years of vague promises about electrifying the flagship Range Rover, the brand dropped a prototype of the electric Range Rover Sport at the 2024 Goodwood Festival of Speed (not 2026 as some reports might scramble—prototypes appear, then we wait). It looks finished. It looks mean. It looks like the gas-powered sibling you’d see at a country club.
So what are the specs? The headline numbers are decent.
According to reports from Top Gear, the twin-motor setup delivers 542 horsepower and 637 lb.-ft of torque. That’s enough to keep it relevant. But the range is the real story here. European WLTP tests estimate 380 miles.
If you’re in the US, forget WLTP. EPA tests are brutal. But even with the penalty box treatment, this thing should clear the 300-mile mark easily.
How Does the Range Rover Sport Electric Compare to the SV?
You might be wondering how it stacks up against the current king of the hill, the Range Rover Sport SV. That model packs a twin-turbo 4.4L V-8 with 626 hp. On paper, the electric version is slower.
But electric motors don’t care about peak horsepower charts like gasoline engines do. Instant torque. Zero lag. Land Rover says this new variant will “redefine performance SUVs.” We’ll believe it when we feel the g-forces. For now, it’s a challenge to the V-8 throne. And that’s rare in a brand that’s been quietly chopping out engines everywhere else.
Why Is Land Rover Dropping Engines But Adding EVs?
Context matters. The automaker has been in a ruthless pruning mode. The entry-level 4-cylinder turbo? Gone from the Defender and Discovery lineups. The legendary 5.0L Supercharged V-8? Axed from everything except the top-shelf Defender V8.
They’re streamlining. Simplifying. The electric Range Rover Sport isn’t an exception; it’s the new direction. The full-size electric Range Rover is still reportedly in the pipeline, but it has moved with glacial speed. This mid-size brother might just leapfrog it.
What Does the EV Look Like? (And How Do You Know It’s Electric?)
If you blink, you’ll miss the difference. Styling tweaks are minimal. Land Rover didn’t want to alienate buyers who like the current shape, so they went subtle.
- The front grille is blocked off with a plastic panel, but it’s molded to look exactly like a grille. It’s a tribute to tradition.
- The rear has no exhaust pipes. That’s your only clue. No tailpipes, no noise. Just a quiet departure.
It’s not a spaceship. It’s not a radical redesign. It’s just… ready. The photos released showed zero camouflage. Zero tape. Just bare paint and intent.
“The photos released by Land Rover show the EV looking otherwise ready to roll.”
When Will the Range Rover Sport EV Arrive at Dealers?
The calendar is the biggest wildcard. Land Rover hasn’t set a hard date for the US market. If we follow the precedent of the main Range Rover EV—which has been delayed repeatedly—expect bumps in the road.
However, the lack of camouflage suggests the design is frozen. If the powertrain is sorted, we’re likely looking at a 2027 release for North America. Maybe earlier. Maybe later. The auto industry doesn’t do precision anymore.
One rhetorical question though: will the average buyer even notice? Between the minimal styling cues and the aggressive pricing Land Rover will likely demand, it’s another premium niche play. But hey. If you need 542 hp without filling up a gas tank, and you don’t care about a 626-horsepower V-8 roaring into the sunset…
The door is opening. Whether you step through remains to be seen.
