Mercedes-Benz, BMW and Audi sell about 30 percent of their GL, X5 and Q7 luxury SUV’s with diesel engines in the US. Now, Land Rover will try to capture its fair share of the oil-burner market by introducing diesel engines in its US models over the next few years.
Supplementing the brand’s gas-powered offerings with diesel motors will help meet global fuel economy standards and attract customers seeking greater efficiency, Land Rover executives told Car and Driver yesterday at the Frankfurt Motor Show.
Land Rover offers a range of diesel engines in Europe that could make their way into American models. A relatively new 2.2-liter four-cylinder turbodiesel with 187 horsepower and 332 lb-ft could be a good fit for the Evoque in the US, as it is in Europe. The LR4 might benefit from the 3.0-liter six-cylinder used by its Euro counterpart, the Discovery 4, which makes 241 ponies and 443 lb-ft of torque. Finally, top-end models like the Range Rover would be well-served by the 309 horsepower and 516 lb-ft of twist served up by a 4.4-liter V8 turbodiesel.
Land Rover officials didn’t provide a specific time frame for the diesel migration to America, only saying that it would be within a few years. With ever increasing CAFE regulations, it wouldn’t make sense for the company to wait too long before bringing the more efficient engines across the pond.
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