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BMW Rumored to Share Next V8 Engine With Jaguar Land Rover

Many American consumers still consider a true luxury SUV to be something powered by a V8. That's why all the 35,921 Cadillac Escalades sold last year had a 6.2-liter.
A BMW V8 in a Jaguar? 7 photos
Photo: Jaguar
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However, European car companies are facing much tougher emissions regulations in the next few years, which requires them to integrate more advanced exhaust filtration systems, better cylinder heads and add ever more turbochargers.

Rather than give up on the V8 completely, Audi and Porsche collaborated on a brand new one which went into the 2017 Panamera, followed by Bentleys and the next RS cars. But that's it! Volkswagen Group says it's not going to develop any more V8s.

So what's BMW to do with its 4.4-liter twin-turbo, which many view as a core part of the brand? Well, we know that that there are new versions already developed for the 550i and M5. But according to a rumor from Automotive Magazine, the Bavarians are in the middle of a negotiation with Jaguar Land Rover. It too is a company known for its V8s.

But there are two parts that don't make a lot of sense. For starters, all the most famous Jaguar and Land Rover vehicles use the 5.0-liter supercharged engine. We don't imagine the British engineers will be too pleased if BMW sticks its nose into SVR vehicles.

Something else that's off is the fact that the report claims the 4.4-liter twin-turbo BMW engine will be replaced by a 4.0-liter one. From what we've been hearing, the next 5 Series and M5 will keep the 4.4L displacement, so something doesn't add up.

Maybe that's why negotiations are still ongoing. Still, it's not like two companies haven't collaborated in the past. For example, BMW called on British expertise when developing the first-gen X5, which used the Hill Descent System and Off Road Engine Management system from the Range Rover of that time.

Mercedes is downsizing and moving back to inline-6 units, big luxury sedans are starting to use 1.5-liter engines and now this; it's clear that governments are forcing the segment to change at the fastest pace ever.
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About the author: Mihnea Radu
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Mihnea's favorite cars have already been built, the so-called modern classics from the '80s and '90s. He also loves local car culture from all over the world, so don't be surprised to see him getting excited about weird Japanese imports, low-rider VWs out of Germany, replicas from Russia or LS swaps down in Florida.
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