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february 12, 2018 - Land Rover

Range Rover Sport Phev is first SUV to climb to Heaven’s Gate

  • Plug-in hybrid (PHEV) performance #SUV climbs towering 45-degree, 999-step staircase in world-first Dragon Road challenge
  • Range Rover Sport PHEV shows it’s dynamic breadth of capability on one of the world’s most challenging driving roads before tackling the epic climb to Heaven’s Gate rock arch in China
  • 404PS Range Rover Sport combines Ingenium petrol power with battery technology for supreme efficiency and performance – plus zero-emissions capability
  • P400e model was piloted by Le Mans class-winner and Panasonic Jaguar Racing reserve and test driver Ho-Pin Tung

The challenge began at the bottom of the legendary 11.3km Tianmen Mountain Road (known as the Dragon Road).  The showroom standard Range Rover Sport P400e took on the demanding course, with Panasonic Jaguar Racing’s Ho-Pin Tung behind the wheel and the Terrain Response 2 system in Dynamic mode.

At the summit of the road, the Formula E driver optimised Terrain Response for the second part of the challenge, conquering the towering 45-degree staircase of 999 steps leading to China’s legendary Heaven’s Gate using a combination of Ingenium petrol and electric battery power.


I’ve experienced Formula E, Formula 1 and won at the 24 Hours of Le Mans but this was without doubt one of the most demanding driving challenges I’ve ever faced. The #rangeroversportphev performed brilliantly as it inspired real confidence on the mountain road and climbed the stairs up to Heaven’s Gate effortlessly.

HO-PIN TUNGLE MANS CLASS-WINNER AND PANASONIC JAGUAR RACING RESERVE

The new PHEV powertrain gives the Range Rover Sport a zero-emission #ev range of up to 50km when fully charged but Ho-Pin Tung used its advanced 300PS Ingenium petrol engine and 116PS electric motor to make short work of the road section of the challenge. The performance #SUV then showed its uncompromised all-terrain credentials by climbing the steep staircase to the natural rock arch.