Tonight, Jaguar Land Rover unveiled its first diesel-powered models to be sold in North America, joining the three German luxury brands in adding more fuel-efficient diesel engine options to its largest, heaviest sport-utility vehicles.

The diesel will be offered as an option this fall on two models, the 2016 Range Rover and 2016 Range Rover Sport.

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Dubbed the Td6 Diesel, the 254-horsepower 3.0-liter V-6 turbodiesel engine will boost the fuel economy of both aluminum SUVs to 25 mpg combined.

That's an improvement of almost one third over the 19-mpg combined rating for the most efficient Range Rover.

Range Rover and Range Rover Sport Td6 Diesel models, 2015 Detroit Auto Show

Range Rover and Range Rover Sport Td6 Diesel models, 2015 Detroit Auto Show

Like most diesels, the engine produces substantial torque, in this case 440 lb-ft.

Jaguar Land Rover has offered diesel engines across its lineup in Europe for many years, but this is the first time the company has adapted them to the North American market.

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According to Joe Eberhardt, President and CEO Jaguar Land Rover North America, "virtually every model" in the Jaguar Land Rover lineup will add a diesel option over the next three years.

They will, he promised, offer fuel-economy improvements of 20 to 30 percent against comparable gasoline versions.

Teaser for 2017 Jaguar F-Pace

Teaser for 2017 Jaguar F-Pace

That includes the new Jaguar XE compact sport luxury sedan, making its North American auto-show debut before it goes on sale in 2016.

A turbodiesel version of its Ingenium 2.0-liter engine has been announced, although Land Rover's largest and thirstiest SUVs will get the option before the relatively lighter and more fuel-efficient Jaguar sedans.

MORE: 2017 Jaguar XE Diesel To Face Off Against BMW 328d (3-Series Diesel)

Jaguar also unveiled the name of the brand's first-ever crossover utility, built on an aluminum architecture shared with the XE sedan and other models to come.

The Jaguar F-Pace, as it's called, has been shown only as a concept thus far. The brand promises it will have "driving dynamics true to Jaguar DNA."

For all the latest information from tomorrow's events, see our Detroit Auto Show News page.

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