Land Rover is readying a series of new models using its latest V8 petrol engine – a motor that’s destined to power a whole generation of Landies, Range Rovers and Jaguars.
Our scoop photographers tracked down this pair – a Discovery and Range Rover – winter testing in the Arctic chill of Finland. We’ve checked out their registration documents that reveal they’re running the new 4997cc engine. It’s believed that engineering consultancy Bosch is helping develop the new models, which will arrive as part of facelifts on both model ranges. Our interior shots show the Range Rover benefitting from Jaguar’s ultra-simplistic wheel-mounted controls.
New 5.0 V8 with and without supercharger
The new-generation V8s are designed to be cleaner than today’s 4.2-litre lump (now only available in supercharged form in the UK). Although European buyers predominantly pick the more efficient diesel models, the V8 remains popular in export markets such as the US, the Middle East and Australia.
This 5.0-litre uses direct-injection for more precise combustion, lowering fuel consumption and emissions with little harm to power outputs, believed to stand at 350bhp in naturally aspirated form and 460bhp in supercharged form.
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Hybrids, stop-start… the green Land Rovers
It’s not just big V8 brutes under development at Land Rover. The recent LRX concept car, previewing the 2010 sub-Freelander baby, was powered by a diesel hybrid drivetrain and before that we’ll see stop-start technology appear on Freelanders in the next year.
A new Range Rover, benefiting from aluminium construction, is due in 2012 – stretching the legendary luxury off-roader even further upmarket, with prices stretching to the £100,000 mark. Land Rover must be hoping that the world still wants excess-all-areas SUVs in the next decade…