Storming new V8 diesel for Rangie, XJ

FORD has started production of a new state-of-the-art twin-turbo V8 diesel engine that is destined for the Range Rover as well as a number of other models from Ford’s Premier Automotive Group (PAG).

GoAuto understands the engine will appear in the Range Rover Vogue and Range Rover Sport in Europe from around November – and in Australian models from December – but is also destined for the Jaguar range, including the XJ sedan.

The new V8 diesel develops 202kW of power and 640Nm of torque from an engine that has been developed from the compact block design of the existing 2.7-litre Tdi engine. Full specifications and consumption figures are to be released soon.

Other PAG brands, which also include Aston Martin, Volvo and Lincoln, are set to receive the premium V8 diesel.

The engine will be built at Ford’s Dagenham Diesel Centre in the UK, which is claimed to be one of the most Ford has invested more than $24 million in the development and manufacture of the common-rail unit.

The V8 will be built on the same production line that has turned out more than 110,000 examples of the highly acclaimed 2.7-litre TDi V6 engines for Jaguar, Land Rover and PSA Peugeot Citroen.

Ford expects to build 25,000 V8 turbo-diesels annually.