The arrival of the third generation Range Rover Sport just a few months ago also meant the departure of an iconic Land Rover engine - the supercharged 5.0 liter V-8. In it's place is a BMW-sourced 4.4 liter twin-turbocharged V-8 that could see the British luxury SUV have power figures climb near the 600 horsepower mark in a range topping SVR trim. Though will this extra power make up for the loss of the unique supercharger whine?
What's New on the 2023 Range Rover Sport?
The ground-up new Range Rover Sport is built upon JLR's MLA-Flex - Flexible Modular Longitudinal Architecture, which is up to 35 percent stiffer than before. What these improvements mean for you is a more sturdy and dynamic driving experience both on and off-road. Visually, the third generation Range Rover Sport draws design inspiration from sister vehicles such as the modern Range Rover Velar and flagship Range Rover. From them, we can spot flush door handles, a streamlined and minimalist body, and signature Range Rover elements such as the marque's name spelled out in large text on the hood and tailgate.
You also have updated powertrains to choose from when shopping for your new Range Rover Sport. The brand is offering three electrified inline-six engines as well as one V-8, which JLR has given the P530 name. Currently, this engine, the BMW sourced 4.4-liter twin-turbocharged V-8, produces a healthy 523 horsepower and 553 pound-feet of torque. And while the range-topping SVR trim has yet to be unveiled, spy shots of this high-performance variant reveals quad exhaust tips, larger air intakes, and more aggressive tires to accompany an expected increase in power.
Why discontinue the 5.0 liter V-8?
Codenamed the AJ V-8, this engine, in its most modern 5.0-liter supercharged form, was manufactured by Ford at their facility in Bridgend, UK. Though in 2020, JLR was forced to move manufacturing in-house as Ford's facility was scheduled to be shut down. Jaguar Land Rover also faced the upcoming Euro-7 emissions regulations which are set to go into effect by the year 2025, something a large displacement, supercharged V-8 would not help them conform to. Instead of spending millions on a new V-8 engine of their own design, JLR turned to BMW as a source for an eight-cylinder engine that will comply with strict emissions regulations, is capable of high horsepower numbers, and has the potential for future electrification such as a plug-in hybrid variant.
The final applications of the AJ 5.0 liter V-8 can be found in in the 2022 Range Rover Sport SVR, the 2022 Land Rover Defender V8, as well as in two Jaguar products including the 2022 F-Pace SVR and the 2022 Jaguar F-Type R. If you're shopping for a vehicle with a supercharged V-8 engine, the variety is dwindling each year with these products by JLR in their last model years of production.
What will the BMW V-8 offer for JLR?
The good news is that BMW's 4.4 liter V-8 is a fantastic engine and will open up opportunities for JLR to increase the performance potential of its vehicles. As was revealed with the P550 powertrain on the third-generation Range Rover sport and fifth-generation Range Rover, JLR's new entry-level V-8 option produces 523 horsepower and 553 pound-feet of torque.
Though just by taking a look at what this engine is capable of in BMW M vehicles, you can start to get excited for what's to come in the next generation Range Rover Sport SVR. In its competitor, the BMW X5M Competition, this engine produces 600 horsepower and 553 pound-feet of torque. These power figures already surpass the current Range Rover Sport SVR equipped with the 5.0 liter supercharged V-8 which produces 575 horsepower and 516 pound-ft of torque.
Additionally, there is the potential for JLR to source a future plug-in hybrid V-8 engine from BMW as the Germany brand is actively working on such an engine. So while it may be a big change to see the AJ supercharged V-8 on its way out, JLR is ensuring that you will not be deprived of the option to purchase an eight-cylinder engine. You can expect JLR to have an unveiling announcement for the new Range Rover Sport SVR before 2023.