The K-Series and KV6 engines from Rover as well as the Ford Modular V8 and BMW M47 diesel engine were used to power the Rover 75 (and MG ZT variant). To mark the latter as a Rover special, the unit was given the designation M47R.
In This Article...
Buying guide for the Rover 75
Few contemporary vehicles have attracted as much enthusiasm as soon as the Rover 75. Here’s how to purchase a superb one.
The 1980s and 1990s Rovers were good vehicles, but they lacked the glitz and pure excellence required for the executive market. What was necessary was the Rover 75. Awkward opening remarks by BMW CEO Bernd Pischetsrieder nearly derailed the introduction; the company had a significant involvement in the creation of the vehicle. Instead of promoting the merits of the new car, he complained more about the British government and the severe difficulty that Rover was in.
Fortunately, the press didn’t divert from praising the new car, but danger wasn’t far off. Rover was sold by BMW in 2000 as a result of their apparent discontent. Phoenix Venture Holdings tried valiantly, but in 2005 MG Rover was put into administration. The 75 and Rover’s loss both devastated fans. Since then, the vehicle has developed into a beloved modern classic.
When it was first introduced in 1998, the Rover 75 was offered with a variety of engines, including the 1.8-liter K-Series four-cylinder, two- and 2.5-liter KV6 engines, and BMW’s own four-cylinder diesel. The Classic and Club trim levels came first, followed by the top-of-the-line Connoisseur, which had air conditioning, heated leather seats, and the greatest stereo system. All trim levels were available in SE form with a variety of options, which added complexity.
After Rover was sold, production of the 75 moved from Cowley, where BMW held the MINI plant, to Longbridge in Birmingham. Some people believe that at this point the quality started to decline and the famed “Project Drive” started to take some of the luxury away. Phoenix cut costs by making hundreds of tiny adjustments, but the automobiles’ quality seemed a little bit worse. Black sills and lower bumpers are telltale signs that a vehicle was constructed by Cowley.
Phoenix did manage to put the practical Tourer estate and a rare long-wheelbase version into production, though. The thirsty, high-emission two-liter V6 was replaced starting in 2002 with a 1.8-liter turbocharged engine, and diesel engines may be ordered as CDTi versions with 130 bhp rather than 116 horsepower (although just to confuse matters, some CDTi-badged 75s will only have 116bhp). The thrilling Rover 75 V8 was introduced in 2003 and is currently in high demand. It has 4.6-liter Ford Mustang engine and rear-wheel drive. Only about 14 (883 V8s in total; the most were MG ZT types) were produced, the majority of which were saloons and a few estates. Exclusiveness is assured.
The Rover 75 underwent a facelift in 2004 in an effort to revive it, but by this time, financial woes had already begun to harm the vehicle. Classic and Connoisseur were added to the 75 range, with a new Contemporary range that sits outside of those two and has a sportier vibe. With the passing of MG Rover in 2005, production came to a stop; nonetheless, this had little effect on the availability of parts.
Tempting but dangerous, according to James Ruppert, are Rover 75s.
Classic? Banger? Although lacking a service history, Rover’s last luxury vehicle has a poxy starting price of PS350. However, a big plus can get you a problem-free one.
Regarding the Rover 75, we are in an odd situation. Is it an explosive? Is it an old-timer? In the real world of motoring, it seems to be clinging on for dear life in any case. The Reader’s Ride in our 22 January issue was fantastic, and just the other day, reader Steve mentioned that he wished there was a diesel version available. As the 75 slides in the underworld of 27-owner examples with short MOTs, Steve can only discover subpar examples, which is to be expected. What actually exists then?
The 75’s BMW diesel engine helps, and despite having little room in the back seats, it has successfully made a livelihood through the years in the rural private-hire market. The first vehicle is a 2004 CDTi Connoisseur SE with 130k kilometers, priced at PS350. There isn’t much detail and the headlight glass is foggy, so maybe things won’t be simple. However, a 2003 CDT Club with around 200k miles and a sizable MOT seems not at all awful for only PS50 more. A 2003 Club SE PS595 with less than 110k kilometers and a complete service history is much better.
I’m being dragged into the folly of actually purchasing one of the remaining dependable Rovers – and for less than PS1000 – despite the fact that there aren’t many excellent ones left. That also applies to subsequent, facelifted models, such as the PS 895 2004 Connoisseur CDTi SE auto. Naturally, they need to be examined closely, and that may alter everything.
Which Land Rover is powered by a BMW?
I shared the enthusiasm of many other BMW lovers when I learned that the German automaker will be working with Land Rover to deliver V8 engines for more expensive vehicles, notably the top-of-the-line Range Rover P530. Why would BMW fans be thrilled about such a collaboration? because building a relationship between the two brands is really cool and because Range Rovers are pretty generally adored.
Only the aforementioned P530, which utilizes a slightly modified version of BMW’s “N63” 4.4 liter twin-turbocharged V8, is currently a Range Rover product to use a BMW V8 engine. The V8 still has 523 hp and 553 lb-ft of torque for Range Rover use. To handle some of the utility a Range Rover needs, it has been slightly modified.
It would have been totally natural for Range Rover supporters and consumers to worry that installing a BMW V8 in the engine bay might affect the vehicle’s ability to handle rough terrain. Ranges are robust, sturdy SUVs behind their glitzy exteriors, capable of off-roading that would put most Jeeps to shame. For this reason, Range Rover engines need to be a little bit tougher. It makes sense that BMW engines would be reluctant to be used in a Range Rover because they aren’t normally designed to handle the steep inclines and deep water wading that Range Rovers can handle.
But the Range Rover P530 was given a new, taller air intake on the BMW N63, enabling it to wade through up to 35.4 inches of water. It also received a new oil sump so that it could withstand the sharp angles and back-and-forth sloshing that a Range might subject it to without depriving the engine of oil.
The good thing about this is that BMW buyers may now be more likely to choose a Range Rover P530 over, say, an X7 because they can now purchase a car with greater off-road capability while still maintaining some BMW DNA. Additionally, BMW V8 or not, the P530 can still manage all a true Range needs to manage, according to Range Rover customers.
Does Land Rover make use of BMW motors?
There will be two wheelbases available for the Range Rover 5. There will be two PHEV powertrains in addition to the MHEV engines, on which Land Rover is collaborating with BMW. In 2024, a BEV variant will also be offered.
The fifth generation of Jaguar Land Rover’s luxury SUV has been unveiled: The new Range Rover has dimensions of 5052 mm in length, 2209 mm in width, and 1870 mm in height, with a wheelbase of 2997 mm, and is based on the MLA-Flex modular longitudinal architecture. The wheelbase of the long-wheelbase model is 3197 mm long and extends to 5252 mm. The new edition of the Range Rover just slightly refines the original design. The “boat tail” rear end with the tail lights merged “invisibly” in a panel and integrated door handles are new features.
BMW, which provides the engines for the Range Rover, collaborates closely with Jaguar Land Rover on the powertrain. With the exception of the V8 gasoline engine, they are all electric. Three MHEV inline six-cylinder engines with 183 kW (249 PS), 221 kW (300 PS), and 258 kW make up the diesel powertrain lineup (350 PS). The Range Rover P400’s MHEV six-cylinder gasoline engine generates 294 kW (400 PS), and the Range Rover P530’s V8 generates 390 kW. (530 PS). Later will come two plug-in hybrid variants with an electric range of up to 100 km and an output of 324 kW (440 PS) or 375 kW (510 PS). A fully electric Range Rover will be introduced in 2024, while the highest model, the Range Rover SV with a supercharged V8 engine, will follow in 2022.
When did Land Rover start utilizing BMW engines?
The next-generation electric powertrains project between BMW and Jaguar-Land Rover already has a partnership in place, but the two are allegedly eager to go forward.
Autocar reported on Friday that the two businesses might be considering swapping engines. BMW would supply Jaguar and Land Rover vehicles with internal combustion gasoline, diesel, and hybridization engines. There appear to be some gaps in this idea given that Land Rover just unveiled its new inline-6 this year. But it’s still a possibility. It’s possible that JLR would choose to concentrate on electric drivetrains and purchase internal combustion engines from a partner. Additionally, in 2016, we learned that JLR would be interested in purchasing V-8s from BMW.
The unidentified source is not officially quoted in this most recent report when discussing BMW V-8s. In its place, it states that BMW would give JLR inline-4 and inline-6 engines, both with and without hybrid functionality. According to the conditions of the existing alliance, the two automakers will work together on electric drivetrains but not on joint production. Additionally, each business will modify the drive units to reflect its unique brand attributes.
The main objective of the EV powertrain collaboration, like any recent partnership concerning electrification, is to speed up development. If that alliance were to grow, JLR might be able to cut expenses and possibly lay off workers from its engine manufacturing lines.
What does BMW stand to gain by giving JLR access to its engines? A lot. The deal would increase sales outside of simply BMW, Mini, and Rolls-Royce, boosting the return on current investments in conventional engines.
If an engine deal does take place, it wouldn’t be the first time BMW power was installed in a Land Rover. BMW created the third-generation Range Rover, which ran on inline-6 diesel and BMW V-8 gasoline engines from 2002 to 2006.
Is the BMW V8 used in the new Range Rover?
There are plenty of posh SUVs on the market right now, but if you want to do things right, it’s worth sticking with the Range Rover, who created the genre. Newly unveiled by Land Rover, it is posher and more intelligent than before.
Why does Land Rover utilize BMW motors?
Land Rover is utilizing the N63 once more for the more athletic Range Rover Sport after debuting the full-size Range Rover with a BMW engine last year. Therefore, the third-generation model unveiled today substitutes a 4.4-liter V8 for the in-house 5.0-liter V8. Why the alteration? When compared to the previous supercharged mill, the twin-turbo engine is 17% more efficient.
The N63 produces 523 horsepower and 750 Newton-meters (551 pound-feet) of torque, and it is found in the M550i, M850i, as well as the M50i versions of the X5, X6, and X7 SUVs. In order to match the former SVR variant, the new Range Rover Sport with a BMW heart will accelerate from 0 to 62 mph (100 km/h) in just 4.5 seconds. It will be distinguished by the designation “P530” and act as the SUV’s temporary top-of-the-line model.
Aside from improved efficiency, the engine from BMW also offers a 20% increase in torque. According to Land Rover, the V8’s twin-scroll turbochargers use ceramic bearings to provide a nearly instantaneous response, effectively eliminating the dreaded turbo lag. An eight-speed automatic transmission from ZF that has been redesigned for the new application transfers all of the power to both axles. For the most recent Range Rover Sport, the British automaker even claims that “hundreds of alternative shift sequences have been optimized.”
The P400 and P360, which are powered by 3.0-liter straight-six Ingenium gasoline engines made by Land Rover, will be positioned underneath the P530. These will produce between 400 and 360 horsepower each, with peak torques of 550 Nm (404 lb-ft) and 500 Nm, respectively (367 lb-ft).
A straight-six 3.0 liter oil-burner will be available in the D250, D300, and D350 diesel models. The approximate horsepower of these will be 250, 300, and 350, and the torque will be 600, 650, and 700 Nm (441, 478, and 515 lb-ft), respectively.
The Range Rover Sport, on the other hand, has been designed to meet P440e and P510e plug-in hybrid standards. The combined output of these six-cylinder gasoline engines plus an electric motor is 620 Nm (456 lb-ft) and 700 Nm (515 lb-ft). The claimed range of the vehicle is up to 70 miles (113 kilometers), which is respectable for such a big and hefty vehicle.
In addition to the new MLA-Flex chassis, which has up to 35% better torsional rigidity than the SUV’s previous platform, it’s important to note that the SUV has changed powertrains. Despite having evolutionary styling that makes it appear more similar, the RR Sport was built from the ground up and boasts a lower drag coefficient of 0.29. High-end features including air suspension, all-wheel steering, and adaptive off-road cruise control are included.
The entry-level P360 SE costs $83,000 from Land Rover USA, which is also taking orders, while the top-of-the-line P530 First Edition with the BMW V8 costs $121,500.