Land Rover has stockpile of MG Rover engines; Freelander won't suffer due to British firm's fall.(News)(Brief Article)

Byline: Richard Truett

Land Rover expects a smooth run for the Freelander SUV until a model change in July 2006, even though it likely won't get any more engines from MG Rover group.

Freelanders are equipped with 2.5-liter V-6 and 1.8-liter four-cylinder gasoline engines built by Powertrain, the engine and transmission division of MG Rover. The Freelander's 2.0-liter diesel is supplied by BMW.

Land Rover spokesman Mark Foster said the company anticipated trouble at MG Rover and began stockpiling the 2.5- and 1.8-liter engines last year. Foster would not give the number of engines Land Rover has stockpiled but did say it's in the thousands.

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