LAND Rover is continuing its electrification programme with the introduction of plug-in hybrid versions of its two top sellers.

Using an all-new 1.5-litre three cylinder petrol engine - the latest in the company's inventory of Ingenium engines - and an electric motor, the new PHEV variants of the Discovery Sport and Range Rover Evoque are both built at Halewood on Merseyside.

With a zero emission range of up to 41 miles they are priced from £43,850 in the case of the Evoque and £45,370 for the Discovery Sport.

Both are badged P300e variants of their respective line ups and the prices put them close to the top of the two ranges.

They join the existing 48-volt mild-hybrid options which have been available since the two models were launched last year.

The Evoque PHEV has emissions rated at 32g/km which not only offers tax advantages to business users but equates to a theoretical fuel economy figure of 201.8mpg.

The heavier Discovery Sport is not quite as efficient and can travel up to 38 miles purely on electricity with a CO2 return of 36g/km and fuel economy of 175.5mpg on the new WLTP tests.

Power output from the engine is 200hp which is boosted by a 109hp from the electric motor which is powered by a 15kWh battery located under the rear seats.

Together they give the Evoque a 0 to 60mph acceleration time of 6.1 seconds with the Discovery Sport a fraction slower but both are the quickest of their two line ups.

Both can reach speeds of up to 84mph on electric power alone - at which point the electric motor is decoupled to improve efficiency.

Recharging times are as low as 30 minutes for an 80 per cent boost from a 32kW DC charger or one hour 24 minutes for a similar charge from 7kW AC wallbox. A full charge from a domestic supply takes six hours 42 minutes.

The charging point is at the rear of the vehicles and located on the nearside, opposite to the fuel filler flap.

The two PHEVs are fitted with a new eight-speed automatic gearbox instead of the nine-speed transmission used on other versions in the two ranges and like the mild hybrid models have a belt-integrated starter-generator which helps to deliver regenerative braking, recharging the battery on the overrun.

A new brake-by-wire system replaces the traditional brake vacuum servo and both the Evoque and Discovery Sport PHEVs have full all-terrain ability with four-wheel-drive and 540Nm of torque available.

Software changes include three drive modes - hybrid, EV and a Save setting to maintain battery charge - as well as extra displays on the instrument panel.

The Range Rover Evoque is available in S, SE and HSE specifications, either as standard or R-Dynamic, and the Discovery Sport is available in R-Dynamic S, SE and HSE specifications.