After all the marketing froth last year and getting the thing to India, it's all been a bit quiet of late.

Maybe they've discovered it will loose money even pricing it along side the SDV8 and SC V8; maybe they've decided that the extra weight and complexity are too much; maybe the 1 mile range on battery power is just too much of a joke.

Whichever it is, the car is clearly not ready for prime time and the marketing department have peaked early. The web-site says it will be available from Q4 2014 but none of us will seriously believe that.

What's certain is that LR have to do something about their fleet average emissions. By 2015, the fleet average emissions have to be 130 g/km; if an HSE Dynamic SDV6 at 199 g/km is representative of their existing fleet average emissions, the fine per car would be something like €6500 and you can bet those costs will be passed on to their customers, plus VAT of course. Mark

SVR in Estoril Blue

Ive seen and been in a hybrid - so im sure it will be back Mike

2014 Facelift Discovery

Top Gear amongst others have had the hybrid, driven it and spoke very highly about it.

Problem is and this is only my opinion, that most markets still dont really want hybrid vehicles despite people claiming they do. Everyone wants great fuel efficiency, but they also expect better performance AND they dont appreciate that due to it being much newer and more expensive technology, that it will cost more and they dont want to have to pay more for this privilege.

Result is, just like when electric cars were first being developed, companies arent fully dedicated to them as all those saying they want it, when they have the option, will often pick the cheapest and walk away from the expensive option complaining of the initial outlay, even if over the lifetime of the vehicle you end up saving money.

Until the industry gets serious about it, which will only come if they are forced to, the development will continue to just be mild CO2 emission reductions each year. The technology exists but currently too many downsides and too much expense to implement something that at the moment wouldnt sell.

Ah but don't forget the people who will really benefit from the hybrid - company car drivers. In 2005 I bought a Lexus RX400h as a company motor and saved myself a fortune compared with a Disco or X5. Although, it was c**p off road!

As an aside, my 2iC here ordered himself a Mitsubishi Outlander PHEV on launch day earlier this month for May delivery, and was the third person to sign on the dotted line that day. Pricing in line with the diesel model (after £5000 grant) and 5% company car tax instead of c30% for typical diesel SUVs and it's a no brainer, even if you never plug it in to charge it.

Added to the configurator - "Hybrid will be available Quarter 4 2014" 

Not too bothered either way.....
Thought about ordering one but decided against it simply because I don´t want a RR that Whirs...... I need the growl !!! 2014.5 SDV6 AB Dynamic ... Fuji /Santorini Pan roof and 22's
2013 Porsche Boxster S 3.4
2014 Audi A3 S line Quattro
---------------------------------