[sparky@home]

A dizzying 99 turns and 999 daunting steps didn’t stop the new Range Rover Sport PHEV from completing a world-first at one of China’s most famous landmarks.

The petrol-electric performance SUV has become the first vehicle to climb the stairs to the natural rock arch of Heaven’s Gate. The challenge began at the bottom of the legendary 11.3km Tianmen Mountain Road (known as the Dragon Road). The showroom standard Range Rover Sport P400e took on the demanding course, with Panasonic Jaguar Racing’s Ho-Pin Tung behind the wheel and the Terrain Response 2 system in Dynamic mode. At the summit of the road, the Formula E driver optimised Terrain Response for the second part of the challenge, conquering the towering 45-degree staircase of 999 steps leading to China’s legendary Heaven’s Gate using a combination of Ingenium petrol and electric battery power.

The new PHEV powertrain gives the Range Rover Sport a zero-emission EV range of up to 50km when fully charged but Ho-Pin Tung used its advanced 300PS Ingenium petrol engine and 116PS electric motor to make short work of the road section of the challenge. The performance SUV then showed its uncompromised all-terrain credentials by climbing the steep staircase to the natural rock arch.

https://youtu.be/KJZa0sp5Mps

mods : Kindly post on an appropriate thread if needed or delete if un necessary.

[centaur]

Just an amazing feat as per me especially since its stock and a hybrid too. A good video to start my day with, I must say!

[Nonstop-driver]

Amazing. But is it a feat exclusive for RR? Wouldn't any vehicle with similar power and GC give the same result?

Also, I'm more interested to know how did they get the vehicle down?

[ajmat]

Originally Posted by Nonstop-driver

Amazing. But is it a feat exclusive for RR? Wouldn't any vehicle with similar power and GC give the same result?

Also, I'm more interested to know how did they get the vehicle down?

The challenge is going up the steps without stopping, once you stall, you roll back. This is where electric propulsion would come into play.

Downhill - Easy - Hill Descent Control

[PraNeel]

Here is the official video for the dragon challenge. Very impressive I must say!!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EUwzWHD3Htg

[Sivasankar]

Originally Posted by PraNeel

Here is the official video for the dragon challenge. Very impressive I must say!!

Guys, how was the car brought down?

[srishiva]

With sufficient power and 4 wheel drive, going up is not such an issue I guess since it went very up smooth.
Going down, if Hill Descent Control could handle it without slipping, its a great feat

[RajeVenu]

Originally Posted by Sivasankar

Guys, how was the car brought down?

It may not necessarily have been driven down using HDC under own power. A tackle or winch suitably anchored can provide a controlled descent..

[benbsb29]

Originally Posted by srishiva

With sufficient power and 4 wheel drive, going up is not such an issue I guess since it went very up smooth.

The main achievement here is the gradient the car was up against, and the fact that it was climbing stairs, which make for a much bumpy ride. Initial momentum is key.

[Nonstop-driver]

I found this video of the same vehicle doing a downhill challenge. Although the challenge isn't shot in a continuous video, it still showcases the car's control over uneasy terrain

https://youtu.be/4LaQSYSMUhE

[SJM1214]

Wow! An Amazing feat.

Originally Posted by benbsb29

Initial momentum is key.

Yes! The Initial Momentum is key. I think that momentum is gained by electric propulsion. Vehicle's jump at 3.58 to 4.00 minutes was amazing. Can our normal IC engine do that?

[prithm]

I saw the Dragon hill video and was really holding on to the edge of my chair. I really thought that any moment the car would just stop and not move ahead. But if the video is true proof, man, it will surely climb more. Well beyond the top.

What an amazing video. Loved every second of it.

[1100D]

Wondering what Tyre Pressure was used for the climb. Looks deflated, for a higher contact patch.

[dhanushs]

^^ Exactly. Even a 50bhp Jeep can do better gradients. The key here is not the power or torque. Especially having an electric motor makes the torque at low rpm's/stand still easy to manage. The key is traction on tyres and suspension to create that traction.

I'm curious to know what suspension and tyres this car was running.