Monday 23rd April 2012

Beijing show: Jag's Supercharged V6 and turbo four

Supercharged V6 replaces naturally aspirated V8; turbocharged four replaces V6...

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Jaguar has used the Beijing motor show to announce the introduction of two new forced-induction petrol engines for its cars - a 3.0-litre supercharged V6 and a 2.0-litre turbocharged four-cylinder motor.

So while the main 'in-the-metal' news for Jaguar is the new XJ Ultimate - one of the first two products from JLR's new 'Engineered to Order' department, the other being the Beckhamised Range Rover Evoque - it's the under-the-bonnet bits that are the most significant.

The XJ Ultimate will be the first Jaguar to get the new supercharged V6, with a 340hp and 332lb ft state of tune that it will share with the XF, while the version of the engine due to go in the forthcoming F-Type sports car will get 380hp and 339lb ft of torque.

The new V6 is actually a development of the 5.0-litre supercharged V8, sharing its all-aluminium construction and with cross-bolted main bearing caps to increase rigidity and refinement. The Roots-type supercharger is mounted within the 'V' of the engine and is more compact than the one used in the V8. Its boost, meanwhile electronically 'supervised' by new Bosch engine management software, which Jaguar reckons can offer up to a 20 per cent improvement in efficiency.

Talking of efficiency, the engine gets stop/start functionality, while the gearbox is the eight-speed ZF unit also used in diesel XFs. Jaguar's engineers have also come up with a system of counter-rotating front and rear balancer weights, lending the six-cylinder unit the same smoothness and refinement characteristics as its larger V8 brother.

The 2.0-litre petrol, meanwhile, will replace the naturally aspirated 3.0-litre V6 petrol (in such markets where the models still exists) in both the XF and XJ and will get 240hp and 251lb ft.

In both applications, this will be enough to haul the cars to 60mph from rest in 7.5 seconds on the way to 150mph, while the 340hp supercharged V6 will do the 0-60mph sprint in 5.7 seconds before hitting a limited 155mph top speed.

[anonymous-user]

I actually think this is a good thing as long as the performance supercharged V8 cars remain. It will give Jag a much broader range and should increase sales, allowing them to develop more interesting stuff!

[anonymous-user]

Triumph Man said:

I hate this recent trend of turbo charged 4 cylinder engines in larger cars, the new 3-series for example, and now in a Jaguar XJ! I know it's for emissions reasons, but why does everyone seem to forget about the lovely sound of a 6 cylinder engine?

Did you miss the bit about a supercharged V6?

[anonymous-user]

Triumph Man said:

No, I didn't. Did you miss the bit about a turbocharged 4 cylinder replacing the N/A V6s?

But there will still be a V6 if you want one

[anonymous-user]

kambites said:

I think I'd put that as "there will still be a V6 if you can afford it". The V6 entry point will presumably be considerably more expensive than it was.

Being supercharged it would be quite easy to offer in different states of tune so may might be available at different price ranges!?

[anonymous-user]

DJRC said:

So its going to be £55k for the 2ltr turbo 4 pot F-Type and £60k for the Supercharged V6.

No fking way Jag.

Doesnt look like the 4 pot is going in the F

[anonymous-user]

Triumph Man said:

That's part of my point, it's a shame that the 6s won't be as readily available.

That is a god point! anyone have any first hand experience of the 2.0? is it any good?

[anonymous-user]

Stew2000 said:

I was hoping for an XJ12. but I fear my dream will never be

Unless they stick two Supercharged V6 engines together! Now that would be a flagship car!