Land Rover->ke46 is taking fuel economy concerns with a stiff upper lip and a cup of tea, relaxed as it starts taking UK orders for its 45 mpg 2015 Range Rover SDV6 Hybrid flagship starting in September 2013. The first customer deliveries are expected in early 2014, wearing far fewer off-road accessories and prepared for a life of luxury.

This pair of test prototypes is enduring the opposite of luxury: a 10,000-mile durability journey from Land Rover ->ke46 headquarters in England to Tata Group->ke3001's home base in Mumbai. Called the Silk Trail 2013 experience, the plucky Brits seem to have forgotten their own maritime excellence, and the blue part of the map that has long been the best passage to India.

Calling it the Silk Trail is more accurate than its other description, the Silk Road. Mud up to the door mirrors cannot stop the Range Rover Hybrid's mission.

Going over land is a bold undertaking, and also highlights the production 2015 Range Rover Hybrid's fuel economy and off-road credentials along the way. Arriving in Mumbai around 55 days later, taking a brand new Range Rover->ke46 into dozens of foreign countries along the way is certainly a vote of confidence in its reliability - long a sore spot for this advanced machine.

A 3.0-liter diesel engine is paired with a jumbo 35kWh Li-ion battery pack, which is fully production-ready and will also be rolled out on the seven-seat 2015 Range Rover Sport SDV6 Hybrid as well.

The diesel-electric power is not exactly peachy news for U.S. Range Rover devotees, but the technology package should work well with Land Rover's new 3.0-liter supercharged V-6 as well.

Updated 09/13/2013: When Land Rover launched the first details on the Range Rover Hybrid everyone believed it will be an European-only model. However, in a recent interview Andy Goss, the current CEO of Jaguar Land Rover USA confirmed that a North American version of the Range Rover hybrid "It’s not a matter of ‘if,’ but ‘when.'" (LeftLaneNews)

Click past the jump for all the high-res images of this jungle-prepped 'Silk Road 2013' test of the forthcoming 2015 Range Rover SDV6 Hybrid.

2015 Land Rover Range Rover SDV6 Hybrid

Specifications
  • Make: Array
  • Model: 2015 Land Rover Range Rover SDV6 Hybrid
  • Engine/Motor: V6
  • Horsepower: 335
  • Torque: 516
  • Transmission: 8-Speed ZF Auto
  • [do not use] Vehicle Model: Array
Pros
Cons

Exterior

This is no light road trip, or 3-hour trip up to the summer cottage. At almost 10,000 miles, this epic Silk Road journey is scheduled to cross France, Belgium, Germany, Poland, Ukraine, Russia, Uzbekistan, Kyrgyzstan, China and India by October 15th.

The exterior styling matches the hardcore nature of this mission, with a light styling wrap over the handsome lines of the new Range Rover.

Only a special grille and lower fender Hybrid badges set this model apart from a showroom car - indicating the actual UK's RR SDV6 Hybrid will be match the looks and exterior style of the V-8 and V-6 models.

The off-road kit does include some chunky tires to deal with unpredictable weather and terrain along the way. A handsome roof rack brings along yet another spare wheel/tire, plenty of extra room for souvenirs and twin spotlights at its aero-optimized leading edge.

The Range Rover has room to (perhaps) pick up some priceless antiquities for the British Museum along the way, or space for a climate-controlled and bug-free nap in back.

A few other nice Land Rover accessories also make an appearance for this first time on this generation of Range Rover, including a bumper-mounted winch that looks much nicer than mounting it on an aftermarket rhino bar.

Interior

No revisions inside, except for additional eco information in the Range Rover's TFT display panels. The Range Rover SDV6 Hybrid will have an EV mode to allow electric cruising up to 30 mph for up to a mile.

It looks like the 35kWh battery pack that will be shared with the Range Rover Sport SDV6 Hybrid is quite compact: the RRS Hybrid will still seat seven people in a 5+2 layout.

Drivetrain, Engine and Brakes

Fuel economy of at least 44 mpg is a big improvement for this large machine, which otherwise typically gets thirsty in any traffic. The system consists of an electric motor unit ahead of the XF eight-speed box, which is important for an off-roader because it maintains the system's ability to shuffle torque as needed to all four wheels.

The combined power outputs looks great, no doubt enhanced by the electric motor's contribution of 228 pound-feet of torque. Diesel plus electric results in horsepower of 335 and 516 pound-feet of torque in total. Top speed is 135 mph, which should at least let the boys make up some time when, literally, crossing the face of the Earth.

2015 Range Rover SDV6 Hybrid - Mechanical Details:

Engine

3.0-liter Turbo Diesel V-6 with Direct Injection and Chain-driven DOHC Plus 35kWh Hybrid Power Unit

Transmission

8-Speed Automatic

Powertrain Layout

Front-engine, Four-wheel-drive

Power (Hybrid and Diesel Combined Output)

335

Torque (Hybrid and Diesel Combined Output)

516

Electric Torque

228

0-60 mph

7.5, est

Top Speed

135 mph

EPA Fuel Economy (City/Highway/Combined)

39/45/43, est


Pricing

Pricing is not yet available, but the Range Rover SDV6 and RRS SDV6 are both available for U.K. orders from September 10th, with delivery in early 2014.

Competition

2013 Porsche Cayenne S Diesel

The Cayenne S Diesel is a real foe for the Range Rover. Despite being a bit mature, the Cayenne shows no sign of slowing sales momentum. A huge variety of model lines and trims makes owning one feel special, and it is also quite nimble in the corners for a big truck.

Not quite big enough for some buyers, however. The Cayenne's tight cargo hold and back seat is nowhere near as posh and roomy as the new Range Rover.

Conclusion

It looks like Land Rover's off-road-ready Hybrid solution will be a critical part of the large SUV lineup in the very near future -- even across the American-preferred gasoline engine choices.

Much as we understand that locomotives and heavy machinery decided diesel-electric was best almost 75 years ago, filling up a diesel car in the U.S. is irritating. Land Rover will be making a mistake if it tries to launch the SDV6 Hybrid diesel here alone, instead of adapting the Li-ion hybrid system to gasoline as well.

The beauty of batteries and EV energy advancements like regenerative braking is that the benefits can be applied to any type of internal combustion engine. The American Range Rover also shares this hybrid model's excellent ZF autobox, so switching to gasoline power up front should pose no problem.

No news yet on the 2015 Range Rover SDV6 Hybrid's availability in the U.S. or outside the UK, but this globe-trotting adventure certainly indicates the Hybrid will be part of the full global model line for both the new RR and RRS.

For its ability to increase max distance per tank of fuel, the Land Rover team will certainly be grateful while they undertake this epic adventure.