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In motor racing, the rules are clear that you can't drive without the right kit. So you wouldn't turn up expecting to drive in denim shorts and a baseball cap. In ‘executive saloons', the rules say you need a four-cylinder diesel. So you wouldn't turn up without one. Well strangely, the Jaguar XF does.
For example, for some years 80 percent - yes four out of five - of the BMW 5-series sold in the UK have been the 520d. That applies to the saloon as well as the estate. The numbers are similar right across Europe. And with the new version doing 185bhp and a staggeringly low CO2 in the manual version of 137g/km, that's set to continue.
So Jaguar, making the XF in V6 and V8 only, looks like it's missing the point. And shutting itself off from a huge potential market.
It's working on it. This autumn, the 2.2-litre twin-turbo engine from the Freelander will go into the XF. It has needed a major re-engineering job, going from transverse (Freelander) to lengthwise (XF) and being re-tuned for Jag-like performance and refinement. Mated to an autobox with a sophisticated stop-start system, it'll get under 150g/km.
We might all want an XFR or the V6 diesel S, but it's the four-banger that will be the one people buy. Suddenly, the XF will be in the sales race.
Black Magic: XF to get four-pot diesel
Jaguar is working on a four-pot diesel for its XF saloon. Gallon of the Black Stuff please...
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AshHorne commented on this article
at 11:14 am on 06 April 2010
I suspect the problem is weight. The first time I saw an XF in the metal I thought "wow, that's quite a bit bigger than it looks in the pics". So Jag needs to make a 4 cylinder diesel with enough grunt to move the car at a decent enough pace, AND being economical enough to attract those wanting to save a few quid at the pumps. But I think you're right about sales. I drive an RX-7. Awesome car to drive, but costs me about £60 a month just in petrol. My next car will probably be a diesel Jag or BMW if i'm honest.
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StigsInnerLayer commented on this article
at 11:32 am on 06 April 2010
It's a nice car, a definite step-up for a man and his JAAAGG :)
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Twister commented on this article
at 12:19 pm on 06 April 2010
I hope the feel of it stays the same, I drove one the other day and it was great. And I bet the sales will jump up a bit too.
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Sam_C commented on this article
at 01:35 pm on 06 April 2010
Good move by tata.....erm i mean jaaaaaaag. XF is way better than a 5 series in my opinion and im just in love with the XFR, but this I4 from the freelander should be good marketing sense. Twin turbos should be enough to move the thing.
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Ryan2949 commented on this article
at 01:38 pm on 06 April 2010
AshHorne, how do you only spend 60 pounds a month, I spend over 30-35 (Canadian) a week on my 97 Civic Si, which is roughly 20 pounds a week and that's in a 4 banger with 127 horsepower, haha.
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