From the outside it may look like just another resto ‘Rover but beneath the skin Zero Labs’ Series 109 packs the latest in EV technology.
The California company has form in making the switch from oil to electrons having previously developed EV-swapped Ford Broncos, F-250s and Land Rover Defender 110s.
This latest vehicle is “a revolution in classic electrification,” says Zero Labs, “A remastered, handcrafted masterpiece that seamlessly blends the past with the future,” adds Founder Adam Roe.
Backing up these bold claims are some 4,000 unique design upgrades across the vehicle that turn the old Landie into an “Anti-Cyber Truck.” Chief among these is the powertrain, with its flat battery pack squeezed into the separate chassis, driving two electric motors that deliver a combined 600 horsepower and a range of over 250 miles. There’s Level 3 DC fast charging (although whether you can use a Tesla Supercharger isn’t clear) and a one-pedal driving feature as well.
Further upgrading the driving experience are a suspension system with adjustable ride height, auto-sensing power steering, modern heating and air conditioning and a roomier cabin, achieved by a redesigned flat floor for the cabin.
Zero Labs has, wisely, resisted the temptation to fully take the Land Rover’s interior into the 21st Century and, instead of a proliferation of touch screens, there are analog-style gauges that have been repurposed to suit EV needs. Detailed information and diagnostics can be accessed by a hidden screen or mobile app.
Fresh from winning an awards for best SUV at the Electrify Expo, Zero Labs is set to build just 25 examples, with first dibs going to the company’s existing customers and investors.
“Our focus remains on preserving and re-imagining automotive history,” says Roe. “This is the future of our past.”
