Range Rover Hybrid drives 9,950 miles test.
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Land Rover/Range Rover's first ever hybrid vehicle is being put through a gruelling drive around much of the Northern hemisphere as a final sign-off before it goes into production.
Teams of Land Rover development engineers, along with specially invited media from 10 countries in Europe and other nations along the route, will drive the overland through Europe, Russia and Asia to Mumbai, India.
The 53-day test will provide a variety of road conditions for the off-road brand's first combined diesel and electric-motored hybrid. The Range Rover Hybrid combines a Land Rover 3-litre SDV6 turbo diesel engine with a 35kW electric motor, the units being linked to an 8-speed ZF automatic transmission.
The vehicle has a relatively easy start to its test with urban driving on smooth roads in Western Europe before heading to tougher conditions in Eastern Europe. From there, it will will face some of the world's most challenging roads, passes and trails along the ancient, 4,000 mile Silk Road which connects Asia with the Mediterranean.
John Edwards, Land Rover Global Brand Director describes the terrain as “A stunning combination of mountain passes, arid desert, high altitude, chaotic city streets, heat, humidity and wilderness [which] will provide the perfect testing ground for [Land Rover's] first hybrid."
The expedition finishes on 15th October, with the Hybrid available in European dealerships for order from September 2013 with first deliveries scheduled for early 2014.