Tuesday 14th April 2009

Electric XJ Planned By Jag

Next generation hybrid aims to be world's first electric-drive luxury saloon

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2010 XJ will get hybrid power

Jaguar is preparing a hybrid version of its XJ saloon based on the next generation model that's due next year.

According to an Autocar report the green XJ will use similar technology to the Chevrolet Volt, meaning the electric-drive luxury Jag can be charged by a small-capacity on-board engine or from a conventional plug socket. Some of the best brains in Britain are contributing to the project including engineers at Lotus, MIRA and Caparo.

Money from the European Investment Bank will help fund Jaguar’s green push, adding to the £800m in funds the firm has already earmarked for green projects. The cash will allow Jaguar and Land Rover to develop hybrid technology, smaller capacity diesel engines and improved turbocharged engines, resulting in a 25 per cent cut in CO2 emissions from the company’s line-up by 2012.

The green XJ will have an electric-only range of 30 miles and should return 57mpg overall. It won’t be as quick as regular Jaguars, with a top speed of just 112mph, but it will be significantly lighter.

Jaguar and JLR will look to increase the use of aluminium in future models, with alloy body panels and all alloy bodies destined for several new models. The Range Rover and Range Rover Sport and next-generation Jag XK will all be made with alloy bodyshells to help reduce weight, and the forthcoming XE two-seater is also likely to use an alloy platform.  

Produciton of the more environmentally friendly XJ will start in 2011, one year after the next-gen XJ goes on sale.

[sniff diesel]

The headline says it'll be the first luxury hybrid car, what about the Lexus LS600h?

[Steve_F]

I had wondered what Lexus would think of that.

A range of 30 miles seems pretty poor too. Sure they could get those kind of figures out of a diesel if they were prepared to sacrifice the performance.

[sniff diesel]

Steve_F said:

A range of 30 miles seems pretty poor too.

Enough to get you through most cities though.

[Mclovin]

so basically a economic car paid for by the tax payers twice made for the pigs in the trough politicians to drive about in to make the tax payer feel all nice about the politicians low motoring expenses...then the tech will eventually drop down to the cheaper cars we import...

[LewisR]

"...and next-generation Jag XK will all be made with alloy bodyshells".
The current XK (X150) has an aluminium bodyshell.

I guess we'll see a car badged as the XJ 12v.

[Mr Gear]

Cor, Jag have kept that quiet. Dunno what the above posters are complaining about. If the government had bailed out a car manufacturer intent on carrying on with huge weight and big engines, then I'd be pissed off. But Jag seems to have planned a future for itself, so nice one.

As for 30 miles being a poor electric range... it's true, but most people's commute is less than that, and those trips to the shops can all be done on electric. The fact that you have an unlimited-range diesel engine/whatever to back you up is all you need.

[Belfast Boy]

Mr Gear said:

Cor, Jag have kept that quiet. Dunno what the above posters are complaining about. If the government had bailed out a car manufacturer intent on carrying on with huge weight and big engines, then I'd be pissed off. But Jag seems to have planned a future for itself, so nice one.

As for 30 miles being a poor electric range... it's true, but most people's commute is less than that, and those trips to the shops can all be done on electric. The fact that you have an unlimited-range diesel engine/whatever to back you up is all you need.

Ditto.

[dwilkie]

Don't forget the LS600h is a pure hybrid, this has the ability to be run as an all-electric, I think that is what they are claiming as a first?

[Mr Gear]

dwilkie said:

Don't forget the LS600h is a pure hybrid, this has the ability to be run as an all-electric, I think that is what they are claiming as a first?

Yeah. This type of hybrid (serial hybrid) is essentially an electric car with a generator added, whereas the Lexus is a petrol car in the traditional sense with an electric motor to give a "boost" when needed (parallel hybrid).

[Pickled Piper]

Belfast Boy said:

Mr Gear said:

Cor, Jag have kept that quiet. Dunno what the above posters are complaining about. If the government had bailed out a car manufacturer intent on carrying on with huge weight and big engines, then I'd be pissed off. But Jag seems to have planned a future for itself, so nice one.

As for 30 miles being a poor electric range... it's true, but most people's commute is less than that, and those trips to the shops can all be done on electric. The fact that you have an unlimited-range diesel engine/whatever to back you up is all you need.

Ditto.

Yep, as above.

Some people just like to moan. Also, the Government has "underwritten" loans which is quite different to throwing cash at JLR.

pp

[A Scotsman]

This is probably the price for getting Govt help....

[infradig]

Seems like a cynical way around justifying the'green bailout' and enabling Brown to say he's got an electric car without having to be driven around in a Prius.
Seem to remember some company announcing electric Range Rover's at £100k a pop about a year ago. It would make more sense to buy these in for Ministers and for JLR to develop some real world ultra clean small capacity high power petrol engines-you know using PISTONS!

[angus54]

What worries me is the flat capped, ageing male golfers types that can't drive for toffee will be running over hundreds of pedestrians every year as we won't be able to hear these old buffers coming!!!

[angus54]

If you only can / have to drive 30 miles (and thats without 'luxuries' like lights, a/c, radio on I bet) then buy a smaller car that does the job even better on ordinary fuel.

This seems to me like a colossally pointless car. Think of the power required to charge up those batteries.

What makes electricity - coal fired power stations (and other things).

Sorry we can't come to lunch cos you live 40 miles away.

PR fluff of the very highest order imaginable.

Edited by angus54 on Tuesday 14th April 14:22

[Mr Gear]

angus54 said:

If you only can / have to drive 30 miles (and thats with 'luxuries' like lights, a/c, radio on I bet) then buy a smaller car that does the job even better on ordinary fuel.

This seems to me like a colossally pointless car. Think of the power required to charge up those batteries.

What makes electricity - coal fired power stations (and other things).

Sorry we can't come to lunch cos you live 40 miles away.

PR fluff of the very highest order imaginable.

Boring, boring, boring. As usual, someone slagging off an electric car because they haven't read/don't understand what they are talking about. All Pistonheads alternative fuel threads have to start this way it seems.

[angus54]

Actually whats good about this recession is that bloated car companies and others have actually had to get off their arses and do some work for a change.

They have had it too easy for too long...

Harsh but true - suddenly the customer is king again.

(This goes for plenty of other industries too)

[angus54]

Mr Gear said:

angus54 said:

If you only can / have to drive 30 miles (and thats with 'luxuries' like lights, a/c, radio on I bet) then buy a smaller car that does the job even better on ordinary fuel.

This seems to me like a colossally pointless car. Think of the power required to charge up those batteries.

What makes electricity - coal fired power stations (and other things).

Sorry we can't come to lunch cos you live 40 miles away.

PR fluff of the very highest order imaginable.

Boring, boring, boring. As usual, someone slagging off an electric car because they haven't read/don't understand what they are talking about. All Pistonheads alternative fuel threads have to start this way it seems.

No actually - take step back - why on earth would you take almost the largest and heaviest retail car in the world and then put an electric motor in it that takes you almost nowhere useful - (can you imagine a chauffeur company making use of this car, a top level exec, business man????)

Answer: no - it serves no useful purpose what so ever (other than PR for us and the people underwriting their loans)

'Electracise' a smaller, lighter car and give it a proper chance.

And remember it takes emissions to create electricity in the first place so sorry chum while I do like the idea of electric cars, don't be fooled by this green nonsense from Jag.

You tell me what makes this particular car worthwhile?

[Mr Gear]

angus54 said:

Sorry we can't come to lunch cos you live 40 miles away.

Wrong! It has a range extender that will effectively make the range limitless.

angus54 said:

'Electracise' a smaller, lighter car and give it a proper chance.

Good idea, but not everyone will accept a G-Wiz for transporting the family. And some people are still badge snobs for some reason.

angus54 said:

What makes electricity - coal fired power stations (and other things)

"And other things" is critical. You can make electricity lots of ways, and we already do in Britain. Also, controlling pollution centres and taking the ground level pollution away is ideal. You can even do a carbon-trap on a power station, but you wouldn't want one on your car...

angus54 said:

why on earth would you take almost the largest and heaviest retail car in the world and then put an electric motor in it that takes you almost nowhere useful

As said before, 30 miles is more than enough for most people's commutes and trips to the shops. If you want to go see granny then you have unlimited range from the generator which is always running at peak load and revs, thereby optimising efficiency in a way direct-drive never can.

[threespires]

angus54 said:

What worries me is the flat capped, ageing male golfers types that can't drive for toffee will be running over hundreds of pedestrians every year as we won't be able to hear these old buffers coming!!! If you only can / have to drive 30 miles (and thats with 'luxuries' like lights, a/c, radio on I bet) then buy a smaller car that does the job even better on ordinary fuel.
This seems to me like a colossally pointless car. Think of the power required to charge up those batteries.
What makes electricity - coal fired power stations (and other things).
Sorry we can't come to lunch cos you live 40 miles away.
PR fluff of the very highest order imaginable.

I presume you base your assumption that 'Flat Capped Golfer' types will be hitting pedestrians on the dramatic increase of pedestrian accidents involving drug-crazed Hollywood types in their Hybrids ?

Your're right Angus, a pointless car if Jaguar want to abandon their largest market, the USA, and give in to competition from Merc/BMW/Audi/Lexus/Cadillac/Porsche who have hybrids available now or shortly.

As to PR fluff, like it or loath it, hybrids are the future and I'm glad to see my tax money helping keep Jaguar alive and many Midlands people in a job. Angus, this is the 21st century - wake up to it or invent a better solution.

[angus54]

Mr Gear said:

angus54 said:

Sorry we can't come to lunch cos you live 40 miles away.

Wrong! It has a range extender that will effectively make the range limitless..

Oh god no! They have fooled you too with their "everlasting power source range extender" - dude this isn't Star Wars.

Limitless??? - Only our imaginations / fantasies I am afraid...