The Land Rover electric vehicle offensive is coming to Malaysia in stages.
With a DC fast charger ready to provide fast ‘juice’ delivery and a pair of AC chargers in the basement car park, it looks like the Jaguar Land Rover electric offensive for Malaysia is around the corner.
Strong indications point to the 2023 model Discovery 6 as the new all electric model that will dramatically overhaul this iconic 4×4 brand’s range with a focus on electrification.
The direction shows that by 2026 there will be six brand new Land Rover electrified vehicles (EV) on sale. Then, by 2030, 60 percent of the Land Rover’s global sales will come from electric powered vehicles and every model in the company’s showrooms will be offered with an EV option.
Meanwhile, new CEO Adrian Mardell, formerly Jaguar Land Rover’s (JLR) chief financial officer will be sharing the company’s direction very soon.
Interestingly, it will be Land Rover’s new electric EMA platform that will be used for the 2023 seven-seat Discovery as well as the new Range Rover and Range Rover Sport.
This versatile, aluminium-intensive structure which will house petrol, PHEV and pure-electric powertrains will provide the Discovery 6 with unquestionable refinement, spaciousness, while maintaining its off-road ability that has long since established the model as one of the most well-rounded SUVs on sale.
Like the Range Rovers, the Discovery’s replacement can be expected to be launched with a choice of combustion and plug-in hybrid powertrains.
Please take note that there no longer be a diesel option on sale for the first time in the 4×4’s history as Land Rover is committed to phasing out diesel powertrains across the line-up by 2026.
Advanced connectivity will also be a priority for Land Rover models launched after 2025. JLR has partnered with American software giant Nvidia to co-develop a new and very exclusive software stack that majors on self-driving capabilities the likes of park assist, augmented reality driving aids and occupant monitoring.
All the above will happen while introducing a new source of revenue in the form of over-the-air upgrades and downloadable features.
Given its relationship to the flagship Range Rover models, the Discovery is expected to be offered with the most advanced and up to date version of this system, matching soon t be launched segment rivals like the Volvo EX90, Lotus Eletre and Mercedes EQE SUV, which will arrive in 2024 with a ‘lidar’ sensor as standard for full autonomous driving.
So, the first to arrive in Malaysia will of course be the already popular I-Pace all electric sports crossover and people close to the business has hinted a February 2023 launch date.
So what will be the selling price of the I-Pace in Malaysia. Well, in the UK the asking price is 65,245 pounds sterling (which is about RM350,000). So expect a selling price in Malaysia to be just below RM380,000.
This means, the I-Pace will compete directly with the BMW iX3 which sells for RM322,800 and the Mercedes EQA Crossover which is price at RM278,201.
However, the immediate rival will be the just launched Volvo C40 Recharge which is priced at just RM288,888 and this will be the EV to beat.
