AutoblogGreen

Jaguar XJ_e feted at 2012 RAC Future Car Challenge

Danny King — Thu, 08 Nov 2012 08:04:00 EST

It looks like Jaguar made the most of its home-course advantage.

The UK-based automaker's XJ_e plug-in hybrid won two awards in the Royal Auto Club's (RAC) Future Car Challenge, including Most Energy Efficient Luxury Car and the Technical Panel's Award of Merit.

The Jag, which competed with cars from automakers such as Renault, BMW and General Motors' Vauxhall unit, achieved a 112 miles-per-gallon-equivalent on the 63-mile jaunt from Brighton to London. The Renault Zoe electric vehicle won the overall award for most energy-efficient vehicle.

The XJ_e pairs a 2.0-liter turbocharged four-cylinder engine with a 69-kilowatt electric motor and a 12.3-kWh lithium-ion battery pack. Jaguar has said the car can go 25 miles in electric-only mode and gets 61.2 miles per gallon, per the more-lenient European driving cycle.

Check out the RAC's press release on the event below.

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Jaguar driving diesel XF across the U.S., can it beat 57 mpg?

Autoblog Staff — Tue, 08 Nov 2011 16:01:00 EST

Filed under: Diesel, Jaguar, USA

The first diesel Jaguar XF has arrived in the United States. But it's not destined for a showroom, and it's not headed to a waiting customer. No, Jaguar has slightly more ambitious plans for this particular oil-burning sedan.

The 2.2-liter diesel four will propel this XF on a cross-country journey that will take it from New York to Los Angeles - a trip across eleven states and 2,800 miles - over the course of seven days. The goal is to see how far the car can travel on a single tank of fuel, and follows a similar exercise undertaken in Europe that took another XF diesel across 816 miles from Castle Bromwich in the UK to Munich, Germany, on a single tank, returning an average of 57 miles per gallon.

Observers can track this trip's progress on the company's Facebook page and Twitter feed, and we'll be sure to report on the venture's results once it's reached the Pacific coast. Details in the press release after the jump.

Continue reading Jaguar driving diesel XF across the U.S., can it beat 57 mpg?

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Jaguar-Land Rover to construct $484-million 4-cylinder engine factory in UK

Eric Loveday — Tue, 20 Sep 2011 17:12:00 EST

Filed under: Diesel, Manufacturing/Plants, MPG, Jaguar, Land Rover, UK

Jaguar Land Rover (JLR) has announced it will invest £355 million ($484 million U.S. at the current exchange rate) to construct a state-of-the-art advanced engine facility in the UK, as the automaker seeks growth by addressing global demand for low-emission gasoline and diesel engines.

Announced by the automaker's chief executive officer, Dr. Ralf Speth, JLR will use this soon-to-be constructed facility to design, engineer and manufacture advanced four-cylinder engines for future Jaguar and Land Rover vehicles. Full details on the engines that will be developed at the UK site are not available, but the automaker has confirmed that both gasoline and diesel engines are part of the scheme. Additional reports suggest electric motors and hybrid powertrains are included in JLR's game plan, as well. At this year's Geneva Motor Show, Land Rover reps were telling the media that the brand's first hybrid vehicles should be coming in 2013, with plug-ins to follow a year later.

Continue reading Jaguar-Land Rover to construct $484-million 4-cylinder engine factory in UK

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Jaguar C-X16 hybrid concept revealed [w/video]

Eric Loveday — Wed, 07 Sep 2011 14:10:00 EST

Filed under: Hybrid, Jaguar, Frankfurt Motor Show, Videos

Powered by a supercharged 3.0-liter V6 engine that spits out 376 horsepower and 332 pound-feet of torque, the Jaguar C-X16 "production concept" takes Jag into the future with the addition of the automaker's "Push to Pass" steering wheel-mounted button.

"Push to Pass" is Jaguar speak for hybrid-on-demand. The C-X16 concept comes packing an electric motor that's integrated into the stylish coupe's eight-speed gearbox. This electric motor whips out an additional 92 horsepower and 173 pound-feet of torque at the push of a button. Jaguar says this allows the C-X16 to scoot from 0 to 60 miles per hour in 4.3 seconds and on to a top speed of 186 mph.

Performance numbers aside, Jaguar says the hybrid concept emits 165 grams per kilometer of CO2 and hits up to 50 mph in electric-only mode. Juice comes via a 1.6-kWh lithium-ion unit mounted behind the coupe's rear seats - a position that Jaguar says makes for a perfect 50:50 front-to-rear weight distribution.

The Jaguar C-X16 concept will make its world debut at the 2011 Frankfurt Motor Show in less than a week's time and you can bet we'll have loads of pics and details when it hits the stage. For now, check out video and a press blast after the jump.

Continue reading Jaguar C-X16 hybrid concept revealed [w/video]

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Jaguar C-X75 hybrid going into production with help from Williams F1

Autoblog Staff — Fri, 06 May 2011 12:31:00 EST

Filed under: Hybrid, Jaguar

Jaguar C-X75 - Click above for high-res image gallery

This morning a gigantic cat jumped out of a secret little bag when Jaguar announced it has teamed with Williams F1 to build a production version of the C-X75 supercar. The 2010 Paris Motor Show-stopper in concept form was powered by two mid-mounted turbines, but the four-wheel-drive production model will swap those for a low displacement, highly boosted four-cylinder engine mated to "two powerful electric motors," one at each axle.

Williams' contribution will be in the areas of aerodynamics - the production version will maintain the concept's all-composite body, and the integration of the hybrid powertrain that will take from the lessons JLR is learning from its Jaguar Limo Green and Land Rover Range E. Horsepower numbers haven't been revealed, but the hybrid master blaster is targeting CO2 emissions of less than 99 grams per kilometer and all-electric running possible for 31 miles, along with a sub-three-second 0-to-60 time and a top speed beyond 200 miles per hour.

Only 250 will be built and they'll start at £700,000 ($1.149 million U.S. based on current exchange rates) "depending on local market and taxes." However, Jaguar hasn't said when they'll be built, offering nothing more than "within the timescales of a conventional model programme." That sounds like about four years to us, plenty of time to save enough to buy one of the door handles.

There's a document from ATT Williams F1 with more information after the jump, and diehards can view the morning's press conference on-demand. And to think we were worried about the future of fun cars. Now we only need to worry about the future of our bank accounts... Hat tips to Adi and Dane!

Continue reading Jaguar C-X75 hybrid going into production with help from Williams F1

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Jaguar Land Rover selects Ricardo as key strategic supplier

Eric Loveday — Tue, 12 Apr 2011 08:07:00 EST

Filed under: EV/Plug-in, Hybrid, Jaguar, Land Rover

Back in November 2010, Jaguar Land Rover announced that it was investing heavily in infrastructure, research and development and advanced technologies. Such plans require intensive product development within a limited time frame and it is because of this the company has enlisted the assistance of Ricardo as a key strategic supplier.

This latest development continues a longstanding relationship between the two firms. The two have, as part of the UK's Technology Strategy Board, worked on advanced technology projects that include:

An innovative 2/4SIGHT engine, which is capable of running on either the two stroke cycle or the four stroke cycle.
A plug-in hybrid vehicle led by Land Rover.
A flywheel-based hybrid drive system, led by Jaguar, Flybrid Systems, Ford Motor Company, Prodrive, Ricardo UK Ltd, Torotrak plc, and Xtrac Ltd.
The Limo-Green project, which incorporates the aluminum structure of Jaguar's sedan range with an electric motor, battery pack and generator.
Recycled aluminum as the basis of a lightweight, mass-produced vehicle.

More often than not, Ricardo's development team engineers cutting-edge products. With that said, we'd expect to see Jaguar Land Rover's upcoming vehicles feature more than a dash of Ricardo's advanced technologies.

[Source: Ricardo]

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Jaguar Land Rover selects Ricardo as key strategic supplier originally appeared on AutoblogGreen on Tue, 12 Apr 2011 08:07:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Geneva 2011: Jaguar B99 Concept by Bertone is a futuristic 3-Series challenger

Autoblog Staff — Wed, 02 Mar 2011 18:06:00 EST

Filed under: Hybrid, Jaguar, Geneva Motor Show

Jaguar B99 Concept by Bertone - Click above for high-res image gallery

Jaguar has been mulling the idea of taking another stab at the venerable BMW 3 Series after its last attempt, the underwhelming X-Type, failed in spectacular fashion. This is the other stab.

The Jagaur B99 concept is a team effort between Jag and Bertone and serves as way for Bertone to celebrate its 99th Anniversary. The new compact Jag's name is a melding of the company's first initial and its age - it has nothing to do with biodiesel.

Bertone says the concept is a design study in what it calls "dynamic imbalance" between parallel lines and "leaping forms."

It represents not only Bertone's new direction and a possible answer to the ubiquitous 3 Series, but a big leap in terms of technology. The B99 is powered by an all-new extended-range hybrid drivetrain designed by Bertone to run on two electric motors whose batteries can draw a charge from a small onboard engine. Bertone says they've been looking into sustainable energies for the last two decades and the B99 is the top of that evolution chain.

Bertone also presented a race car iteration of the B99 Concept (inset, right), saying it is working on a GT2 version of the B99 in hopes of proving the car is not just a pretty face.

Live photos copyright (C)2011 Drew Phillips / AOL

[Source: Bertone]

Continue reading Geneva 2011: Jaguar B99 Concept by Bertone is a futuristic 3-Series challenger

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Video: Jay Leno's Garage welcomes the Jaguar C-X75 concept

Autoblog Staff — Wed, 24 Nov 2010 08:54:00 EST

Filed under: EV/Plug-in, Hybrid, Jaguar

Jay Leno drives the Jaguar CX75 Concept - Click above to watch video after the jump

Here's another feather for Jay Leno's cap. The Tonight Show host can officially say that he is one of only a handful of drivers to have slipped their way behind the wheel of the amazing Jaguar C-X75 concept from this year's Paris Motor Show. Penned by design guru Ian Callum, the supercar is as sexy as it is advanced. The vehicle gets its power from a quartet of electric motors that are good for 195 horsepower each. Throw in two small turbine engines for generating power and you've got one very unconventional extended-range hybrid.

The C-X75 was designed to celebrate the Leaping Cat's diamond anniversary, and as such, the company pulled all the stops. With a design that pulls from the most successful points in Jaguar history, the car is nothing short of gorgeous. Will it make it to production? We're not sure, but for the moment, you can hit the jump to watch Leno take it all in - and don't forget to watch for an appearance by Callum, too.

Photos copyright (C)2010 Drew Phillips / AOL

[Source: YouTube via Jay Leno's Garage]

Continue reading Video: Jay Leno's Garage welcomes the Jaguar C-X75 concept

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Paris 2010: Jaguar C-X75 Concept

Autoblog Staff — Thu, 30 Sep 2010 11:54:00 EST

Filed under: EV/Plug-in, Hybrid, Jaguar, Paris Motor Show

Jaguar C-X75 Concept - Click above for high-res image gallery

Yesterday's big surprise at the Paris Motor Show was the range-extended electric supercar from Jaguar, the C-X75 Concept. Built to celebrate the marque's 75th anniversary, the concept looks forward to the future while honoring Jaguar's heritage and design. Featuring four electric motors producing 195 horsepower at each wheel, along with two micro-gas turbines that - in theory - charge the batteries, the C-X75 can top 205 mph and has a projected combined range of 560 miles. Jaguar says it has no plans to produce the car, although it would be more than a worthy successor to the notorious XJ220.

From our vantage point, we're split on the looks. While most of us think it's stunning - especially in person - there's a vocal minority that doesn't think it looks "Jaguar" enough. Truth be told, it doesn't necessarily look like any Jaguar road car ever built, but it's easy to see that inspiration was taken from the 1966 Jaguar XJ13 race car.

You can see all of our photos from the live debut in the gallery below, or for full details on the car hit the jump for the press release.

Live photos copyright (C)2010 Drew Phillips / AOL

Continue reading Paris 2010: Jaguar C-X75 Concept

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UK automakers prototype flywheel hybrid system with claimed 20% gain in fuel economy

Eric Loveday — Tue, 21 Sep 2010 07:57:00 EST

Filed under: Hybrid, Ford, Jaguar, Land Rover, Green Daily

When you pair up automakers like Jaguar, Land Rover and Ford, with hybrid powertrain developer Flybrid Systems, engineering consultants Prodrive and Ricardo and transmissions experts Torotrak and Xtrac, you'll either end up with a load of industry experts duking it out over some trivial aspect of a vehicle, or, as in this case, a collective group of like-minded people working at specialized companies that possess the ability to get 'er done.

This consortium, partially funded by the UK's Technology Strategy Board, displayed its jointly developed prototype flywheel hybrid system for premium vehicles (FHPV) at the Low Carbon Vehicle event held in the UK a few days ago. The FHPV system utilizes a flywheel developed by Flybrid System, a CVT built by Xtrac that incorporates Torotrak's traction drive technology and an integrated software system developed by Prodrive.

The system is expected to add up to 60kW of recovered energy and is predicted to demonstrate fuel economy gains of up to 20 percent. Testing of the FHPV system is already underway and Ford Motor Company is examining the possibly of adding the flywheel-CVT system to its future vehicles. In addition, Pete Richings, chief engineer for Jaguar-Land Rover, believes that implementation of the FHPV system could benefit the company, stating:

This research project explores the potential for more efficient and cost-competitive hybrid drivetrains that improve fuel economy while enhancing standards of vehicle refinement and performance. We have investigated the base technology, built the prototype and will be testing it in the next few months to see if it lives up to its potential.

A 20 percent boost in efficiency is certainly remarkable, but we'll hold back our final judgment on this one until testing either confirms or denies that impressive claim.

[Source: Green Car Congress]

UK automakers prototype flywheel hybrid system with claimed 20% gain in fuel economy originally appeared on AutoblogGreen on Tue, 21 Sep 2010 07:57:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Time for REEVolution - Think will help power up UK plug-in vehicle program

Sebastian Blanco — Fri, 17 Sep 2010 16:04:00 EST

Filed under: EV/Plug-in, Hybrid, MPG, Jaguar, Land Rover, Lotus, Nissan, Th!nk (Think)

Lotus, Nissan, Think and Jaguar Land Rover.

Four different auto companies, all working together in the UK electric car consortium (along with Axeon, EVO Electric and Xtrac) called REEVolution. As the name kind of gives away, the goal is to "expand and enhance technology" used in extended-range electric vehicles in the premium sector (these plug-in hybrids are called range extended electric vehicles, thus REEV, in the UK). The UK government announced yesterday that REEVolution, part of the UK's Integrated Delivery Programme Competition for Low Carbon Vehicles, would be given £9.5million.

The makers of the little Think City fit into the consortium through Think's experience with electric powertrains. The automaker will supply the electric vehicle drivetrain controller and other advanced components to the consortium. Think spokesman Jon Harmon said, "This is an important step forward in global EV development and Think is right in the thick of it."

The program's goals are to improve the results of a previous project that Jaguar Land Rover and Lotus Engineering did called Limo Green (pictured). That extended-range electric Jaguar XJ got around 47 mpg (U.S.) on the EU combined cycle with a 30-mile electric range and CO2 emissions under 120 grams per kilometer. REEVolution will "develop components and systems, as demonstrated on Limo Green, onto global levels of quality and reliability as required by production vehicles." Who wouldn't want all that in a production Jaguar XJ?

[Source: Think]

Continue reading Time for REEVolution - Think will help power up UK plug-in vehicle program

Time for REEVolution - Think will help power up UK plug-in vehicle program originally appeared on AutoblogGreen on Fri, 17 Sep 2010 16:04:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Autocar says range-extenders are the future. Do you agree?

Eric Loveday — Mon, 30 Aug 2010 19:57:00 EST

Filed under: EV/Plug-in, Hybrid, Chevrolet, Jaguar, Land Rover, Green Daily

BMW Megacity - Click above for high-res image

Autocar associate editor Hilton Holloway recently attended a two-day technical briefing on BMW's Megacity Vehicle project and, while he admits that the pure electric Megacity is fascinating in its own right, it's the possibility of BMW introducing a range-extended version at a later date that has him grinning from cheek to cheek. Holloway firmly believes that the range-extended setup is the most promising form of advanced vehicle technology available right now. He describes the virtues of range-extended technology and the drawbacks of pure electric vehicles this way:

One of the biggest problems for pure-electric vehicles is not just the driver's 'range anxiety' but also the huge draw on battery power required by lights and heating in winter. Cold weather also wallops the battery's performance. Using a range-extender layout fixes these problems and should be no more expensive than a pure electric car. The key about combining a petrol engine/generator and battery pack is that it can deliver the performance of a big internal combustion engine along with very low emissions of both CO2 and pollutants.

Holloway backs up some of his claims by referring to the abilities of vehicles such as Jaguar's Limo Green project and the Vauxhall Ampera, both of which are prime examples of range-extended technology. Finally, Holloway closes with this prediction:

Ten years from now, the Mk5, all-aluminium, Range Rover will weigh 1900kg, be powered by a 1.3-litre petrol engine/generator and compact battery pack. It will be good for 135g/km and the air coming out of the exhaust will have lower pollutant levels than the air going into the engine. Try calling that a gas-guzzler.

That's an appealing vision and it makes us bring up the oft-asked question: Will the future of automobiles (long term, say 15-20 years from now) be driven by range-extender technology, or is it more likely that pure electric vehicles will dominate?

[Source: Autocar]

Autocar says range-extenders are the future. Do you agree? originally appeared on AutoblogGreen on Mon, 30 Aug 2010 19:57:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Report: Jaguar considers weight-reducing hybrid bodyshell for upcoming smaller models

Eric Loveday — Mon, 16 Aug 2010 13:02:00 EST

Filed under: Etc., Jaguar, Land Rover, Green Daily, Lightweight

Jaguar may move to a hybrid bodyshell to reduce weight in its upcoming smaller vehicles that will slot in below the company's current models. Tata Motors, owners of Jaguar, recently announced that a lineup expansion for Jaguar will include an entry-level sedan and roadster, both aimed at competing with the vaunted BMW 3 Series.

Tata Motors chief executive officer, Carl-Peter Forster, hinted to Autocar that Jaguar's entire lineup of entry-level luxury vehicles will carry the XE moniker and come in "several variations." Meanwhile, Mark White, the company's chief technical specialist, told a trade magazine that he hopes to utilize a mixed-material bodyshell that incorporates "steel for the box sections" and aluminum for the "floorpans, roof panels and doors." White said this hybrid bodyshell would reduce weight at a "minimum cost." And as we all know, reduced weight leads to increased efficiency, so the minimal expense is probably money well spent as Jaguar looks to meet upcoming CAFE standards that will impact the entire industry by 2016.

[Source: Autocar]

Report: Jaguar considers weight-reducing hybrid bodyshell for upcoming smaller models originally appeared on AutoblogGreen on Mon, 16 Aug 2010 13:02:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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First phase results of UK electric vehicle trial complete, average of 23 miles a day

Sam Abuelsamid — Wed, 16 Jun 2010 17:19:00 EST

Filed under: EV/Plug-in, Hybrid, Jaguar, Mitsubishi, UK

The first three-month period of an electric vehicle trial in the UK is complete and it turns out the fleet of of 25 Mitsubishi iMiEVs has been running an average of 23 miles a day and have been parked 97 percent of the time. The majority of individual trips were under five miles, making electric vehicles an ideal choice as long as there is somewhere to plug them in and keep them charged. During the three months from January to March 2010, the cars were used by drivers throughout their speed range, including both city and motorway driving.

The project, dubbed CABLED (Coventry and Birmingham Low Emission Vehicle Demonstrators), is running in the English midlands with a variety of vehicles and more to come. The total fleet size will be 110 vehicles. Additional vehicles for the fleet include plug-in hybrids and the extended range electric Jaguar XJ. It would be interesting to know if the limited mileage being put on the iMiEVs is because drivers are aware of its limitations and only using the car when they know they won't run out of juice or this truly represents the most common driving these people are doing. Perhaps breaking down the data comparing BEVs and PHEVs/EREVs will give us a clearer picture.

[Source: Mitsubishi]

Continue reading First phase results of UK electric vehicle trial complete, average of 23 miles a day

First phase results of UK electric vehicle trial complete, average of 23 miles a day originally appeared on AutoblogGreen on Wed, 16 Jun 2010 17:19:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Rumormill: Jaguar working on hybrid for 2013 debut, target set at 55 mpg

Eric Loveday — Mon, 17 May 2010 08:56:00 EST

Filed under: Hybrid, Jaguar, Green Daily

Since we're already aware that Land Rover is working on some hybrid products for the near future, it only seems fitting that Jaguar would join in too. The report from UK-based Car magazine claims that Jaguar will have a hybrid-electric car ready for debut by 2013. Car adds that the vehicle will be powered by a 3.0-liter turbodiesel V6 that's joined by an electric motor and connected to an eight-speed automatic transmission. According to the report, the hybrid powertrain will command a premium of about $15,000 (U.S.) over traditional powerplants and is expected to be available on the XJ and XF first, followed by the rest of the Jaguar lineup later on.

To confirm the report, Green Car Advisor contacted Jaguar and the company responded stating that the claims are "speculation" but did admit that it has been actively working with three other companies on a hybrid powertrain with hopes of a finished product capable of achieving more than 55 miles per gallon while also maintaining the brand's "premium" image. We have reason to believe that the report from Car magazine is accurate and suspect that Jaguar will come forth with a formal announcement soon, but for now we'll have to keep a rumor tag on this one.

Photo by Drew Phillips / Copyright (C)2010 Weblogs, Inc.
[Source: Car via Green Car Advisor]

Rumormill: Jaguar working on hybrid for 2013 debut, target set at 55 mpg originally appeared on AutoblogGreen on Mon, 17 May 2010 08:56:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Report: Jaguar XF to get four-cylinder diesel, CO2 emissions of under 150 g/km

Sam Abuelsamid — Fri, 09 Apr 2010 16:50:00 EST

Filed under: Diesel, Jaguar

The Jaguar XF lives in very competitive segment alongside the BMW 5 series, Mercedes-Benz E-Class and Audi A6. All three of those cars offer something Jaguar does not: a four-cylinder diesel engine. This is a curious situation, since 80 percent of all 5 series sales are the four-cylinder 520d model in Jaguar's home market in the UK.

That situation looks set to change this fall when the XF will get the 2.2-liter inline-four diesel from the Land Rover Freelander. Jaguar is currently modifying the engine, which was designed for transverse mounting in the Freelander, to be longitudinally mounted in the XF. The diesel is expected to be mated with an automatic transmission with automatic start-stop. This configuration should get the XF's CO2 emissions under 150 g/km (like the new Lotus Elise!). Unfortunately, we are unlikely to see this model in the U.S. market.

[Source: Top Gear]

Report: Jaguar XF to get four-cylinder diesel, CO2 emissions of under 150 g/km originally appeared on AutoblogGreen on Fri, 09 Apr 2010 16:50:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Jaguar-Land Rover shopping for hybrid engineers

Sam Abuelsamid — Wed, 03 Mar 2010 08:00:00 EST

Filed under: Hybrid, Jaguar, Land Rover

2010 Jaguar XF Supercharged - Click above for high-res image gallery

So far, aside from a couple of concepts and test vehicles, Jaguar and Land Rover haven't made much of a dent in the vehicle electrification space. Adding electric drive to a vehicle requires new kinds of engineering expertise, the kind that JLR had access too when the companies were part of the Ford family. Now that the British premium brands belong to India's Tata Motors, the recruiters in Coventry are looking for some extra help.

JLR is looking to hire 50 new engineers with expertise in hybrid drive, electrical and software as well as infotainment systems. JLR is already picking up 45 apprentices and 80 fresh-out-of-school engineers this year and is looking for more experience with the latest batch of recruits. If you're eligible to work in the UK, check out the job postings here.

Gallery: Review: 2010 Jaguar XF Supercharged

[Source: Jaguar]

Continue reading Jaguar-Land Rover shopping for hybrid engineers

Jaguar-Land Rover shopping for hybrid engineers originally appeared on AutoblogGreen on Wed, 03 Mar 2010 08:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Jaguar-Land Rover joins low carbon vehicle partnership

Sam Abuelsamid — Wed, 24 Feb 2010 11:03:00 EST

Filed under: Jaguar, Land Rover

Jaguar-Land Rover has joined up with a new low carbon vehicle partnership to research and test concepts to cut fuel consumption. The £29 million project is being funded by the automaker, six partner companies, Advantage West Midlands and the European Regional Development Fund. One of the key elements to improving efficiency will be improving the electronic management of the powertrain and vehicle dynamics.

The goal will be to optimize these systems in order to minimize the losses that come when the vehicle starts slipping or the wheels are spinning. These same systems are also integrated into functions like adaptive cruise control. With appropriate programming, the adaptive cruise control can adjust the gap distances to miminize the deceleration and acceleration and, presto, help lower fuel consumption.

[Source: Jaguar-Land Rover]

Continue reading Jaguar-Land Rover joins low carbon vehicle partnership

Jaguar-Land Rover joins low carbon vehicle partnership originally appeared on AutoblogGreen on Wed, 24 Feb 2010 11:03:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Report: Jaguar builds all-electric XJ test vehicle

Jeremy Korzeniewski — Thu, 04 Feb 2010 11:58:00 EST

Filed under: EV/Plug-in, Hybrid, Jaguar, Land Rover, UK

2011 Jaguar XJ - Click above for high-res image gallery

According to Autocar in the UK, Jaguar Land Rover is still hard at work on series hybrid vehicles. Similar to the stance General Motors has taken with the 2011 Chevrolet Volt, Jaguar believes that the only real way electric vehicles can be made compatible with everyday life is to add a small range-extending gasoline-powered engine that's capable of keeping the batteries charged on the go.

Unlike GM, though, Jaguar has seen fit to contract its small engine work out to Lotus, which makes sense given the two British company's differing product specialties. Lotus has reportedly delivered a 1.2-liter three-cylinder engine that generates 35 kW of power, which is carried - with a little help from a UK government grant or two - inside a new 2011 XJ sedan with a lithium ion battery pack.

Motive force comes courtesy of what Autocar believes is a 145 kW (194 horsepower) electric motor with 295 pound-feet of torque. Performance specifications sound pretty good - though not quite as impressive as we might have imagined - assuming all of this is accurate, with a range of 600 miles combined fuel economy of 47 miles per gallon (57 mpg UK) and carbon emissions of under 120 grams per kilometer. Top speed would reportedly come in at 112 miles per hour.

An unnamed source at Jaguar tells Autocar that the electric XJ handles quite well "because of the bulk that's removed from car when you strip out the conventional drivetrain." Future Range Rover models are also rumored to get a similar drivetrain.

[Source: Autocar]

Report: Jaguar builds all-electric XJ test vehicle originally appeared on AutoblogGreen on Thu, 04 Feb 2010 11:58:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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REPORT: Land Rover looking into extended-range and normal hybrid technology

Jeremy Korzeniewski — Fri, 11 Sep 2009 18:31:00 EST

Filed under: EV/Plug-in, Hybrid, Jaguar, Land Rover

Land Rover Freelander 2 TD4_e - Click above for high-res image gallery

It's not at all surprising that Land Rover would want in on corporate cousin Jaguar's hybrid technology. While the British-born and Indian-owned automakers are currently saying the range-extended electric hybrid technology that's debuting at the Frankfurt Motor Show in the oddly named Jaguar Limo-Green is nothing more than a concept, JLR head of research Anthony Harper tells Autocar that it could eventually be much more:

It is possible that future Land Rover models could get the technology as well. It is certainly something we are looking into and forms part of where we would like to go with the brands.

At this point, the Lotus-developed range extender and the large-scale lithium ion battery pack that's capable of propelling a large vehicle for 30 miles are just too expensive for JLR to put into production. Still, that doesn't mean hybrid powertrains are out of the equation entirely at the company. According to Harper:

We are looking into more conventional hybrid technology at present. With Land Rovers, you need to be able to get lots of power and torque to all four wheels and you can't do that for long periods at the moment.

Gallery: Land Rover Freelander 2 TD4_e

[Source: Autocar]

REPORT: Land Rover looking into extended-range and normal hybrid technology originally appeared on AutoblogGreen on Fri, 11 Sep 2009 18:31:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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