Jaguar Land Rover to get BMW engines in extended co-operation deal?

According to reports, Jaguar Land Rover and BMW are extending their co-operation beyond EV development to include petrol and diesel engines.

We reported more than two years ago that Jaguar Land Rover will be using a BMW V8 to replace its aging V8 engine, seen in everything from the Range Rover to the F-Type. But, so far, nothing has been officially announced.

But what has been officially revealed is that Jaguar Land Rover and BMW are joining forces to co-develop electric drivetrain components for future EVs and hybrids, which will see JLR and BMW working together at BMW’s Munich HQ to develop EV gubbins and spread the costs over a wider base.

We assumed the love-in between BMW and JLR would mean the V8 engine deal was about to be announced too but, according to Autocar, the co-operation is going to go far further than that.

The ‘far reaching’ deal will involve petrol, diesel and hybrid drivelines, with BMW supplying JLR with ICE engines which, we assume in addition to the V8, will include in-line four and six-cylinder units.

Just like the electric deal, this deal on ICE engines will allow JLR to cut its investment in future engines, and still enable them to deliver cars with engines able to meet ever more stringent emissions regulations. It will also mean BMW has a bigger base across which to recoup its costs.

There’s too much sense in this, especially for beleaguered JLR, for it not to be true. But we’ll have to wait for an official announcement for confirmation.