Land Rover confirms diesel hybrid Range Rover for 2012

Land Rover has confirmed that diesel hybrid technology will feature in their flagship Range Rover by 2012.

The manufacturer will begin on-road testing with a prototype - dubbed the range_e - by the end of the year. The test mule is built on a Range Rover Sport platform and uses the existing 3.0-litre TDV6 engine in conjunction with an integrated electric motor.

Land Rover expects the new technology to be capable of a 20 mile range on battery power alone and reduce the SUV's emissions to less than 100g/km of CO2.