Land Rover Cuts Nearly 100 Horsepower From The Defender's BMW V8
Land Rover has detuned the Defender OCTA's BMW-sourced V8 engine to comply with tougher emissions regulations, reducing output from 626 hp to 533 hp.
Key Takeaways
- The Defender OCTA’s V8 engine has been detuned to comply with Euro 6e-bis emissions regulations.
- The engine now produces 533 hp, a reduction of 93 hp from the previous 626 hp.
- Torque remains unchanged at 750 Nm (553 lb-ft), but the OCTA is now slower than before.
- The detuned engine is coming to Euro-spec models.
- The V8 engine has been reworked to deliver a deeper note.
Why Has Land Rover Detuned the Defender OCTA’s Engine?
Land Rover has no choice but to tame the Defender OCTA’s engine to comply with tougher emissions regulations. In Europe and a few other markets, the BMW-sourced engine is losing significant power. Engineers have dialed back the Bavarian eight-cylinder by 93 hp, reducing output to 533 hp.
This move is not surprising, as BMW itself had to detune the engine in the European-spec M5 to meet tougher emissions standards earlier this year. However, the eight-cylinder lost only 41 hp, compared with the Defender’s 93-hp reduction.
How Does the Detuned Engine Affect Performance?
Predictably, performance has suffered. The sprint to 62 mph (100 km/h) now takes 4.4 seconds, making it 0.4 seconds slower than before. There is a silver lining, however. The Defender OCTA continues to produce 750 Nm (553 lb-ft) of torque, so only horsepower has taken a hit to meet the Euro 6e-bis emissions standard.
What Does This Mean for the Future of the V8 Engine?
Although the V8 may seem like an endangered species in Europe amid ever-stricter emissions regulations, it’s not going down without a fight. Besides BMW, luxury brands such as Porsche and Mercedes also plan to keep their largest combustion engines alive into the next decade.
How Do Emissions Regulations Affect Automakers?
Automakers selling cars on the continent must cut their fleet CO2 emissions by 90 percent by 2035 compared with 2021 levels. That will make gas-guzzling engines increasingly difficult to justify during the second half of the next decade unless manufacturers can offset their emissions by selling enough EVs.
Specifications
| Specification | Value |
|---|---|
| Engine Power | 533 hp |
| Torque | 750 Nm (553 lb-ft) |
| 0-62 mph (0-100 km/h) | 4.4 seconds |
Frequently Asked Questions
Q: Why has Land Rover detuned the Defender OCTA’s engine?
Land Rover has detuned the Defender OCTA’s engine to comply with tougher emissions regulations.
Q: How much power has the engine lost?
The engine has lost 93 hp, reducing output from 626 hp to 533 hp.
Q: Is the V8 engine still available in other Land Rover models?
Yes, the V8 engine is still available in other Land Rover models, including the Range Rover and Range Rover Sport.
