Video: Range Rover Sport PHEV climbs Dragon Road (China)

sparky@home · 13th February 2018, 09:30

A dizzying 99 turns and 999 daunting steps didn’t stop the new Range Rover Sport PHEV from completing a world-first at one of China’s most famous landmarks.

The petrol-electric performance SUV has become the first vehicle to climb the stairs to the natural rock arch of Heaven’s Gate. 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.

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.

https://youtu.be/KJZa0sp5Mps

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centaur · 13th February 2018, 10:17

Just an amazing feat as per me especially since its stock and a hybrid too. A good video to start my day with, I must say!

Nonstop-driver · 13th February 2018, 11:26

Amazing. But is it a feat exclusive for RR? Wouldn't any vehicle with similar power and GC give the same result?

Also, I'm more interested to know how did they get the vehicle down?

ajmat · 13th February 2018, 12:05

Quote:

Originally Posted by Nonstop-driver

Amazing. But is it a feat exclusive for RR? Wouldn't any vehicle with similar power and GC give the same result?

Also, I'm more interested to know how did they get the vehicle down?

The challenge is going up the steps without stopping, once you stall, you roll back. This is where electric propulsion would come into play.

Downhill - Easy - Hill Descent Control

PraNeel · 15th February 2018, 16:22

Here is the official video for the dragon challenge. Very impressive I must say!!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EUwzWHD3Htg

Sivasankar · 15th February 2018, 19:22

Quote:

Originally Posted by PraNeel

Here is the official video for the dragon challenge. Very impressive I must say!!

Guys, how was the car brought down?

srishiva · 15th February 2018, 20:26

With sufficient power and 4 wheel drive, going up is not such an issue I guess since it went very up smooth.
Going down, if Hill Descent Control could handle it without slipping, its a great feat

RajeVenu · 16th February 2018, 00:17

Quote:

Originally Posted by Sivasankar

Guys, how was the car brought down?

It may not necessarily have been driven down using HDC under own power. A tackle or winch suitably anchored can provide a controlled descent..

benbsb29 · 16th February 2018, 04:57

Quote:

Originally Posted by srishiva

With sufficient power and 4 wheel drive, going up is not such an issue I guess since it went very up smooth.

The main achievement here is the gradient the car was up against, and the fact that it was climbing stairs, which make for a much bumpy ride. Initial momentum is key.

Nonstop-driver · 16th February 2018, 08:45

I found this video of the same vehicle doing a downhill challenge. Although the challenge isn't shot in a continuous video, it still showcases the car's control over uneasy terrain

https://youtu.be/4LaQSYSMUhE

SJM1214 · 16th February 2018, 12:24

Wow! An Amazing feat.

Quote:

Originally Posted by benbsb29

Initial momentum is key.

Yes! The Initial Momentum is key. I think that momentum is gained by electric propulsion. Vehicle's jump at 3.58 to 4.00 minutes was amazing. Can our normal IC engine do that?

prithm · 16th February 2018, 18:02

I saw the Dragon hill video and was really holding on to the edge of my chair. I really thought that any moment the car would just stop and not move ahead. But if the video is true proof, man, it will surely climb more. Well beyond the top.

What an amazing video. Loved every second of it.

1100D · 16th February 2018, 22:16

Wondering what Tyre Pressure was used for the climb. Looks deflated, for a higher contact patch.

dhanushs · 25th February 2018, 12:22

^^ Exactly. Even a 50bhp Jeep can do better gradients. The key here is not the power or torque. Especially having an electric motor makes the torque at low rpm's/stand still easy to manage. The key is traction on tyres and suspension to create that traction.

I'm curious to know what suspension and tyres this car was running.

13th February 2018, 10:17	#2
centaur BHPian Join Date: May 2009 Location: -- Posts: 897 Thanked: 1,169 Times	re: Video: Range Rover Sport PHEV climbs Dragon Road (China) Just an amazing feat as per me especially since its stock and a hybrid too. A good video to start my day with, I must say!
	(1) Thanks

13th February 2018, 11:26	#3
Nonstop-driver BHPian Join Date: Jun 2011 Location: Noida Posts: 676 Thanked: 781 Times View My Garage	re: Video: Range Rover Sport PHEV climbs Dragon Road (China) Amazing. But is it a feat exclusive for RR? Wouldn't any vehicle with similar power and GC give the same result? Also, I'm more interested to know how did they get the vehicle down?
	(1) Thanks

15th February 2018, 20:26	#7
srishiva Senior - BHPian Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: Bengaluru Posts: 4,375 Thanked: 2,256 Times	Re: Video: Range Rover Sport PHEV climbs Dragon Road (China) With sufficient power and 4 wheel drive, going up is not such an issue I guess since it went very up smooth. Going down, if Hill Descent Control could handle it without slipping, its a great feat
	(1) Thanks

16th February 2018, 18:02	#12
prithm BHPian Join Date: Jan 2015 Location: MAA - HYD Posts: 669 Thanked: 706 Times	Re: Video: Range Rover Sport PHEV climbs Dragon Road (China) I saw the Dragon hill video and was really holding on to the edge of my chair. I really thought that any moment the car would just stop and not move ahead. But if the video is true proof, man, it will surely climb more. Well beyond the top. What an amazing video. Loved every second of it.
	() Thanks

16th February 2018, 22:16	#13
1100D Senior - BHPian Join Date: Jun 2006 Location: Calcutta Posts: 4,390 Thanked: 4,096 Times View My Garage	Re: Video: Range Rover Sport PHEV climbs Dragon Road (China) Wondering what Tyre Pressure was used for the climb. Looks deflated, for a higher contact patch.
	() Thanks

25th February 2018, 12:22	#14
dhanushs Distinguished - BHPian Join Date: Oct 2009 Location: Chennai Posts: 4,282 Thanked: 10,181 Times	Re: Video: Range Rover Sport PHEV climbs Dragon Road (China) ^^ Exactly. Even a 50bhp Jeep can do better gradients. The key here is not the power or torque. Especially having an electric motor makes the torque at low rpm's/stand still easy to manage. The key is traction on tyres and suspension to create that traction. I'm curious to know what suspension and tyres this car was running.
	() Thanks