Clean diesel for the upswing
Land Rover, the British SUV brand, continues to rely on powerful diesel, and has reworked and future-proofed its well-known three-liter engines.
It was a tough year for the traditional Land Rover brand. Nearly a quarter fewer customers chose 2018 for a Range Rover, a Land Rover Discovery or any of the other models. The main reason was the discussion about the diesel and the resulting fear of impending driving bans. Traditionally, most of the British terrain artists have such a drive. Now Land Rover is steering against, with fuel-efficient and EU6dtemp-cleaned diesel engines that do not have to stop in front of restricted zones.
Pretty big things that Land Rover plants under the hoods. Example Range Rover Velar, the design piece among the otherwise rather conservative SUV giants. The prospective customer can now choose from four diesel versions, two with six-cylinder engines. New is the 202 kW / 275 PS strong three-liter, which goes with two turbochargers at the start. Starting at low revs, the first one becomes active, his colleague participates in the locomotion from 2.500 revolutions. The result is beefy pulling power (625 Newton meters) with relatively modest consumption (from 6,5 liters / 100 km). Since the Velar, like all other models of the house, was measured according to the new, more stringent WLTP standard, the customer has the opportunity to approach this value in practice, depending on the driving style. Price: 73.640 Euro. and
The most powerful representative of the new engine generation with its 225 kW / 306 PS is available in various models, now also in the Land Rover Discovery, which has an average consumption of 7,5 liters. Fans of the English workhorse who have to haul a trailer from time to time will be particularly pleased with over 700 Newton meters of torque. It can take 3,5 tons (750 kg unbraked) on the hook. The price, however, is a proud 67.200 euros.
Same engine, different performance. The slightly weaker V6 diesel on the same basis is reserved for the new Range Rover Sport. With 183 kW / 249 horsepower and a maximum torque of 600 Nm, it is the new entry-level model into the diesel world of the 69.000 Meter SUV for smooth 4,88 Euro. The average consumption of 7,5 liters on 100 kilometers is remarkable for a 2,2-ton heavy all-wheel drive.
There is an alternative for those interested in the Range Rover Sport, for which the federal government has provided since the beginning of the year. For pure electric models and so-called plug-in hybrids with rechargeable batteries that are used for work, the so-called "company car tax" has been halved. The Range Rover Sport P400e, which combines a two-liter turbo gasoline engine (221 kW / 300 PS) with a 105 kW / 142 PS electric motor, can be enjoyed. It exceeds the state requirement of 40 kilometers of purely electric range by up to four kilometers before it has to switch back to the internal combustion engine. With an average of 3,2 liters of petrol per 100 kilometers, the € 88.000 SUV is therefore eligible for funding. In practice this means: Whereas the owner of the company car previously had to pay 880 euros per month as additional income, the plug-in hybrid is now only 440 euros. The same applies to the equally motorized version of the "normal" Range Rover. Since it is only available from 120.000 euros, its “company car tax” is 600 euros.
Despite fears of impending Brexit and its consequences for products from England: New diesel and tax rebate for electrified models should help the Range and Land Rover models to boom. In addition, there is the range of not so popular gasoline models, which are now also equipped with the latest exhaust technology. The greatest hope is the German Dependance of the British on the April appearing new Range Rover Evoque. The compact SUV was with copies sold around 700.000 in recent years by far the most successful model.
