Range Rover Hybrid completes Silk Trail

10,000 miles in a diesel-electric prototype? That's a Range Rover kind of challenge!

By Matt Bird / Wednesday, 16 October 2013 / Loading comments

Regardless of the transport method, Solihull to Mumbai is a fair old trek. But Land Rover saw it as a great route for the final development work on the Range Rover Hybrid. You can probably see where this is going...

It's a long way even stickered on a bonnet

Yep, with three diesel-electric Range Rovers, a team have covered the 10,472 miles and 13 countries in 53 days. The journey across the so-called Silk Trail, the route first used to connect Asia and Europe, was used as the last validation test before sale of the hybrid begin next year.

The Range Rover Hybrid supplements the standard V6 diesel with a 35kW electric motor to give 335hp and 516lb ft of torque. Surprisingly given the terrain, the Hybrids were quite close to the official economy on the Silk Trail.

An expedition average of 36-37mpg compares well with the claimed 44.1mpg combined. CO2 is rated at 169g/km, making it usefully more efficient than the standard V6 diesel. It's also quicker despite a 120kg weight penalty. But there's a price to pay and that's the, er, price. The Hybrid range is expected to start from just under £100,000, whilst the standard V6 diesel starts at £71,000.

Weight advantage probably lies with the elephant

Still, we'll hope to provide you with some definitive impressions soon. For now, a bit more detail on the Hybrid's epic adventure. Those involved were the first westerners to use the entire Xinjiang-Tibet highway at over 5,300m above sea level and spent seven consecutive days at altitudes of between 3,350m and 5,379m. Between the three Hybrid prototypes and four support vehicles, there were four cracked windscreens, four buckled wheels and 15 punctures. Should have gone for run-flats...

So well done everyone, a fine achievement. And thanks to your photographer too for some beautiful images!