2027 Range Rover Sport Electric revealed: Luxury EV confirmed for 2026 launch

The Range Rover Sport is about to enter the electric era.

Jaguar Land Rover (JLR) has confirmed the all-electric Range Rover Sport Electric luxury SUV will make its global debut later this year, becoming the second battery-electric model to wear the Range Rover badge after the flagship Range Rover Electric.

The British brand says the new model will usher in "a new era of sporting luxury", promising it will be the most dynamic and fastest Range Rover Sport ever produced.

It will enter an increasingly competitive luxury electric SUV segment that includes the BMW iX, Volvo EX90, Polestar 3, and Porsche Cayenne Electric. While local timing is yet to be confirmed, the Range Rover Sport Electric is expected to be a strong candidate for a New Zealand launch in 2027.

Unlike many dedicated EVs, the Range Rover Sport Electric won't dramatically reinvent its outward appearance.

Prototype vehicles undergoing final development closely resemble the existing third-generation Sport, with only subtle aerodynamic revisions, new wheel designs, and a unique front-end treatment distinguishing it from their petrol, diesel, and plug-in hybrid siblings.

That's possible because the current Range Rover Sport was engineered from the outset on JLR's MLA-Flex architecture, which supports internal combustion, plug-in hybrid, and battery-electric powertrains.

Although Land Rover has yet to release technical specifications, the Sport is expected to share much of its technology with the flagship Range Rover Electric.

That includes an 800-volt electrical architecture, dual electric motors providing all-wheel drive, and a 118kWh battery using module-less prismatic nickel-manganese-cobalt (NMC) cells.

If those figures carry across unchanged, the Range Rover Sport Electric could offer more than 480km of real-world driving range, while DC fast charging at up to 350kW is expected to allow a 10 to 80 per cent recharge in around 20 to 25 minutes. JLR is expected to officially final specification this quarter (July - September).

Performance is also tipped to mirror the larger Range Rover Electric, with overseas reports pointing to approximately 400kW from its dual-motor powertrain. That would make it one of the quickest Range Rover models ever built, with a 0-100km/h sprint expected to take less than 4.5 seconds.

JLR has confirmed the Sport Electric will feature "more power and torque" than previous models, paired with a bespoke chassis calibration and a new EV-specific sound profile designed to deliver a more engaging driving experience both on and off road.

"Electric power brings a new edge to Range Rover Sport," said Range Rover managing director Martin Limpert.

"The preview at Goodwood Festival of Speed is only a glimpse of how this model will redefine performance SUVs again later this year, combining the refinement and immediate performance of electric drive while further elevating the unmistakable character of Range Rover Sport our clients already know and love."

Despite adopting battery power, Land Rover says its electric SUVs will remain true to the brand's off-road heritage.

The Range Rover Electric has already demonstrated a 900mm wading depth, advanced Terrain Response software, air suspension, rear-wheel steering, and one-pedal off-road driving, and the Sport is expected to inherit many of those technologies.

Inside, changes are expected to be evolutionary rather than revolutionary. Spy prototypes indicate the Range Rover Sport Electric will retain the familiar cabin design with JLR's 13.1-inch curved touchscreen and latest Pivi Pro infotainment system, while adding EV-specific displays and new energy management functions.

Overseas prototype drives have also highlighted a new electrostatic speaker system designed to improve sound quality while reducing weight.

The arrival of the electric model will complete the Range Rover Sport powertrain lineup, joining plug-in hybrid, mild-hybrid V8 petrol, and six-cylinder petrol and diesel variants.

Land Rover has not yet confirmed pricing or final power outputs, with those details to be revealed when the Range Rover Sport Electric makes its full global debut later this year.