Land Rover Defender available as plug-in hybrid

LONDON: One of the classics in the world of off-road vehicles is ready for a new era of electromobility: The Land Rover Defender is now being made available as a plug-in hybrid for the first time.

The British company is offering the new version of the all-wheel-drive vehicle, which can drive at least 50km on electric power alone, starting at around US$88,000.

Initially offered exclusively in the 110 model variant, the Defender combines a 2-litre, four-cylinder engine with 300 horsepower and a 105-kW electric motor. Land Rover gives the system output as 404 hp.

Powered purely by electricity, the Defender can reach up to 140kph, says the manufacturer. With combined forces, a sprint time of 5.1 seconds and a top speed of 209kph are possible.