Well this is insane, a Range Rover Sport PHEV (Petrol Hybrid Electric Vehicle) has climbed a 999-step staircase with a 45-degree angle. The stunt known as the ‘Dragon Road challenge’ took place in China at the Heaven’s Gate rock arch. The brave guy behind the wheel is Le Mans class-winner and Panasonic Jaguar Racing reserve and test driver Ho-Pin Tung.
The bizarre course involved 99 turns and those 999 steps, with the Range Rover Sport P400e being the first car to do so. It all kicked off at the bottom of Tianmen Mountain, a 11.3km stretch known as Dragon Road. To pull off the stair stage the driver optimised the Terrain Response mode which uses a combination of the 221kW Ingenium petrol engine and 85kW electric motor / battery combo. It offers up to 50km of range and offers a claimed 0 – 100km/h 6.1 seconds dash. Although clearly as this video will showcase this is no way to extend range!
Chris was EFTM’s Motoring Editor for many years, driving everything from your entry level hatch to the latest Luxury cars through to the Rolls Royce.
He has been in the media for 20 years, produced three Olympic games broadcasts, attending Beijing 2008 & London 2012.
Strangely he owns a Toyota Camry Hybrid, he defiantly rejects the knockers.
Chris is married to Gillian and resides in Sydney’s North West. They have Sam the English Springer Spaniel and Felix the Burmese cat to keep them company, and recently welcomed baby Henry to the family.
He has now left EFTM, and writes freelance and runs his own Facebook Page “Bowen’s Garage”
Plenty of calls with tech questions this week. Steve is wondering about his Oppo Phone…
BMW has been building up to the release of the new iX3 for many, many…
This week we talk to Steve who has an epic journey toward his first EV,…
Yahoo! Remember them? If you are an old bugger like me you probably still have…
A young programmer wins the chance to visit his reclusive CEO and test a ground-breaking…
Taking power with you when you go somewhere, or adding in a battery to an…