Land Rover Defender P400e plug-in hybrid revealed

The Land Rover Defender P400e is the plug-in-hybrid version of the British brand's rugged new SUV model, and it's already available to order. Land Rover added the PHEV version of the Defender to the range alongside the short-wheelbase 90 version  plus some new mild-hybrid six-cylinder engine variants.

For now, the new plug-in P400e is only available in five-door 110 form, and it's intended to be just as good off-road as other versions - despite emissions of just 76g/km of CO2 and an all-electric range of 27 miles.

It uses a similar set-up to the one in the Range Rover Sport plug-in hybrid. That means there's a turbocharged 2.0-litre four-cylinder petrol engine alongside an electric motor that make a combined 398bhp. The 0-62mph sprint takes just 5.6 seconds, its top speed is 130mph and, thanks to an impressive 650Nm of torque, it's able to tow a trailer of up to 3,000kg.

The plug-in hybrid Defender can drive for up to 27 miles on electric power only, thanks to its 19.2kWh on-board battery. A claimed fuel economy of 85.3mpg and emissions of just 76g/km mean that it's the most efficient model in the Defender range. It sits in the 19 per cent bracket for company car tax, which means it's cheap to run as a company car as well.

Support for 50kW rapid charging means an 80% charge is possible in 30 minutes, while a standard 7.4kW home wallbox will charge the battery fully in two hours, Land Rover claims. Regenerative braking also helps boost economy and charge the car's battery on the move.

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Land Rover has been sure to put the Defender's new-found electrification to good use off-road too, where the linear torque delivery from the electric motor offers greater flexibility. The Defender can also operate in both high and low range mode (providing more pulling power at low speeds) solely under electric power. 

As with other Defender 110 models, there are options for five or six-seater interiors, while the P400e gets its own list of standard kit, including 20-inch alloy wheels, air suspension, three-zone climate control and tinted windows. 

Along with the new P400e drivetrain and other range-wide engine updates, Land Rover has also added a new trim to the range called X-Dynamic. Slotting into the middle of the existing trim-level lineup, it adds some tougher exterior styling and 'Robustek' interior upholstery, a hard-wearing, hexagon-patterned cloth that's "inspired by workman's gloves and patches on motorbike jackets". 

Other additions include an optional folding fabric roof for the Defender 110, along with four new colour options and an assortment of new option packs.