Land Rover began testing hybrid technology at the end of 2010 with the Range_e prototype. Based on the Range Rover Sport, this adds an electric motor and mains-rechargable battery to the conventional TDV6 engine. As a result, the Range_e can travel up to 20 miles without using any fuel – ideal for cutting particulates on inner-city driving – and emits 89g/km CO2.

Though the first production hybrid won’t be a plug-in model, it will be based on a diesel engine and engineers told Fleet World it would also be capable of off-road driving – a core part of the carmaker’s brand identity. A plug-in hybrid Jaguar XJ is under development, but it is unclear whether the saloon will be the first to have the technology.

Future models will also be considerably lighter, thanks to engineering techniques introduced on the Evoque and Jaguar XJ, both of which have optimised body structures and widespread use of high strength steels and lightweight aluminium, aimed at reducing fuel consumption and CO2 emissions.