Parent company Jaguar Land Rover is developing battery-assisted hybrid versions for both Jaguar and Land Rover, according to CAR.
Hybrid Jaguars, starting with the XJ and XF, are likely to be on the market by 2013-2014, using a similar eight-speed ZF hybrid transmission to petrol-electric BMWs.
JLR’s Midlands engineering bases in Whitley and Gaydon now employ 100 engineers in the expanding hybrid powertrain business unit launched 18 months ago. They’re developing both petrol- and diesel-electric powertrains for use across both model ranges.
The first working prototypes will reportedly feature JLR’s 3.0-litre V6 turbodiesel mated to a 35kW electric motor.
“The transmission can be fitted to any of our cars with a north-south [longitudinal] layout,” says JLR’s chief hybrid engineer Peter Richings. That rules out the transverse Land Rover Freelander and Jag X-type, but all other models should be available.
Future Jaguar hybrids will follow the tech shown in the Range_e prototype unveiled this week: a 350v electric system powered by a lithium ion battery pack and controlled by JLR’s control unit with regenerative braking. The system will be upgraded to a plug-in hybrid system from around 2015.
