Employees at Ford Motor Company's Bridgend Plant are celebrating the launch of a new line producing engines for the company's premier brands.

The 4.4-litre V8 petrol engines, being built on the South Wales plant's second premium engine line, will first appear in the new Land Rover Discovery 3 which debuted at last month's New York Auto Show.

The plant's Jaguar and Land Rover team has spent more than three years preparing for production following the announcement of a $425m (£237m) investment in Bridgend.

Bridgend has already been producing V8 engines for Jaguar for more than eight years. Three V8 engines, in 3.5 and 4.2-litre sizes, are assembled for Jaguar's XJ, XK and S-Type luxury saloons and sports cars.

Land Rover says the Discovery's Bridgend-built engine offers more low end torque, enhanced dust and water proofing to enable the car to more easily wade rivers and cruise highways.

"Jaguar and now Land Rover are among Bridgend plant's completely satisfied customers. This is an example of a Ford Motor Company facility supplying engines to different parts of the organisation without compromising any of its brands," says Joe Greenwell, chairman and CEO of Jaguar and Land Rover.