Should Land Rover Bring Fuel-Efficient Diesel LR3 to North America?

European Discovery TDV6 Gets Jaguar-Derived V6 Diesel

With fuel costs escalating to the point that most consumers are feeling a significant pinch in their budgets, buying patterns are starting to show smaller SUVs rising in popularity. Large SUVs are still selling fairly well, however, but long-term extortion at the pump will no doubt reduce their market dominance.

How will this reflect on Land Rovers V8-powered LR3 - the long awaited upgrade to the Discovery? The Ford Motor Company owned British brand has done well with its 5- and 7-seat sport utility in North America over the last decade, but after two generations its perceived quality isnt quite up to scratch and reliability near the bottom of the heap.

The new redesigned 2005 LR3 sports is all-new from the ground up, including its powerful 4.2-liter V8 engine derived from Ford sibling Jaguar. While the new engine improves performance while reducing emissions and fuel consumption, the vehicles large size and resultantly substantial curb weight still make it a gas guzzler.

North American Land Rover product planners must now be thinking seriously about importing the diesel version of the LR3 (still sold as the Discovery in other markets), which would not only improve the SUVs fuel economy but also reduce emissions while making it a better off-road vehicle.

OK, the fuel economy benefits are obvious but how does an oil burner reduce emissions first of all, and then what makes it better for serious 4×4 expeditions? To answer the former, the additional pollutants excreted by diesel engines are compensated by the engine not using as much fuel in the first place. The benefits do not follow an exact science, but overall there is usually about a 17 percent reduction in emissions. Depending on the diesel fuel itself, however, particulates can actually go up. By 2006 diesel fuel has to be refined to a new, much higher tolerance, which will dramatically reduce particulate pollutants, meaning diesel technology will become a lot cleaner here at home.

And why does a diesel powered SUV make a better SUV off the beaten path? Well, once again the word “better” needs to be defined. Conventional diesels wont make the 1,400 horsepower necessary to jump Dennis Andersons “Gravedigger” monster truck over a stack of cars and a school bus, but most outdoor adventurers adhere to the tread lightly philosophy as it is, so this wont be an issue. Diesel power not only delivers greater torque at lower revs than gasoline, the ideal scenario for crawling over rocky crags and fallen logs, but the improved fuel economy will allow adventurers to make treks farther into the wilderness before needing to turn back. A quick glance at the resale value of diesel powered Land Rover Defenders and rival Toyota Land Cruisers in your local classified ad section will show they are the popular choice among 4×4 enthusiasts.

And the LR3 is said to be an even more capable off-road vehicle than its superb predecessor, making the availability of a diesel even more advantageous.

Rather than just sticking with the current European Discoverys TD5 5-cylinder diesel, the new model will be named TDV6 for (you guessed it) the new engines V6 configuration. Just like the SUVs top-line V8, the diesel variant will be sourced from Jaguar. The 2.7-L TDV6, developed in cooperation with PSA (Citroen and Peugeot), makes a decent 190 horsepower, hardly a number that would entice North American enthusiasts, that is until factoring in its torque figure measures 324 lb-ft available at merely 1,900 rpm. The new engine is more refined too, offering improved emissions and fuel economy over its predecessor.

The engine features dual overhead cams, on both banks of cylinders of course, the latest common rail technology, which makes it extremely quiet, and electronically adjustable nozzles for a more thorough injection process, making use of all available fuel. As is almost always the case with modern diesels, the TDV6 is turbocharged, this one with variable geometry, enhancing performance.

Being that a much higher percentage of Land Rover owners take their vehicles off-road when compared to those that own competitive brands, the automaker has gone to great lengths to make certain mud, dirt, sand and water cannot seep into vital mechanical and electrical components. The crankshaft seal material reportedly repels dirt and water, while the oil pump is said to be mounted out of harms way.

Ironic is the fact that what might be Land Rovers most capable off-road vehicle isnt available on the continent with the most opportunity to make use of it, North America being riddled with dedicated off-road trails and more untamed wilderness than just about anywhere else on earth. And most likely the only way its going to change is if enough potential customers let their desires be known to their local Land Rover dealers.

Until then the only sport utility vehicle to offer a diesel engine in North America will be Jeeps updated 2005 Liberty, what was considered a risky decision last year but now as fuel prices continue to climb the charts appears more and more like an intelligent move. Land Rover has a history selling diesels in North America while its core clientele is sophisticated enough to embrace an alternate fuel technology, both key points that make importing the new TDV6 a smart business decision.

With or without the diesel, the new LR3 is expected to arrive later this year. Its a giant improvement over the outgoing Discovery in every way, with much more interior room and seating for up to seven adults. Panel fit is finally top-notch, partly due to its rigid integrated frame and monocoque construction. Interior quality is also greatly improved, but based on a pre-production example still not rising to benchmark levels set by rivals BMW, Lexus, Volkswagen or Volvo. The Land Rover is expected to be less expensive than at least two of the four brands mentioned, however, making this last indiscretion less of a concern. The addition of a diesel would set it apart from all of its direct competitors, which might be exactly what Land Rover needs to improve sales.