Hi, it's time to change the RR. I'm on my 4th - a lovely 2016 V8 diesel autobiography. Mulling fuel options.

First question is does anyone know if / think RR will ever produce a 6 cylinder PHEV or are we 'stuck' with the 4 cylinder P400e as a bridge to a full electric RR in, what, 2022, 2023?

I'd love to think a 6 cylinder PHEV was coming soon but I suspect not - anyone got any views or intel?

I've read the threads on the P400e and read the reviews and I get that my 'opposition' to a 4 cylinder RR may just be me being old fashioned. It seems that if your mileage / nature of journeys suit a hybrid then don't be put off by the 4 cylinder engine. It works with very slight compromises. And if your driving consists of lots of long motorway journeys then don't buy a hybrid period - 4 or 6 cylinder - stick with a diesel. At least for the next few years.

But then I read the very favourable reviews of the 6 cylinder X5 4.5e and the 6 cylinder Cayenne e-hybrid and can't help feeling they are a pretty perfect solution - esp the 4.5e which gets great reviews. Harry Metcalfe ex Evo journo (Harrys garage You Tube channel) had one for 9,000 miles and got c50-55mpg overall because of the real 45 miles EV range and he rated it very, very highly. Up there with RR for ride and refinement too.

Second question is, anyone got any views on these two alternatives? I've had 2 X5's before my first RR back in early 2000's and they were definitely several notches below a RR then but I guess the latest model is a big step up. Never driven a Cayenne and they are pricey for what you get but again, that 6 cylinder engine...

I always buy used at c2 years and keep for c3 - 4 years so the great advantage with an Autobiography is you only have to worry about colour / wheels cos the spec is so comprehensive. With an X5 and esp a Cayenne, finding one with all those extra toys I regard as essential (adaptive cruise, massage seats, cabin-pre heat, heated wheel etc etc) is much more difficult, sometimes downright impossible. And I can't quite bring myself to shell out £85 - £95k for a perfectly specc'd new one. Maybe the Porsche - at least the residuals are better - but definitely not the beemer.

If the P400e was a 6 cylinder there wouldn't even be a debate - even though the real world EV range is half that of the beemer - but it isn't! Grrrr!

Maybe I should just get a V8 petrol RR Autobiography or even an RRS SVR before they're deemed totally unacceptable!

Thoughts welcome. Thx!

Keith

There are plenty P400e fans on here, but I'd struggle with a 4 cylinder engine as well.

The 45e is an excellent option, but there are a number of things I don't like about the X5 so I went back to diesel and bought the RR when I needed a bigger car. I think I'd sacrifice range and get a Cayenne.

The 50-55mpg does annoy me a bit as most people ignore the cost of the electricity, I know that's a lot less than petrol/diesel, but it's not the same cost as a standard combustion engined vehicle. The local trips and/or first part of journeys will be cheaper, but on long runs you'll be down in the 20s mpg. MY23 Panamera E-Hybrid
MY19 SDV8 Autobiography - Sold

I haven’t seen the latest x5 nor cayenne. But having had the GLS and despite all the luxury like an S class I do think the Range Rover is actually a notch above.

I’d find it very hard to go back, and that is despite me buying an old l322 which was supposed to be a cheap in between car.

Only you know what works for you, but I’d go for a petrol V8 whilst you can. Skip all this hybrid compromise and go for the fill EV version once available.

What about the (6 cyl) P400 MHEV? A friend has this engine in a RR Sport and is happy with it, the RR will be heavier so performance presumably lower, but still 400bhp and not the same dependence on battery being charged or 4cyl.

I'm happy with my 5.0SC, fuel consumption in lockdown with only short journeys possible a disappointing 16 mpg or so, but in happier times with mainly longer journeys I was getting over 20. It's very pleasant to drive and a simpler set-up than the hybrids or indeed the twin turbo & AdBlue diesels. Only Range Rovers since 1988

MHEV is really just a fancy starter motor, doesn’t drive on electric power only.

I'd second Bl4ckDogs conclusion, get a petrol V8 while you can! 2004 L322 4.4 V8 Vogue Bonatti Grey
(205,500 miles and counting.......)

Mel Gibson was a prophet when he predicted this.

If you look at the Defender and Discovery ranges they've removed all the 4 cylinder engines, to the point of having a 3.0 diesel with only 200bhp.

I think the only reason the hybrid has a 4 cylinder is the six wasn't ready. I don't know, but I can't imagine that the L460 won't come with a six cylinder hybrid. Maybe it will come with both a 4 and a six.

Apart from anything, the V8 is starting to look very out of date. I know they're going to keep making it, but I think most of them will go to markets in the far East, etc. A 400 bhp six with 100+ bhp electric motor would be just as fast and make a lot more sense in Europe.

I also think the L460 will be a lot more sorted as a hybrid. They'll place the battery better so you don't loose boot space, sort out the towing limits and almost certainly give it more battery range, as the L460 has been designed for an electric architecture from the beginning.

A 400BHP six will remain a 400BHP six....the electric part just isn't available for that long. A 400BHP six is fun perhaps in a small car like a BMW M2 but still a bit underwhelming in a big heavy vehicle like a full fat in my opinion...And then will have to be worked hard...

Plenty of road tests of the P400 already. None of them that I've seen agree with you.

For how long do you use all 500 bhp? In a few seconds you're already doing the legal limit.

KurtVerbose wrote:

If you look at the Defender and Discovery ranges they've removed all the 4 cylinder engines, to the point of having a 3.0 diesel with only 200bhp.

I think the only reason the hybrid has a 4 cylinder is the six wasn't ready. I don't know, but I can't imagine that the L460 won't come with a six cylinder hybrid. Maybe it will come with both a 4 and a six.

Apart from anything, the V8 is starting to look very out of date. I know they're going to keep making it, but I think most of them will go to markets in the far East, etc. A 400 bhp six with 100+ bhp electric motor would be just as fast and make a lot more sense in Europe.

I also think the L460 will be a lot more sorted as a hybrid. They'll place the battery better so you don't loose boot space, sort out the towing limits and almost certainly give it more battery range, as the L460 has been designed for an electric architecture from the beginning.

KurtVerbose wrote:

Plenty of road tests of the P400 already. None of them that I've seen agree with you.

For how long do you use all 500 bhp? In a few seconds you're already doing the legal limit.

The joy of a FFRR is knowing you’ve got a bucket load of power available if you want it, but most of the time you like to waft along with an engine that’s just ticking over. For me that means a big V8, but then I’m a technical ignoramus.

KurtVerbose wrote:

Plenty of road tests of the P400 already. None of them that I've seen agree with you.

For how long do you use all 500 bhp? In a few seconds you're already doing the legal limit.

Bl4ckD0g - maybe you should confine yourself to threads about blacking up range rovers, fitting big shiny wheels and driving through town with the windows down while playing god-awful music. That seems about the level of your contribution to this forum.