The Range Rover Electric is inching closer to production as Land Rover has announced prototypes have successfully completed their second season of cold weather testing in northern Europe. They racked up to 45,000 miles (72,420 km) validating various systems and pushing them to their limits.

Much of the focus was on the SUV’s thermal management system known as ThermAssist. It reduces heating energy consumption by up to 40% and aims to recover heat to warm the propulsion system or cabin in temperatures as low as 14°F (‑10°C). This helps to maximize range as well as efficiency.

More: Range Rover Electric Looks Ready To Tackle The Streets Of Beverly Hills

Besides testing out ThermAssist, the company worked on their air suspension and one-pedal driving mode. The latter is a common feature on EVs and allows drivers to only use the accelerator as the regenerative braking system kicks in as soon as you lift your foot off the ‘go pedal.’ However, Land Rover noted their application works with the Terrain Response system so it’s off-road ready.

The automaker went on to confirm the model has their first battery to be designed and built in‑house. The 117 kWh unit consists of 344 prismatic cells in a double‑stacked layout. The company added it has been “optimized for energy density, range and charging times” in order to deliver the “effortless performance and customary refinement expected of a Range Rover.”

Battery aside, the Range Rover EV has an all-wheel drive system with Intelligent Driveline Dynamics technology. It can distribute rear torque from 100% to 0% to prevent a loss of traction. Furthermore, the model can respond to slips and traction changes within 50 milliseconds, which is up to 100 times quicker than an ICE vehicle.

JLR Vehicle Engineering Director Matt Becker said, “By increasing its torsional stiffness and improving its responses, we’ve been able to maintain a customary Range Rover driving experience that feels familiar.” He added this was made possible by “marrying all the essential Range Rover elements with new and advanced technologies.”

While the company didn’t reveal too many details, Top Gear is reporting the model has a dual-motor all-wheel drive system with a combined output of 542 hp (404 kW / 550 PS) and 627 lb-ft (849 Nm) of torque. If that pans out, the Range Rover Electric would be more powerful than the P530 variant, which has a twin-turbo 4.4-liter V8 developing 523 hp (390 kW / 530 PS) and 553 lb-ft (749 Nm) of torque.

While you’ve been trying to keep your finances from going off the rails, luxury vehicles are having their moment again. Cox Automotive’s latest Kelley Blue Book report a rather surprising uptick in the number of people splurging on vehicles that cost six-figures.

If you’ve ever wondered just how deep some pockets are these days, prepare for a shock: luxury cars are flying off dealer lots, and you might feel a little behind if you don’t have at least $100K to throw down on a new ride.

More: Don’t Have $100K? Here Are 10 Cars That Will Make You Look Like A Million Bucks For Toyota Camry Money

In the first two months of 2025 alone, over 52,000 new vehicles priced above $100,000 were delivered in the USA. That’s an impressive 13% increase from the 46,000 sold last year, and a mind-boggling 333% spike compared to just five years ago, when only 12,000 six-figure cars were sold. So, it’s safe to say that many people aren’t just fantasizing about luxury anymore- they’re actually buying it.

Range Rover Leads the Pack

So, who’s winning the battle for six-figure supremacy? Somewhat surprisingly, the undisputed champion for 2025 is the Range Rover, which saw over 3,800 monthly sales in February alone. It seems that the British brand has secured its spot as the crown jewel of the six-figure crowd.

Erin Keating, an Executive Analyst at Cox Automotive, offered some perspective on the trend: “While affordability is a challenge for many households, six-figure vehicles continue to sell well and have experienced a four-fold increase in sales volume since early 2020.”

Keating also noted that the widening income gap is significantly influencing new vehicle sales trends, with high-income households and individuals with “prime” or “super prime” credit scores fueling much of the demand.

NEW-VEHICLE AVERAGE TRANSACTION PRICE

A Look at Average Transaction Prices

Now, let’s talk numbers, and specifically, the Average Transaction Price (ATP) for new vehicles. In February 2025, the Average Transaction Price (ATP) for a new vehicle was $48,039. That’s a 1.3% dip from January but still a 1% increase compared to the same time last year.

If you’re wondering which segments are pushing those ATPs above the $100K mark, look no further than the usual suspects: luxury full-size SUVs ($106,332), high-end luxury cars ($121,129), and high-performance vehicles ($121,322), all showing year-over-year growth. No surprises there, right?

Car Brands: Who’s Winning?

On the luxury brand front, Porsche takes the top spot with an ATP of $116,111 in February, which is 12% higher than last year. At the other end of the spectrum, Mitsubishi took the prize for the lowest ATP at $30,410, with Nissan not far behind at $32,262. So if you’ve been eyeing a luxury SUV or sports car, you now know who’s at the top of the price ladder.

More: Porsche May Add Another Gas-Powered SUV Next To Macan EV, Cayenne

For those who prefer a quieter ride with zero tailpipe emissions, electric vehicles are also in the mix. The average ATP for EVs in February stood at $55,273, down 1.2% from January but still up 3.7% from last year. EV incentives also saw a substantial rise, reaching an average of $8,162, the highest it’s been in over five years.

Keating also reflected on how much the overall automotive landscape has changed, noting, “February marks the five-year anniversary of the last ‘clean month’ of data prior to the global COVID pandemic that shifted the automotive landscape. Compared to February 2020, ATP is up 25% while incentives are down 13% and monthly sales are down 9%. Auto loan rates are higher now as well, making new-vehicle affordability a real challenge for most households.”

Average Transaction Prices Feb 2025 vs 2024

ATP VS INDUSTRY AVERAGE INCENTIVE SPEND AS % OF ATP

Lead image Urban Automotive