Here's our first look—and drive—of the 2027 Range Rover Electric

The motors are 24 percent more efficient than the ones you would find in an I-Pace, with 50 ms response times, far faster than a conventional powertrain. The motors use copper hairpins (144 per motor) with 0.008-inch (0.2 mm) laminations and a 0.03-inch (0.7 mm) air gap between the rotor and stator. Like many other high-end EVs, the drive units use silicon-carbide inverters that can respond in less than a millisecond. With 7.3 degrees of rear steering, it’s more nimble than you might expect. A proper first drive is planned, but while at Gaydon, we had an opportunity to spend 15 minutes behind the wheel of the Range Rover Electric. Performance was benchmarked against the V8, with a 0-60 mph (0-97 km/h) time of 4.3 seconds. One-pedal driving is optional and, if engaged, will regenerate braking at up to 0.2 G. On asphalt, the ride is as smooth as you might expect, with the air suspension easily handling the 6,195 lb (2,810 kg) curb weight. Forty percent of Range Rover owners say they go off-road, so ensuring the BEV can handle getting dirty or muddy was vital to ensuring it’s a real Range Rover, even if the brand’s analytics say it’s more like 10 percent that venture off the beaten path. Ground clearance is up to 10.3 inches (262 mm), which is 1.2 inches (29 mm) less than the V8, thanks to the rear drive unit, which sits a bit lower than the rear differential in the gas-burning version.