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Jaguar Land Rover has taken another step towards its goal of offering an electric drivetrain element across its ranges by 2020 with the unveiling of a new Range Rover Sport plug-in hybrid.

Coming as part of a raft of updates to the Range Rover Sport line-up, the 404PS plug-in version – dubbed the P400e in a new naming structure being adopted by the brand – claims a potential electric-driven range of 31 miles, 101mpg on the combined fuel cycle and 64g/km CO2 emissions.

Elsewhere in the range a new flagship Range Rover Sport SVR offers 575PS from its supercharged V8 engine and will complete a dash to 60mph in only 4.3 seconds.

Nick Collins, vehicle line director, Jaguar Land Rover, said: "The new Range Rover Sport strikes a compelling balance between dynamic capability, passenger comfort and efficiency.

“The introduction of our advanced plug-in hybrid powertrain is a watershed moment in the history of our performance SUV.”

Available early next year and priced from £61,315, the new plug-in hybrid is powered by a 13.1kWh high-voltage lithium-ion battery, a two-litre Ingenium petrol engine being mated to a 85kW electric motor housed on the transmission to deliver its 400PS-plus power output.

Performance claims for the newcomer include a 6.3 second dash to 60mph and 137mph top speed. 

JLR claims that, when rapid charging, a full charge can be achieved in as little as 2 hours 45 minutes at home using a dedicated or 32amp wall box.

The battery can be fully charged in 7 hours 30 minutes using the 10 amp home charging cable supplied as standard.

In addition to the new petrol-electric hybrid options, every Range Rover Sport now has an enhanced design and new consumer technology.

New LED headlights and a redesigned grille lie at the heart of styling changes, while inside a new Touch Pro Duo infotainment system ushers in a pair of ten-inch touchscreens and 12 power points.

The new Discovery’s Advanced Tow Assist automated towing system and the Activity Key wristband access tool from the F-Pace have also been introduced to the options list.

Jaguar Land Rover UK managing director, Jeremy Hicks said: “The current Range Rover Sport has performed exceptionally well in the UK market since it was introduced in 2013 selling just shy of 50,000 vehicles to date. Its perfect blend of performance, comfort, utility and off-road prowess make it the perfect all-round luxury vehicle.

“These 2018 updates make the Range Rover Sport an even more attractive proposition with CO2 emissions down to 64g/km and a 101mpg on the combined cycle coupled with new infotainment technology making life simpler. Our efficient diesel and petrol engines are our cleanest ever and remain utterly relevant today on our journey to electrification.”