Pressure from environmentalists and rising fuel prices could force Jaguar to introduce a smaller-capacity turbodiesel version of the new XF saloon, it has emerged.The bulk of sales of the XF's competitor cars in the UK, the BMW 5-series and Audi A6, are of 2.0-litre diesel models; Jaguar has launched with one, V6 diesel engine in the XF range, and doesn’t have an alternative to these low C02 models.“We will just have to keep an eye on where the market goes, and if customers start demanding it, we will have to respond,” said Mick Mohan, Jaguar’s product development chief.The decision will also depend on how Jaguar sees its future brand image. It may prefer to limit sales and concentrate on selling fewer, but more profitable bigger-engined versions.
It would have to shed some weight and gain a manual gearbox, then you'd ge all the moans about its not a true Jaguar, its got a Ford engine, its slow. Truth is most of the Audi, Mercs and BMW's are lower capacity engines but they have more power than those potentially available to Jaguar. Having said that I'm all for it, as long as they develpe the next XF using alluminium and come up with a sensible X-Type replacement (this sector is growing and will do more so as fuel gets more expensive and roads more crowded) oh yeh and bring out the XF coupe and F-Type, common Tata get yer hands in yer pockets and put Jaguar back on the map!
Seems unlikely that the TCDI engine from the Mondeo would be a long term solution. Would make more sense for Jaguar to look at increasing the bore and stroke on the new Fiat 1.6 Multijet ( excellent bhp, torque, emissions ). Or perhaps even add a fifth cylinder? Or even take the 1.9 Multijet ( 148bhp ) directly?
Tata / Fiat are already have a joint venture for diesel engine production in India. It would make a convenient technology transfer for Fiat to take the XF platform for the 169 and Jaguar to have the Multijet for a mass market entry level diesel.
Well it makes sense to me?
[quote chrispinkney]Having said that I'm all for it, as long as they develpe the next XF using alluminium[/quote] Don't think Aluminium is necessary, other than as a marketing tool. Steel can be just as light.