Land Rover: twin debut
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• Land Rover's much publicised engine problems could come to an end later this year, when it unveils a brand new diesel codenamed Gemini.
Industry sources indicate that Land Rover's new "mini Range Rover" leisure vehicle, Discovery, will be launched this autumn with a new turbocharged 2.5-litre directinjection diesel rated at 82kW (110hp) and produced by Land Rover itself.
This ties in with reports in Commercial Motor (20-26 October 1988) that the Gemini engine would be coming on line some time during 1989.
The new engine comes none too soon for Land Rover, which has been greatly embarrassed by reports of engine
problems on both its naturallyaspirated and turbocharged ID! diesel (CM 9-16 June/2I-27 July 1988). These reports have led to speculation that Land Rover might be in danger of losing its lucrative Ministry of Defence contracts. More recently, its largest outside engine customer, Leyland Daf Vans, switched from the Land Rover diesels to Peugeot units for its 400 Series.
Since Land Rover could no support more than one diesel production line, it is highly probable that the Gemini engine will supersede its ageing predecessor in all private and commercial applications.
The 82kW (110hp) version is likely to be built in turbocharged and intercooled form, which would suggest both a 71kW (95hp) turbo engine without intercooling, and a 54kW (72hp) naturallyaspirated unit for CVs.