Range Rover is testing its first all-electric model to ensure its not gonna cause embarrassment to the new wealthy owners in hot weather.
The company has dragged its prototypes to the sweltering UAE desert, where 50°C heat and 90% humidity apparently serve as a glamorous backdrop for testing the car’s shiny new thermal management system. The goal? To ensure this electric Range Rover can handle brutal conditions with grace, even though most of its owners will likely test it only on the smooth asphalt of their gated communities.
The Range Rover Electric prototype is tested climbing dunes, enduring endless sunshine, or gracefully maneuvering through city traffic, to prove that this SUV maintains “exemplary thermal performance” without a hitch. According to Range Rover, it even outperforms its gas-powered predecessors in sand which is additionaly tested in the heart of Sharjah’s Al Badayer desert. Here there is a decent 300-foot (91 m) dune known as ‘Big Red’ which dominates the saffron-colored landscape, earning its reputation as Dubai’s ultimate desert hill climb. Every Range Rover faces the grueling challenge of conquering this natural giant five times in a row without a hint of performance drop-off before advancing to further tests. The new all-electric Range Rover took on the dune and, unsurprisingly, conquered it—proving it’s just as much a show-off in the sand as it is on city streets. Yep, this is the same brand whose vehicles are sometimes infamous for struggling to keep their electrics running on a rainy day. But hey, if it can conquer the desert, maybe it’ll survive your commute to Starbucks.
In a move to silence its skeptics, Range Rover has equipped this new electric model with a new Intelligent Torque Management system – that adjusts torque at each wheel in just 1 millisecond. That’s faster than most of us can blink (or call a tow truck).
The company is also emphasizing its 50-year legacy of “go anywhere” capability, which sounds great in theory. But Range Rover owners know that “anywhere” sometimes includes the service center. Still, this electric SUV is balancing weight like a pro, breezing through desert terrain with stability and composure. Instant torque ensures quick acceleration and smooth responsiveness—perfect for both dune bashing and flexing in the Whole Foods parking lot.
So, what’s the verdict? Range Rover Electric is shaping up to be a game-changer, conquering sand, heat, and dunes with ease. Let’s just hope it conquers the smaller challenges too, like a week without a warning light. After all, reliability is the true proving ground, and as every Range Rover aficionado knows, that’s a test that’s a little closer to home.
