Silk Trail 2013: Land Rover Hybrid prototype drives into India in an epic journey

During this phase, the responsiveness of the Hybrid engine to the driver’s throttle commands and its ability to accelerate strongly, enabled safe overtaking maneuvers on roads busy with trucks and buses. The expedition crossed the deep river ravine on the Friendship Bridge connecting the town of Zhangmu in China with the village of Kodari in Nepal followed by a journey of another 85 miles to Kathmandu. The next leg of the journey from Kathmandu to Pokhara, a town surrounded by three of the ten highest mountains in the world, was a 127-mile stretch of road demanding eight hours of unwavering concentration.

The Range Rover’s regular braking kept the Hybrid motor battery recharged and ensured that it assisted the 3-litre SDV6 diesel engine and further improved fuel economy despite the ever-changing pace of driving. The three Range Rover Hybrid prototypes then crossed the bridge over the Mahakali River and into India, for the final 1000 miles to the expedition’s final destination – the city of Mumbai.