Jaguar adding second supercharger to XF lineup
click above image to view high-resolution gallery of the Jaguar C-XF Concept
Jaguar is all about tradition, which is one reason why its now the black sheep of Ford's Premier Automotive Group, having never even come close to turning a profit while under Blue Oval ownership. Clearly it's time for a change, as sticking with tried and true traditions has gotten the marque nowhere lately. Just as the XF will be shedding any resemblance to the Jaguar's we've come to know, so to will its engine lineup deviate from the one-supercharger rule. In the past, only the high-performance 'R' version of the S-Type, which will become the XF, had a supercharged engine – a 4.2-liter V8 producing 420 hp. That engine will again be used in the XF, but not in the XF-R. Rather, that blown V8 will merely be the top engine in the standard lineup. Later on, around 2010, Autocar expects a new 'R' version with a supercharged 5.0-liter V8 that sports direct injection and will, in our estimation, produce at least 500 horsepower. Jaguar is serious about making the XF competitive, and the XF-R will require at least a half a grand of horsepower to compete with the BMW M5 and the rest of the German super sedans.
Gallery: Jaguar C-XF Concept
[Source: Autocar]
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
Michael Karesh 1:03PM (1/23/2007)
It's shocking to me how low Jaguar's sales have fallen--only 19,000 in the U.S. last year--and aging powertrains are part of the problem.
Making the supercharged 4.2 the uplevel engine in the regular car is just an admission that the old V8 needs a supercharger to compete with others' regular V8s. What the car really needs is a new V8. Perhaps this is also coming in the form of a naturally aspirated new 5.0.
My review of the current S-Type R, which is a flawed but endearing car (also reasonably priced as a used car):
http://www.epinions.com/content_77671075460
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Jeff Banks 4:02PM (1/23/2007)
Pretty stunning car... if the XK is any indication, I think that Jaguar is headed in the right direction.
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British_Rover 7:23PM (1/23/2007)
The AJV8 is a fairly competitive engine when you think how small it is.
A 4.2 liter that makes between 300 and 320 hp depending on applicationi is fine. That is 72 or so hp per liter
The new 5.5 Liter V8 from Benz makes 382 hp.
That is around 69 hp per liter.
The 4.8 liter V8 from BMW makes 360 hp.
That is 75 hp per liter.
The AJV8 just needs to be exspanded a little bit. I think most versions of that engine have variable valve timing for both the intake and exhaust now.
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