Detroit: Land Rover announces diesel option for Range Rover models

Land Rover is introducing a new diesel engine option for its Range Rover and Range Rover Sport luxury SUVs for the 2016 model year. Both diesel-powered models will be on display for the first time at the Detroit auto show.
The 2016 Range Rover HSE Td6 and Range Rover Sport HSE Td6 will use a version of Land Rover’s 3.0L turbocharged diesel V6 mated to an eight-speed automatic transmission. Rated at 254 horsepower and 440 lb-ft of torque, the V6 diesel promises significantly more low-end grunt than Land Rover’s standard supercharged gas V6.

Moreover, the diesel mill achieves peak torque at just 1,750rpm, making it ideally suited for towing and off-road duties.

That low-end oomph is reflected in the SUVs’ performance figures. The Range Rover Sport HSE Td6 takes just 7.1 second to hit 60 — compared to 6.9 second for its gas counterpart — while the Range Rover HSE Td6 hits the same mark in 7.4 second, or 0.3 seconds slower than the gas Range Rover.

Although performance figures are similar across the two engine lines, fuel economy is a different story. Whereas the gas-powered Range Rover models can only muster about 17mpg in the city and 23mpg on the highway — netting a combined rating of 18mpg — the Td6 models are good for 22mpg in the city and 28mpg on the highway, resulting in a combined rating of 25mpg.

Thanks to that boost in economy, both diesel models boast a range of nearly 660 miles.

Like most larger diesel-powered vehicles, the Range Rover Td6 and Range Rover Sport Td6 will require Diesel Exhaust Fluid to reduce NOx emissions. In the case of both models, the DEF reservoir will be located underhood and will have enough capacity to go 10,000 miles between refills.

In order to reduce the typical diesel clatter as much as possible, the 3.0L V6 utilizes a two-stage injection process and sits on dual-isolation engine mounts. Land Rover also enhanced the bulkhead area and added an acoustic lament to the windshield to cut down on engine noise.

Pricing for the new diesel option hasn’t been announced, but the 2016 Range Rover HSE Td6 and Range Rover Sport Td6 are scheduled to arrive in Land Rover showrooms this fall. Land Rover says diesel technology will be available across its lineup in the coming years, so keep and eye out for more oil-burning Landies.