Big news is often announced on the eve of the Detroit Auto Show, and this year has proven no different. Land Rover, once again making a big push to win over as many consumer segments as they can, will be bringing two diesel-powered Range Rovers to the American market in the coming year. The Range Rover Sport and Range Rover will both be offered with a new 3.0-liter turbocharged V6 which is purported to produce 254 horsepower with 440 foot pounds of torque.
Land Rover claims this new TD6 power plant will improve fuel efficiency over the current gasoline burning V8 by up to 32 percent while still giving the two Range Rover’s ample acceleration and performance. With their 23.5 gallon tanks, estimated range for the two new Rovers puts them on the far side of 650 miles at an estimated 25 miles per gallon.
To achieve these numbers and to meet the demands of American emission standards, new technologies had to be developed to give the TD6 a clean burn. The water-cooled, ball-bearing turbo is mated to a diesel-exhaust fluid system for reduced particulate emissions.
This being Expedition Portal, this news will likely be received by many with little more than shrugged shoulders. It is true, a precious few think of the Range Rover as a viable overland platform, due largely in part to the sizable asking price. These vehicles are however shockingly capable as evidenced by members of our Overland International team who have driven Range Rovers in recent years on the Silk Trail in India, the sands of Morocco, and just recently over the high passes of the Continental Divide Route. With so few other manufacturers offering the diesels overlanders say they want, it’s nice to see Land Rover answering the call.
