J8 Engine is it the 2.8 CRD?

[glend]

From what I am reading in Jeep Action about the new KK Cherokee it seems to be coming here with the Euro IV diesel - VM Motorli 2.8 CRD and five speed auto which is supplied in the Australian KJ now. In Jeep Action this is called the 'Panther' engine. Is this the same engine of some newly sourced one? As I understand the Liberty in the US, there is no diesel. Has the KK been released in Europe with a diesel?

I'm new to the forum, Silver KJ CRD less than a month old, so go easy on me.

[silver_jk]

the 2.8 in the kj is a diff motor to the new 2.8 ( it gets slightly higher torque etc). the new 2.8 is to meet euro conditions but in the KK its going to be detuned but in the nitro its not. No idea why though.

[glend]

When I look at the VM Motoli website I can find a photo of the 2.8 DOHC CRD that fits the Aussie KJ specs. I understood that the 2.8CRD was dropped in the US due to it's non-compliance with California air quality standards, as the manufacturer is a European engine builder I would think they would continue to produce the engine in Euro V spec configuration. It is still being sold in European KJs. All very confusing, won't be trading my KJ for a KK though.

[salesguy]

We've been told that the KK will run the W5A580 box as per Nitro, unlike the CRD and early 3.7 KJs that had the 5/45RFE. That's a shame, I reckon the Jeep box is better than the Benz.
KK will also have a beefier rear end, so the towing capacity will be 2800kg, unlike the Nitro's 2300kg.
I think we'll see the KK CRD having the same 460Nm as the Nitro.