AutoblogGreen

SAE Congress: Magna Flex4 offers slight fuel savings in a Land Rover LR2 [w/video]

Sebastian Blanco — Wed, 02 May 2012 15:50:00 EST

Filed under: Emerging Technologies, MPG, Land Rover, AutoblogGreen Exclusive, SAE World Congress

Flex4 may sound like something sold during the 3 a.m. hour on advertorial television, but it's really Magna's part-time all-wheel drive system that offers the benefits of AWD with lower emissions than standard AWD. How? Because Flex4 can disengage the power going to the rear wheels when it determines that it isn't needed, changing the vehicle to a more-efficient two-wheel-drive ride. The AWD is also engaged every time the vehicle stops and, most of the time, when the vehicle goes above 30 miles per hour, the rear wheels disengage. Whenever the system detects a slippery road, the AWD reconnects in a few hundred milliseconds. The AWD also engages if there is a "yaw event" (i.e., a hard lane change). The benefit? A fuel economy improvement of around .8 to 1 mile per gallon compared to standard AWD systems.

Flex4 on display at the SAE World Congress was just a prototype, and is being designed to be purely automatic but it could theoretically be driver-selectable. At this stage, too, there is no estimated cost for such a system, but Magna knows that OEMs will be looking for ways to add AWD capability to vehicles even as CO2 emissions regulations get tighter and tighter. As a Tier 1 supplier, Magna says it is ready to start production of Flex4 now.

Magna has been working on Flex4 for at least two years, but not a lot of information about the system is available online. We did find one video about Flex4, which we've pasted down below, but it happens to be in German. Still, you can see Flex4 at work in all it's animated glory.

Continue reading SAE Congress: Magna Flex4 offers slight fuel savings in a Land Rover LR2 [w/video]

SAE Congress: Magna Flex4 offers slight fuel savings in a Land Rover LR2 [w/video] originally appeared on AutoblogGreen on Wed, 02 May 2012 15:50:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments

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

Jaguar-Land Rover to construct $484-million 4-cylinder engine factory in UK originally appeared on AutoblogGreen on Tue, 20 Sep 2011 17:12:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments

Axeon unveils an all-electric Land Rover Defender for safaris

Noah Joseph — Tue, 10 May 2011 12:57:00 EST

Filed under: EV/Plug-in, Land Rover

Axeon Land Rover Defender 110 - Click above for high-res images

What's the point of going on safari if your truck's rumble and exhaust sully the experience? That's what Axeon and Land Rover have reasoned, teaming up with the solution you see here.

Developed in collaboration with JLR South Africa, this Defender 110 - a long-wheelbase model with an extended pickup bed (fitted with extra seating) instead of an extra set of doors - has had its diesel engine replaced with a lithium-ion battery pack mated to an unspecified motor capable of propelling the Defender over approximately three times the usual "game drive" (read: hunting expedition) on a single charge. All this without emitting a single local gram of carbon and maintaining silent operation that will bring its occupants closer to the game without spooking them off.

The vehicle will be unveiled this month at the INDABA tourism expo in Durban. Follow the jump for the details in the press release.

Gallery: Axeon Land Rover Defender 110

[Source: Axeon]

Continue reading Axeon unveils an all-electric Land Rover Defender for safaris

Axeon unveils an all-electric Land Rover Defender for safaris originally appeared on AutoblogGreen on Tue, 10 May 2011 12:57:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments

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]

Continue reading Jaguar Land Rover selects Ricardo as key strategic supplier

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.

Permalink | Email this | Comments

Report: Land Rover confirms first production hybrid coming in 2013

Autoblog Staff — Thu, 07 Apr 2011 13:01:00 EST

Filed under: Hybrid, Land Rover

2011 Range Rover Range_e - Click above for high-res image gallery

Land Rover models are high-end luxury SUVs with an ardent fan base. But while these pricey utes are popular, they're also quite thirsty at the pump, and between rising gas prices and increased legislative pressures regarding CO2 emissions, the British automaker has undertaken an alternative fuel strategy that should begin paying off soon.

Land Rover Brand Director John Edwards tells Inside Line that the Tata Motors-owned automaker will start its production alt-fuel strategy with a gasoline hybrid under the hood of the Range Rover in 2013, followed by a range-extended hybrid in 2014. The Chevrolet Volt-like range extender will likely involve a larger battery pack and motor that do most of the work and a small gasoline engine that will charge the battery. This top-down approach means that bigger, more expensive Rovers will receive the hybrid tech first. The move will reportedly result in a greater impact on overall emissions, and lower-end models like the forthcoming Evoque may not receive battery assistance any time soon. Bigger models are typically more expensive, too, which means that the cost of the electric propulsion tech can be better hidden in the MSRP.

Also unlikely, according to IL, is a diesel-powered hybrid like the Range_e concept from the 2011 Geneva Motor Show. While very efficient with a theoretical 85 miles per gallon and a 20 mile electric-only mode, the diesel engine coupled with all that battery tech would make the utility vehicles far too expensive.

Keep in mind that Tata Motors also owns Jaguar, so you can bet that any gas-electric technology used by Land Rover will also be used by the Leaping Cat.

We're pretty excited about the prospect of highly efficient Range Rovers, but this sort of technology has a way of taking longer to get to market than automakers initially forecast. Land Rover has a bit of time before 2013 happens, though, so we'll just have to wait and see.

Live photos copyright (C)2011 Noah Joseph / AOL

[Source: Inside Line]

Report: Land Rover confirms first production hybrid coming in 2013 originally appeared on AutoblogGreen on Thu, 07 Apr 2011 13:01:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments

For $39 milion, Northern Lights Electric orders 150 all-electric E-Range SUVs for Scandinavia

Sebastian Blanco — Wed, 23 Mar 2011 10:54:00 EST

Filed under: EV/Plug-in, Land Rover, Europe/EU

Liberty Electric Cars E-Range - Click above for high-res image gallery

In mid-2008, Liberty Electric Cars announced it would invest £30 million ($49 million U.S. at today's exchange rates) in a large-scale electric vehicle conversion project, like with tens of thousands of vehicles. It took over two years, but the first all-electric E-Range, based on the iconic Range Rover, became real in late 2010. Each E-Range has a giant, 75 kWh lithium polymer batterry and can go for up to 200 miles per charge. All this capability comes at a cost: £160,000 ($261,000) per vehicle. This makes the purchase announced today by our friends at the Icelandic electric vehicle company Northern Lights Energy (NLE) all the more astonishing.

Over the next four years, NLE will buy 150 electric vehicles from Liberty and offer them for sale to individuals, companies and governments across Iceland and Scandinavia. The deal is valued at around £24 million ($39 million).

Ian Hobday, the managing director of Liberty Electric Cars, said in a statement that:

The Scandinavian countries are the ideal market for Liberty Electric Cars as there is no import tax to pay, which puts the price of the Liberty E Range at the same level as an ordinary petrol or diesel luxury 4x4.

NLE's CEO, Gisli Gislason, added that the vehicles offer the performance Scandinavian drivers need while also offering lower running costs. NLE previously announced deals to bring other electric vehicles to Iceland, including 1,000 Amp's SUVs and Reva's NXR. You can watch a short video about Liberty Electric Cars here.

Gallery: Liberty Electric Cars E-Range

[Source: Northern Lights Energy]

Continue reading For $39 milion, Northern Lights Electric orders 150 all-electric E-Range SUVs for Scandinavia

For $39 milion, Northern Lights Electric orders 150 all-electric E-Range SUVs for Scandinavia originally appeared on AutoblogGreen on Wed, 23 Mar 2011 10:54:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments

Video: Fully Charged takes you inside the Geneva Motor Show

Eric Loveday — Thu, 10 Mar 2011 09:49:00 EST

Filed under: EV/Plug-in, Hybrid, Ford, Land Rover, Nissan, Rolls Royce, Volkswagen, Volvo, Renault, Opel, Europe/EU

Nissan Esflow at Geneva - Click above to watch video after the jump

Our coverage of the 2011 Geneva Motor Show included showing you 76 production and concept vehicles that were unveiled or displayed. However, there simply wasn't enough time in our exhaustive auto show schedule to video the vehicles revealed. Fortunately, Fully Charged's Robert Llewellyn did just that. Lllewellyn spent a frantic day on the floor in Geneva capturing video of most of the alternative technology vehicles on display.

There's the Nissan Leaf, Nissan Esflow, Toyota Prius +, BYD e6-Eco, BMW ActiveE, Rolls-Royce Phantom 102EX, Opel Ampera, Ford Focus Electric, Mia and a blizzard of unusual electric and plug-in hybrid concepts. So, hop the jump to see the alternative technology vehicles that took to the stage in Geneva. Hat tip to Chris!

[Source: YouTube]

Continue reading Video: Fully Charged takes you inside the Geneva Motor Show

Video: Fully Charged takes you inside the Geneva Motor Show originally appeared on AutoblogGreen on Thu, 10 Mar 2011 09:49:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments

Geneva 2011: Land Rover shows off Range Rover Sport plug-in diesel hybrid

Autoblog Staff — Wed, 02 Mar 2011 10:53:00 EST

Filed under: EV/Plug-in, Hybrid, Land Rover, Geneva Motor Show

2011 Range Rover Range_e - Click above for high-res image gallery

Land Rover has debuted its Range_e, a plug-in diesel hybrid, at the Geneva Motor Show. According to Land Rover, the Range_e can go up to 20 miles in full-electric mode, and return 85 mpg and 88 grams of C02 per kilometer. Not too shabby for an SUV.

Beyond the impressive electric capabilities, the Range_e is being touted as the world's first 4WD plug-in hybrid diesel. As you can plainly see, the Range_e is based on the Range Rover Sport and is powered by Range Rover's 3.0-liter 240-horsepower TDV6 and a 69 kW electric motor. The Range_e can be recharged from a standard household power supply in less than four hours, so plan ahead if the battery's dead and you have errands to run, otherwise you'll be stuck with the diesel mill.

Land Rover isn't saying whether it considers the Range_e to be a concept or a production-intent model, but it is saying that the electrified SUV is part of its $1.3 billion 2008 plan to reduce carbon emissions by a quarter by 2012. Check out the official press release after the jump.

Live photos copyright (C)2011 Noah Joseph / AOL

[Source: Land Rover]

Continue reading Geneva 2011: Land Rover shows off Range Rover Sport plug-in diesel hybrid

Geneva 2011: Land Rover shows off Range Rover Sport plug-in diesel hybrid originally appeared on AutoblogGreen on Wed, 02 Mar 2011 10:53:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments

Land Rover promises Range_e plug-in diesel hybrid for Geneva

Autoblog Staff — Wed, 16 Feb 2011 15:00:00 EST

Filed under: Diesel, EV/Plug-in, Hybrid, Land Rover, Geneva Motor Show

Land Rover Range_e plug-in diesel hybrid is heading to Geneva - Click above for high-res image gallery

Land Rover is gearing up for the 2011 Geneva Motor Show and it's bringing four new models to show off, one of which shows the automaker is thinking a bit more green: the Land Rover Range_e plug-in diesel hybrid.

Power for the electrified Range Rover Sport comes courtesy of a 3.0-liter turbodiesel V6 paired with a ZF eight-speed automatic transmission, as well as an electric motor. The Range_e's driving range is said to be nearly 700 miles and it can drive approximately 20 miles on electric power alone, which should be good enough to get the SUV into the heart of London.

Also getting the bright light auto show treatment are the luxurious Range Rover Autobiography Ultimate Edition, Evoque in two and four-door guise and the 2011 Discovery/LR4 Landmark Edition. The Autobiography Ultimate is described as the most luxurious Land Rover ever produced and features yacht-inspired teak flooring and Apple iPad tablets for the rear passengers. The Evoque will be featured in a handful of trims that offer unique customization options for consumers. Finally, the limited-edition Landmark LR4 will be available in either a Black or a White theme with upscale interiors and unique color treatments.

[Source: Land Rover]

Continue reading Land Rover promises Range_e plug-in diesel hybrid for Geneva

Land Rover promises Range_e plug-in diesel hybrid for Geneva originally appeared on AutoblogGreen on Wed, 16 Feb 2011 15:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments

Report: Land Rover Evoque won't get hybrid

Jeremy Korzeniewski — Mon, 13 Dec 2010 15:55:00 EST

Filed under: Diesel, Hybrid, Land Rover

Range Rover Evoque five-door - Click above for high-res image gallery

Despite the fact that Land Rover has gone out of its way to promote its new Evoque as an environmentally friendly alternative to its normal brand of behemoth globetrotting earth movers, Auto Express reports that the front-wheel drive (optional all-wheel drive, naturally) unibody Rover won't be getting a hybrid powertrain option.

Instead, Land Rover's global product director, John Edwards, suggests that any future electrically assisted powertrains will likely be featured in the larger Discovery (LR4 in the States) and in Range Rovers. Edwards points out that the Evoque was designed as a lightweight machine, where a small four-cylinder diesel engine can provide the kind of fuel mileage targeted for the model.

While it's certainly true that hybrid componentry adds complexity and weight, American and Japanese automakers have proven that it's possible to put the fuel-saving bits and pieces in smaller-sized vehicles. What's more, diesel vehicles aren't exactly commonplace on American roads or dealerships, leaving us to wonder if the U.S. market will be left out of the high-mpg loop once again.

[Source: Auto Express]

Report: Land Rover Evoque won't get hybrid originally appeared on AutoblogGreen on Mon, 13 Dec 2010 15:55:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments

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.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments

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.

Permalink | Email this | Comments

Report: Tata Motors to revive Land Rover lineup by downsizing, reducing weight, adding hybrids

Eric Loveday — Sat, 11 Sep 2010 08:50:00 EST

Filed under: Hybrid, MPG, Land Rover, Green Daily, Paris Motor Show, Tata

Land Rover Evoque - Click above for high-res image

Tata Motors has reportedly planned an extreme makeover for its Land Rover luxury SUV brand. The makeover begins with the development of smaller vehicles, continues with a switch to a lightweight aluminum platform and ends with a splash of hybrid power. Tata Motors' six-year plan will focus on making the Land Rover name synonymous with efficiency. The upcoming Range Rover will ditch its current BMW-based platform for a purpose-built unit developed by Tata and the 2012 Range Rover Sport will utilize a substantial amount of aluminum to reduce overall vehicle weight.

Range Rover's soon-to-debut two-door Evoque characterizes the company's focus on offering smaller, more fuel-efficient SUVs. The Evoque will debut at this year's Paris Motor Show and reports suggest that this compact SUV could make use of Ford's 2.0-liter, four-cylinder Ecoboost engine. In addition to an ultra-efficient mill, the Evoque will reportedly feature a hybrid powertrain at some point during its model cycle. Tata Motors is said to be planning additional hybrid models for the Land Rover brand, but the company told Green Car Advisor that it, "won't comment further on potential hybrid plans." Tata Motors six-year plan calls for dramatic changes to its Land Rover brand, but when faced with stringent European emissions standards and tough U.S. fuel economy guidelines, it's a shift that had to be made.

[Source: Green Car Advisor]

Report: Tata Motors to revive Land Rover lineup by downsizing, reducing weight, adding hybrids originally appeared on AutoblogGreen on Sat, 11 Sep 2010 08:50:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments

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.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments

Report: Land Rover Evoque to get 2.0-liter EcoBoost from Ford?

Autoblog Staff — Thu, 26 Aug 2010 09:00:00 EST

Filed under: MPG, Ford, Land Rover, Paris Motor Show

Jaguar's got a good thing going with its use of Ford engines, and even an engine shortage isn't enough to deter Land Rover from getting in on the game. A report in Autocar suggests that the Land Rover Evoque could make use of the 2.0-liter, four-cyliinder Ecoboost engine that Ford just installed as the premium engine into the 2011 Explorer.

On the 'sceptered isle, the same Ecoboost serves in the Mondeo, but with 203 horsepower instead of the 237 that the Explorer variant outputs. Since Land Rover won't say anything about the report, probably trying to maintain the surprise until the Evoque is revealed at the Paris Motor Show, we don't know which tune the Evoque might get. But that engine and the possibility of using Ford's six-speed, dual-clutch Powershift transmission could go all the way to backing up Land Rover's assertion that the Evoque will be the most fuel-efficient vehicle it has ever produced.

[Source: Autocar]

Report: Land Rover Evoque to get 2.0-liter EcoBoost from Ford? originally appeared on AutoblogGreen on Thu, 26 Aug 2010 09:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments

2011 Range Rover TDV8 gets new ZF 8-speed automatic, but not in America

Sam Abuelsamid — Tue, 24 Aug 2010 10:01:00 EST

Filed under: Diesel, MPG, Land Rover

2011 Range Rover TDV8 - Click above for high-res image gallery

For 2011, European-spec Range Rovers are getting a fresh transmission to go along with the new, Ford-built 4.4-liter turbodiesel V8. Like many of its German competitors, the Range Rovers will now be equipped with ZF's 8HP70 eight-speed automatic transmission, a change that contributes six percent of the new model's fuel efficiency improvement over the six-speed 2010 model.

The eight-speed should be particularly well suited to a diesel application since the compression ignition engines have a narrower power band than gasoline units and the extra two ratios can help keep the engine in the sweet-spot of its power and efficiency bands. The diesel engine is rated at 309 horsepower and 516 pound-feet of torque and, with the new transmission, gets an 18.5 percent improvement in fuel efficiency.

ZF also supplies the electrically driven Servotronic steering assist system and the power steering column adjustment for the Range Rover. Land Rover hasn't announced the 2011 specs for the U.S. Range Rovers, but it will likely get the eight-speed with the gas V8s available here.

Gallery: 2011 Range Rover TDV8

[Source: ZF]

Continue reading 2011 Range Rover TDV8 gets new ZF 8-speed automatic, but not in America

2011 Range Rover TDV8 gets new ZF 8-speed automatic, but not in America originally appeared on AutoblogGreen on Tue, 24 Aug 2010 10:01:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments

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.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments

2011 Range Rover rated at 25 mpg (U.S.) with Ford-built diesel V8

Sam Abuelsamid — Thu, 17 Jun 2010 16:57:00 EST

Filed under: Diesel, Land Rover

2011 Range Rover - Click above for high-res image gallery

Land Rover has now officially announced the refreshed 2011 Range Rover and, as previously reported, one of the new powertrain options is a 4.4-liter turbodiesel V8 engine. The new diesel is supplied by Ford and we've all but confirmed that it is the same engine that was one time also scheduled to appear in the F-150 pickup this year.

Mounted in the British luxury SUV, this engine is rated at 309 horsepower and 516 pound-feet of torque. At 25.1 miles per gallon (U.S.) on the EU combined cycle, the Range Rover now gets 18.5 percent better efficiency than the outgoing 3.6-liter diesel. Like so many other new vehicles out of Europe, the diesel Range Rover also includes the new ZF 8HP70 eight-speed automatic transmission. The new powertrain also provides impressive acceleration performance with 0-60 miles per hour coming in just 7.5 seconds and 50-70 passing acceleration in 5.1 seconds.

[Source: Land Rover]

Continue reading 2011 Range Rover rated at 25 mpg (U.S.) with Ford-built diesel V8

2011 Range Rover rated at 25 mpg (U.S.) with Ford-built diesel V8 originally appeared on AutoblogGreen on Thu, 17 Jun 2010 16:57:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments

Report: 2011 Euro Range Rover to get 4.4L diesel, the ex-F150 engine?

Sam Abuelsamid — Fri, 28 May 2010 14:11:00 EST

Filed under: Diesel, Ford, Land Rover

It's being reported that the 2011 Range Rover (in Europe at least) will be getting a new diesel engine option to replace the current 3.6-liter V8 diesel. The new engine scheduled to launch this fall is a 4.4-liter V8 with 308 horsepower and 516 pound-feet of torque. The diesels currently used by Land Rover (and Jaguar) are produced at the Dagenham engine plant owned by Ford, Jaguar-Land Rover's former parent.

You may recall that, until late 2008, Ford had been planning to add a diesel V8 to the F150 powertrain lineup and it was expected to launch right about ... now. That diesel V8 was rumored to displace about 4.4-liters. You may also recall that at the time, Ford still owned Land Rover and Jaguar. We haven't been able to get confirmation yet from Land Rover or Ford but we are guessing that this new Land Rover diesel is the same engine once destined for the F150 and then shelved. We checked with truck expert Mike Levine at PickupTrucks.com who believes this is in fact the same engine. According to Mike, the 4.4 is being built at Ford's Chihuahua engine plant where the new 6.7-liter "Scorpion" diesel for the Super Duty pickups is also manufactured.

If so, the fact that it is being built for the luxury SUV means that it could potentially be revived for the pickup. The fact that it was at one time destined for the U.S. market may also mean that it has been designed with U.S. emissions standards in mind and it could eventually appear in American Range Rovers. Given the success of diesels in German SUVs, it certainly seems plausible.

Update: A Ford official has confirmed that the new Land Rover diesel V8 is being supplied from Ford's Chihuahua engine plant. However, we were reminded that Ford never officially confirmed details of the planned diesel for the F150 so it cannot be officially confirmed that this is in fact the same engine. Given all the other information it does seem to be a reasonable inference.

[Source: World Car Fans]

Report: 2011 Euro Range Rover to get 4.4L diesel, the ex-F150 engine? originally appeared on AutoblogGreen on Fri, 28 May 2010 14:11:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments

Officially Official: Land Rover confirms hybrid and front-wheel-drive LRX models

Steven J. Ewing — Tue, 18 May 2010 11:00:00 EST

Filed under: Hybrid, Land Rover, Green Daily

Land Rover LRX spy shots - Click above for high-res image gallery

When the new LRX compact crossover hits the market, it's goal is to change the way the world perceives Land Rover. Unlike the rest of the marque's range, the LRX isn't likely to boast unbeatable off-road prowess with fuel-sucking power - quite the contrary, in fact. Land Rover has officially announced that in addition to the previously rumored front-wheel drive model, a diesel hybrid version of the LRX will be on the road in 2013.

These two new-to-Land Rover features should go a long way in broadening the brand's attractiveness to new sets of buyers interested in smaller vehicles like the new LRX, though the move might risk alienating traditionalists, particularly if the model's off-road ability is severely compromised. (Note: The LRX name still isn't in the books yet, and to this day, Land Rover is referring to the crossover as the "all-new compact Range Rover").

Near the end of this year, Land Rover will start testing its first diesel hybrid prototype, which has been dubbed "range_e." This development vehicle, which rides on a Range Rover Sport platform, will use LR's existing 3.0-liter turbo-diesel V6 and a ZF eight-speed automatic mated to an electric motor. The goal is to produce a powertrain that can achieve a range of around 20 miles solely on electric power, while emitting less than 100 g/km of CO2 emissions. A conventionally powered production-bodied LRX was already spotted testing just earlier this week.

While this technology is still a few years away, Land Rover has assured us that the front-drive LRX will be available right away when the range launches next year. Never fear, though - Land Rover will still offer the LRX with an honest-to-goodness four-wheel drive system, and we look forward to getting both some on- and off-road time in the new baby Rover. The full details are available in LR's press release available after the jump.

[Source: Land Rover | Images: KGP Photography]

Continue reading Officially Official: Land Rover confirms hybrid and front-wheel-drive LRX models

Officially Official: Land Rover confirms hybrid and front-wheel-drive LRX models originally appeared on AutoblogGreen on Tue, 18 May 2010 11:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments