- 300bhp Ingenium petrol engine now available in Range Rover Velar
- Turbocharged 2.0-litre, four-cylinder engine produces 400Nm of torque for easy acceleration
- New engine option powers the Velar to 60mph in 5.7 seconds
- Available to order now
REMEMBER how we told you about the 300bhp Ingenium petrol turbo engine from the Jaguar F-Type being offered across the rest of the Jaguar range? Well the same engine has now popped up in the front end of the new Range Rover Velar, in models priced from £54,620.
If you read either of our previous stories you will already know that the state-of-the-art Ingenium engine was designed from scratch by Jaguar Land Rover and is produced at their Engine Manufacturing Centre in Wolverhampton.
It may only have four cylinders but this 2.0-litre, 300bhp unit is currently the most powerful version of the Ingenium engine in production.
It is fitted with twin-scroll turbos with ceramic bearings to reduce friction, and a high flow compressor wheel that delivers 26% more air into the engine to enhance performance.
Range Rover estimates the new 300bhp Ingenium engine will return around 36.2mpg in the Velar with emissions around 178g/km. Range Rover also claim the 300bhp engine will give the Velar a top speed of up to 145mph, with 0-60mph in under six seconds.
Given the fact that cheapest option for the Range Rover with this engine costs around £55k before you even glance in the direction of the options list it might be hard to justify the extra £10k over and above the price of the F-Pace for similar all-wheel drive performance and returns.
That being said, if you really, really want a Range Rover then the Velar is an excellent option. Even the entry-level trim offers an impressive array of standard equipment and the design is an attractive mix of the contemporary styling of the Evoque and the ruggedness of the full-sized Range Rover.
The Range Rover Velar may carry a premium in terms of price but there’s no argument that you do get a premium product. There’s also no argument that this particular Ingenium engine promises to be a popular choice for Jaguar Land Rover with its balance of performance and economy.
Whether or not it proves to be popular in the Velar depends entirely on whether company car drivers are prepared to sacrifice their tax liabilities in the pursuit of luxury.
