JLR's New 395bhp Straight-Six Is Here And You Can Have It In A Range Rover Sport
Land Rover seems to have been mighty busy lately, don’t you think? A little over a week on from announcing it had stuffed a dirty-great supercharged V8 into the Range Rover Velar, the British company has just announced a smaller but arguably more significant new engine option for the Range Rover Sport.
It’s a 3.0-litre petrol straight-six, developing 395bhp and 405lb ft. It’s based on Jaguar Land Rover’s Ingenium engine architecture and is fitted with a twin-scroll turbocharger.
This may sound familiar: such an engine was the subject of a series of rumours in 2015 and 2016, with one report in Car Magazine claiming it would launch in 2017. Better late than never, right?
Its first application is the new Range Rover Sport HST, in which it’s hooked up to a 48V mild hybrid system - a first for JLR. This powers an electric supercharger to combat lag, while also increasing efficiency by extending the operation of the start-stop system.
The HST will do 0-62mph in 6.2 seconds, and top out at 140mph. In terms of economy, it manages 30.5mpg on the (NEDC) combined cycle, compared to 26.9mpg for the supercharged V6.
Speaking of the V6, although it’s not been confirmed yet, it seems very likely that this new engine will serve as a replacement for the 3.0-litre supercharged unit, which goes out of production next year. Jaguar has a rich history of awesome straight-six-powered cars, so you can’t help but get excited about the prospect of Land Rover’s sister brand getting in on the enlarged Ingenium action.
If this straight-six-powered Range Rover Sport is more your bag, however, you can order one for £81,250 on the road, before options.
Growing up on a diet of World Rally Championship highlights and lengthy Gran Turismo 2 sessions, a life in cars was as good as inevitable for Matt.
Comments
“Dirty-great V8” this is the quality of language skill that makes me happy.
Also +400 lb ft out of a straight six?! Should pull like a freight train!
In metric, that about 542 NM. I heard most pick up in here is at least 300 NM or higher.
I said it last year JLR we’re making a V8 Velar
Torque is easy when you can just shove more boost in
Thanks I’ll take two.
But seriously, the second this inline six is in a Jaguar of some description I’ll be sorely tempted to buy one.
I’m sure it’s going to. Then if JLR shoves it in the XE, it can really hang with the M340i, Q50 Red Sport 400, and Mercedes C43 AMG
Well if it finds its way into Jags and sounds remotely close to what the 4 and 3.8 sixes of old did, then sign me up
inb4 screeching people who love V8’s
You called?
I, for one, welcome our new inline-6 mild hybrid overlords.
I really like the idea of a mild hybrid its probably the way forward with petrol and diesel engines. Also this engine with more power could replace the v8 in the range as it uses way to much fuel
I’ve literally been thinking for about two weeks or so about how nice it would be if Jaguar brought back the I6 and, oh boy, I am not disappointed. Hopefully a new V8 will come as well. (and a new XJ, by the way)
Yes I hope so too. They have their 5.0l SC V8 for now, but I’m hoping they’ll use a V8 Hybrid powertrain for their next gen SVR models. Either upgrade/hybridise their 5.0l engine or use an AMG engine.
wait so a 4mpg difference between a Supercharged V6 and this?
uhhhhhh
The new straight-six engine should be in the Jaguar XE