Supercharged V6 petrol set for Range Rover

THE latest-generation Range Rover will be available in Australia with a new six-cylinder petrol engine option from the fourth quarter of 2013.

The 3.0-litre supercharged V6, currently used in the Jaguar XJ limousine, will make its way under the Range Rover’s clamshell bonnet as the new entry petrol engine, joining the line-up alongside the existing V6 and V8 diesels and the flagship supercharged V8 petrol.

It will not undercut the entry TDV6 diesel on price, however, as Land Rover Australia spokesman James Scrimshaw confirmed to GoAuto that it will instead slot into the range between the $178,900 TDV6 Vogue and $195,100 TDV8 Vogue.

Official pricing will be confirmed closer to launch toward the end of this year.

The direct-injection downsized engine may have two fewer cylinders than the previous model’s base V8 naturally aspirated petrol, but it is no slouch. JLR claims figures of 250kW at 6500rpm and 450Nm of torque between 3500 and 5000rpm – the same as the XJ.

Power is sent to all four wheels via the same eight-speed automatic as the rest of the range, and is capable of hustling the big beast from zero to 100km/h in a brisk 7.4 seconds.

Official fuel consumption and emissions figures have not been released, but Range Rover expects a reduction of 15 per cent over the old naturally aspirated V8 petrol. A figure around 12.0 litres per 100km is likely.

JLR has confirmed that the V6 will retain the 3500kg towing capacity of its larger siblings. The car’s off-road credentials are also unhindered, with the off-road tilt angle of up to 45 degrees and wading depth of 900mm unchanged.

Mr Scrimshaw said to expect the engine to be available in two specification levels, either HSE and Vogue or Vogue and Vogue SE.

As reported, an all-new 250kW diesel-electric hybrid powertrain that combines the TDV6 engine from base variants with a 1.7kWh lithium-ion battery pack and 50kW electric motor will become available in Australia around the same time s the new V6 petrol.

Land Rover claims this green drivetrain will be capable of returning economy figures of 6.3L/100km and 169 grams of CO2 per kilometre.