1996 Land Rover Discovery on 2040-cars

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Land Rover will downsize with a pair of hybridized turbodiesel sixes

Europe's automotive industry has ground to a halt, but the strict emissions regulations that went into effect in early 2020 are still looming on the horizon. Land Rover is preparing to launch a pair of hybridized turbodiesel six-cylinder engines in a bid to comply with the regulations and avoid paying huge fines, according to a recent report. British magazine Autocar learned Land Rover has applied the mild hybrid technology already offered on the Evoque and the Discovery Sport, its two smallest models, to a 3.0-liter straight-six to obtain 300 horsepower. The company will also release a more powerful version of the six rated at about 350 horses. The former will be available on HSE, HSE Dynamic and Autobiography Dynamic variants of the Range Rover Sport, while the latter will be added to upmarket models like the HST. The full-size Range Rover (pictured) will get them, too. The sixes represent a two-pronged approach to replacing the 4.4-liter turbodiesel V8 available in Europe, among other markets. It delivers 335 horsepower and 546 pound-feet of torque, and it sends the Range Rover from zero to 60 mph in 6.5 seconds while giving it a 7,700-pound towing capacity. These figures are hard to argue against, but it's an older engine that's increasing the company's fleet-wide average emissions output, so it has to go. The mild hybrid system won't power either Range Rover on electricity alone, but it will make them cleaner and more efficient; losing a pair of cylinders will help in both areas, too. Although Land Rover hasn't confirmed plans to ax the V8 or launch a hybridized six, suppliers have started publishing information about the powertrain, so its launch is believed to be around the corner. Time will tell whether it will appear on the current-generation models or their replacements, which are undergoing shakedown testing globally and due out in the coming months. Sister company Jaguar will use the mild hybrid technology, too. The six-cylinder will find its way into the XF and the F-Pace, which are both expected to receive comprehensive updates before the end of 2020. Related Video: This content is hosted by a third party. To view it, please update your privacy preferences. Manage Settings. Talking Land Rover Defender, Ford Bronco and GMC Jimmy | Autoblog Podcast #586

Buy a Jaguar E-Type continuation, get a matching wristwatch

From time to time, automakers release special branded watches. Jaguar and Land Rover are no different. The latest from Land Rover isn't particularly remarkable, but one new Jaguar piece is pretty special. Jaguar partnered with British watchmaker Bremont for a line of watches, the most impressive being a 43mm watch that commemorates Jaguar's continuation series of Lightweight E-Types. Like the cars, only six of the watches will be produced, and they will be offered to the owners of those $1.5 million cars. Each watch features a serial number that matches a corresponding car, and the faces have been designed to look like the instruments aboard the E-Types. The same goes for the hands, which look like the gauge needles. The winding crown also has a tire tread pattern that wraps around the sides, with Jaguar's heritage logo on the top. And these timepieces are built with aluminum left over from the continuation E-Types. On the back is the most impressive part, though. Here is where the watch's automatic winding weight is visible. It's shaped like a vintage steering wheel, and the outer rim is made from real wood. The weight keeps the watch and its exclusive Bremont movement wound. If you can't afford this ultra-limited watch, Bremont has a line of other Jaguar watches with many of the same design cues, at prices ranging from less than $5,000 to more than $11,000. The Land Rover watch is a bit disappointing, since it bears little apparent connection to the vehicles. Zenith, the Swiss company that partnered with Land Rover for the piece, claims the design is inspired by the Range Rover. And Land Rover claims a connection in that a British explorer wore the same series watch while completing an expedition with a pair of Range Rovers. There's also the fact that the watch and the SUV are both made of aluminum, but otherwise, the Zenith watch doesn't look particularly automotive. The box sounds pretty cool, though, since it's fashioned from Land Rover wood and upholstery. Related Video:

Jaguar Land Rover is going to call itself 'JLR' and spin off brands

Embracing the current popular philosophy that less is more, the executives at Jaguar Land Rover plan to officially rename their company “JLR” and to create a new “house of brands” that will emphasize name equity and refocus its vehicle offerings. In simple terms, the British-based, India-owned company will split into four separate brands: Range Rover, Discovery, Defender and Jaguar. While this shift may appear to be essentially a function of marketing and dealership bookkeeping, the over-arching reason is to give some of the brands more visibility. Details of the plan, which would reconfigure showrooms in Britain into discrete brand footprints, were discussed this week at a presentation by JLR CEO Adrian Mardell. “The reality is Range Rover is a brand and so is Defender,’” said creative officer Gerry McGovern. “Customers say they own a Range Rover. In luxury, you need absolute clarity. Land Rover Range Rover SV Autobiography doesnÂ’t give it. We love Land Rover, but there isn't as much equity as Range Rover, and Defender is increasing massively.”  Underlying the effort is plans to reinvent Jaguar as an electric-only luxury brand, Mardell said that this was “unfinished business” for him since he joined Jaguar 32 years ago. “The Jaguar of 32 years ago is where weÂ’re going back to and the right place for us to be." He further acknowledged that JLR had been “quiet” recently in the face of semiconductor chip shortages, but allowed that that situation was easing at his company.