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Spy shots: Jaguar XK with possible diesel or hybrid powertrain

Spy shots: Jaguar XK with possible diesel or hybrid powertrain

Ralph Hanson September 12th, 2008 Ralph Hanson By Ralph Hanson Author September 12th, 2008
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December 31st, 1969 Jaguar engineers are currently testing a new version of the XK in Germany that has some very peculiar traits, leading to suggestions that the car could be a prototype for a new diesel model or possibly even a hybrid. A number of XK prototypes have been spotted in recent months but most of these were for the 2009 facelift model expected to be revealed for the first time at next month’s Paris Motor Show. The car seen here is something very different. For starters, it has a different bumper to the one seen on the recent facelift prototypes. This one appears to have additional air intakes and no fog lights. The car also sports a vented XK-R bonnet but at the back there is only a pair of standard exhaust pipes. Onlookers also claimed that it ran much quieter than any other Jaguar XK. There are two schools of thought as to what is lying beneath the car’s long hood. The mostly likely option is that Jaguar engineers are testing a new diesel powertrain that is expected to be offered in the XK next year. Several reports have speculated that it will feature a newly-developed 3.0L turbodiesel V6 based on the current 2.7L unit. The other option is that this particular XK is a development test-mule for a new hybrid powertrain planned for the next-generation XJ saloon due in 2010. Jaguar has formed a partnership with Land Rover as well as the British government to speed up the development of emissions reducing technologies, and one of the main avenues for research is a new hybrid powertrain.Mystery Jaguar XK diesel or hybrid spotted testing September 08
Spy shots: Jaguar XK with possible diesel or hybrid powertrain

Spy shots: Jaguar XK with possible diesel or hybrid powertrain

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Jaguar engineers are currently testing a new version of the XK in Germany that has some very peculiar traits, leading to suggestions that the car could be a prototype for a new diesel model or possibly even a hybrid. A number of XK prototypes have been spotted in recent months but most of these were for the 2009 facelift model expected to be revealed for the first time at next month’s Paris Motor Show.

The car seen here is something very different. For starters, it has a different bumper to the one seen on the recent facelift prototypes. This one appears to have additional air intakes and no fog lights. The car also sports a vented XK-R bonnet but at the back there is only a pair of standard exhaust pipes. Onlookers also claimed that it ran much quieter than any other Jaguar XK.

There are two schools of thought as to what is lying beneath the car’s long hood. The mostly likely option is that Jaguar engineers are testing a new diesel powertrain that is expected to be offered in the XK next year. Several reports have speculated that it will feature a newly-developed 3.0L turbodiesel V6 based on the current 2.7L unit.

The other option is that this particular XK is a development test-mule for a new hybrid powertrain planned for the next-generation XJ saloon due in 2010. Jaguar has formed a partnership with Land Rover as well as the British government to speed up the development of emissions reducing technologies, and one of the main avenues for research is a new hybrid powertrain.
Mystery Jaguar XK diesel or hybrid spotted testing September 08
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Tags: Spy Shots

Posted in: Jaguar, Spy Shots, Hybrid


Comments (10 total)

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  1. By NoNameDenton #1, Posted: 9/12/2008

    A diesel would be great, high milage, long lasting, lots of low end torque.......why use a hybrid in this car?

  2. By Andrew #2, Posted: 9/12/2008

    "The other option is that this particular XK is a development test-mule for a new hybrid powertrain planned for the next-generation XK saloon due in 2010."

    I didn't know an XK sedan existed.

  3. By NoNameDenton #3, Posted: 9/12/2008

    Actually Andrew the possiblity of a sedan version of the XK has been mentioned before

  4. By www.mywheelsonwalls.com #4, Posted: 9/12/2008

    I can tell you on good authority that there is no talk of an XK saloon but an XJ absolutely! There was at one point talk of a Jagaur badged Explorer and whats scary is that the idea came from inside Jaguar and not Ford. Further more those employees sitll work at Jaguar too!!!

  5. By NaBUru38 #5, Posted: 9/12/2008

    The most powerdul disel-engines sports car is the BMW 635d: 286PS, 580Nm, 0-100km/h: 6.3-6.6s (coupé/cabrio). I doubt it's a diesel, because Jaguar can't be that bold.

  6. By NoNameDenton #6, Posted: 9/12/2008

    mywheelsonwalls, I beg to differ, I read it on AutoBlog, Motor Trend and other reputable places, so I do not know where you can say it is not true.

  7. By www.mywheelsonwalls.com #7, Posted: 9/13/2008

    Denton- Try the horses mouth! Do you read my web site?

    I too have read stuff on bathroom walls but it does not mean its true.! You have to understand Jaguar and clearly you dont. When Jeremy Clarkson says the XK was engineered for no more than 35p there is some truth to that tongue in cheek statement.

    They really are broke and always have been the XF really is the car that will have to save Jaguar and every employee in the company knows that. Everybody is working hard to make sure that the XF achieves that goal.

    Multiple power plants, more platforms, more models are pipe dreams for now. You'll most likely see diesels and then maybe some new platforms followed by alternative power plants.

    I remember when they launched XJ40 to the industry at One Bird Cage Walk in london. They had to build a platform to get the car into the building. Yes through the revolving door you can see from behind Horse Guards Parade in London. To save money they had a local builder from the midlands do it. He had been laying bricks all day so he stopped off at the pub on the way down to London. He showed up several hours late and drunk so the car was slipped into the building in the middle of the morning instead of the middle of the night! There were photogphers all over the shop and I dont think I've seen Jim Randle that mad since.

    The only good thing that happened that night was the security guard let on that what was left of Stevensons rocket was sitting in the basement. So there I was with half of Browns Lanes engineering department listening to them talk about steam engines.

    Some thing like this would never happen with the Germans or the Japanese! It would be planned out with precision of a military plan to over take major governments.

    And you think their planning an invasion of Hybrids! It'll be a diesel first and lots of them. Oh and yes when they arrive in the U.S. I will have one in the drive way.

    I do and always will have a passion for Jaguars!

  8. By Paul Read #8, Posted: 9/13/2008

    A diesel XK would be the ultimate Grand Tourer.The D2.7L XJ already gets 1000 miles on a tankfull; its lighter brother will be able to cross continents in a single bound (well, maybe Europe, but you know what I mean). With an alledged 3 liter oilburner in the works, performance should be way above adequate.

    So why build a hybrid? Because of the Prius effect. Doesn't matter that hybrids are enviromentally costly to make and at best only on a par with modern diesels consumption- and emissionwise, the public perception is that they are the greenest thing since Granny Smiths. This extends to govt. policy, where urban road pricing schemes treat them very favorably (i.e. London Congestion Charge). Admittedly, their urban fuel consumption/emission is much better than even the cleanest diesel.

    Since no-one has bothered to build any diesel refining capacity since Methuselah was a lad and many countries continue to tax it heavily, either in the showroom or at the pump, break-even for diesels over petrol models is at a much, much higher mileage. Supply and demand looks like skewing this ratio even further.

    JLR are working on all kinds of propulsion technologies, thus keeping their eggs firmly out of one basket (remember they were late adopters of diesel and that hurt sales). I don't expect even Tata will have opened up a huge can of cash, but their engineering on a shoestring heritage will stand them in good stead.

  9. By NoNameDenton #9, Posted: 9/13/2008

    mywheelsonwhogivesacare, I do not read your website and I never will.

  10. By Paul #10, Posted: 9/14/2008

    NoNameDenton, The depth of your intelligence is fascinating, have you tried typing your posts standing up? That way your brains would get more oxygen!

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