Fuel economy now in Vogue

The 2011 Range Rover Vogue has reduced fuel consumption to below 10 litres per 100km for town and around driving. Photo / Supplied

Land Rover is moving to offset hikes in fuel prices under the upcoming Emissions Trading Scheme by equipping its flagship 2011 Range Rover Vogue with the carmaker's most efficient diesel engine yet.

The bigger, greener twin-turbo 4.4-litre TDV8 unit is mated to a new eight-speed ZF automatic transmission, a drivetrain that offers a claimed town-and-around fuel economy of 9.4 litres/100km, or 30mpg, making it the most economical Range Rover ever.

It will land in New Zealand near the end of the year. No Range Rover Vogue has ever bettered a combined 10 litres/100km.

The new diesel's fuel range is quoted at 1031km. Highway fuel consumption is rated at 8.2 litres/100km (34.5mpg), while city and suburbs is a claimed 11.5 litres/100km (24.5mpg).

The combined fuel figure of 9.4 litres is an 18.5 per cent improvement over the current 3.6-litre TDV8. The new 4.4-litre engine also delivers more power and torque - 230kW at 4000rpm and 700Nm between 1500-3000rpm, against the 3.6-litre unit's 200kW at 4000rpm and 640Nm from 2000rpm.

The current TDV8's CO2 emissions output of 294g/km is also bettered, down 14 per cent to 253g/km to meet the tough new Euro 5 emission standard.

The new all-wheel-drive model will be critical in maintaining Vogue's presence in the luxury SUV segment.

Says Land Rover's global managing director Phil Popham: "The 2011 Range Rover retains its position as one of the world's most complete luxury vehicles.

"Its combination of reduced CO2 emissions and superior engine performance continue to make it a clear industry benchmark.

"And with the introduction of our all-new 'super diesel', we see the Range Rover delivering over 30mpg for the first time."

Like the 3-litre TDV6 diesel in the Land Rover Discovery 4, the 4.4-litre V8 uses a parallel sequential turbocharger system designed to provide improved throttle response at both low and high engine speeds.

The result is a claimed zero to 100km sprint time of 7.8 seconds for the Vogue - 1.4 seconds quicker than the current 3.6 TDV8. Top speed has also been boosted 10km/h to 210km/h. Same with mid-range acceleration from 80-120km/h, falling from 6.3 to 5.1 seconds.

The 32-valve quad-cam unit also features third-generation common-rail fuel injection and a new cast-iron block, the latter redesigned to accommodate a longer stroke.

The eight-speed automatic transmission offers closer ratios, a taller overdrive gear and greater overall ratio spread. It is controlled via a rotary knob and steering-mounted paddle shifters, instead of the CommandShift lever.

Shift times are claimed to take 200 milliseconds, while the shift smoothness is said to be equal to that of a dual-clutch transmission.

As well as mapping driver throttle and braking inputs, the gearbox also has Curve Detection that holds on to a gear when travelling through a sequence of bends.

It also has a Transmission Idle Control function that reduces drag on the engine and saves fuel. It disengages 70 per cent of the drive when the vehicle is at standstill and the engine is idling in Drive.

The Range Rover Sport is now in line to receive the diesel engine upgrade. The petrol-engined 276kW/510Nm 5-litre LR-V8 and supercharged 375kW/625Nm LR-V8 SC Vogue models, both of which use a six-speed ZF automatic continue unchanged.

Other mechanical changes to the new diesel Vogue include upgraded brakes, identical to the 380mm front/365mm rear Brembo system in the V8 supercharged model.

The new Range Rover line-up, both diesel and petrol, also pick up improvements to the Terrain Response system, which both holds the vehicle under brakes going up a hill and controls its descent on steep downhill sections.

Illuminated front scuff plates, which have "Range Rover Vogue" backlit by LED lights, will also become available during 2011.