LA MOTOR SHOW: 2018 Range Rover unveiled

Land Rover has unveiled facelifted versions of both its flagship Range Rover and Audi Q7-rivalling Range Rover Sport just hours before the official global debut of both SUVs at the Los Angeles motor show.

Pulling the drapes off both cars at a special VIP event, Jaguar Land Rover Australia confirmed both would be available Down Under from April 2018.

More of a nip and tuck than complete overhaul, the updated models come with a tweaked front and rear bumper that helps align the luxury SUV with the more recently launched Velar.

Initially, both the Range Rover and Range Rover Sport will come with a conventional petrol and diesel powertrain but, from the middle of 2018, the two SUVs will be offered with the option of Jaguar Land Rover's all-new P400e plug-in powertrain.

Combining a 221kW 2.0-litre turbo four-cylinder engine with a punchy 85kW, the full-size Rangie plug-in hybrid is claimed to be capable of returning 2.8L/100km while emitting just 64g/km of CO2.

Perhaps more impressive is that the petrol-electric P400e hybrid produces a total output of 297kW/640Nm, enabling it to hit 100km/h in just 6.8 seconds while offering up to 51km of pure-electric range.

Charging from a (optional) 13.1kWh fast-charger is claimed to be two hours and 45 minutes.

Described by an insider as "a considerable step forward" over the old car's diesel hybrid, the JLR employee said the new plug-in Range Rover should be seen as the "perfect for the typical Aussie lifestyle".

That's because it can handle the school run or an average commute on pure-electric power alone, while the petrol engine ensures a decent range for adventure drives come the weekend.

"When you consider the performance and efficiency on offer, the latest plug-in hybrid is a much-improved package from where we were," he said.

The JLR insider refused to confirm when the expected 48-volt mild hybrids might join the range but said the new plug-in powertrain is proof JLR is well under on the way to fulfilling its pledge to electrify every model it makes from 2020.

As well as plug-in capability, the Range Rover gets the same 10.0-inch Touch Pro Duo infotainment system as the Velar, plus wider, softer armchairs that offer 24-way adjustment.

The optional massage seats, meanwhile, give you the choice of 25 different back treatments on the move.

For those who use their Range Rover for business, the new car offers some 17 charging points and USBs plus a new WIFI hotspot that can tether with up to eight devices.

The smaller Range Rover Sport's pricing kicks off from $95,100 (plus on-road costs) for the entry-level 177kW SD4 diesel. The new plug-in hybrid, meanwhile, is priced at $146,600 plus ORCs.

Pricing for the Range Rover, meanwhile, begins at $256,000 and stretches to an eye-watering $398,900 for the new SVAutobiography.

As well as refreshing the Range Rover JLR's performance division, Special Vehicle Operations (SVO) has boosted power and torque of the Range Rover Sport SVR's 404kW supercharged 5.0-litre V8 to an even more muscular 416kW. This, claims SVO, ensures the flagship SVR can now hit 100km/h in just 4.5 seconds.

As well as more power, SVO will now offer a sports chassis tune alongside the SVR standard 'comfort' set-up. This lowers the ride by 8mm and is said to provide for a more involving and engaging drive.

A carbon-fibre bonnet option, larger 22-inch wheels and the choice of graphite grey accents complete the updates to the SVR Range Rover.

The revised, more powerful Range Rover Sport SVR arrives in Australia towards the end of 2018 and will be priced from $238,200.