Elegance in extreme conditions. The reason for the new Range Rover Electric luxury SUV, which is entering an important development phase with prototypes being tested in the deserts of the United Arab Emirates, where temperatures exceed 50 degrees Celsius.

Range Rover Electric prototypes are currently in one of the most extreme climates on the planet, undergoing the most demanding tests a Range Rover has ever faced.

As part of the intensive development of the first all-electric Range Rover, the United Arab Emirates serves as a testing ground for evaluation in the hot desert. The performance and efficiency of the vehicle are tested in extreme conditions to ensure the reliable operation of the drive system at high temperatures, as well as its endurance over time and optimal autonomy.

Range Rover is putting its latest and most intelligent thermal management system to exhaustive tests under extreme temperatures of 50°C and humidity of up to 90%. In an environment in which all Range Rover models are tested, the air conditioning system is called upon to cope with the toughest conditions. From demanding desert climbs to city runs under the unrelenting sun, every aspect of the system is explored to ensure maximum passenger comfort and the car’s full capability.

The Range Rover Electric is far more efficient than any other Range Rover tested in hot, sandy conditions. Defying all limitations, the exemplary thermal performance was consistently maintained at high levels during intensive and prolonged desert driving.

Thomas Müller, Executive Director, Product Engineering said: “Hot climates are one of the biggest challenges for battery electric vehicles, due to the cooling needs of the cabin and at the same time optimizing battery performance. The added challenge of sand driving requires torque control at low speeds, so specially designed traction control and thermal management systems work in harmony to ensure power delivery is not affected. Our tests have shown that in these conditions, repeatedly driving uphill on fine sand over a 100m course results in the Range Rover Electric performing on a par with, and in some cases outperforming, its internal combustion counterparts, thanks to in incorporating these new features’.

The Range Rover Electric benefits from more than 50 years of ground-breaking innovations to deliver stability and comfort on any terrain. This particular cycle of strength and durability tests confirms the ‘go anywhere’ credentials of the Range Rover brand in its electric age. Range Rover’s intelligent powertrain and advanced all-terrain response create a seamless experience in the desert beyond the metropolis of Dubai, without hesitation and with confidence-inspiring capabilities.

The balanced weight distribution and advanced suspension system ensure effortless control and uncompromised stability when riding in the sand. Uncompromised traction systems deliver instant torque that allows for quick acceleration, responsiveness and refined handling even on varied dune formations.

Range Rover Electric’s new Intelligent Torque Management distributes the task of managing wheel slip directly to each individual control unit, reducing the reaction time to delivering torque to each wheel from around 100 milliseconds to just 1 millisecond, offering improved traction control when driving on fine sand.

In the heart of the Al Badayer Desert in Sharjah, ‘Big Red’ stands majestically among saffron-coloured sand dunes. The iconic 300-foot-tall natural dune formation is Dubai’s most impressive desert climb. All Range Rovers are required to complete the climb five times without showing any reduction in performance before moving on to the next stage of testing. The Range Rover Electric managed to complete this challenge with great success.

The Range Rover Electric stands out in this important phase of development. Preparations are underway to refine and shape the epitome of Range Rover luxury ahead of customer bookings starting in 2025.