SV8 And XJR Variants In The Works For 2011 Jaguar XJ Range

ACCORDING TO Autoweek, the hi-po 380kW 5.0 litre V8 fitted to the XFR and XKR will soon see service in the engine bay of the upcoming 2011 XJ saloon - however, it won't be powering a range-topping XJR version.

No, instead the supercharged bent-eight will be fitted to the next-gen XJ SV8, while a smaller 186kW 3.5 litre V8 will propel the lower-spec models in the XJ range.

That means the XJR variant should be something truly special and, if our logic serves us correctly, be motivated by the most powerful road-going Jaguar engine created.

Just what that engine is remains to be seen however. Whether the XJR's mill will be a development of the current Gen III AJ V8 used by the XF and XK or an entirely new design is a mystery, but the general consensus is that, as is, the XFR's engine is capable of even more power with the addition of more boost.

Diesel engines are also likely for the European market, and Jaguar's chief engineer Kevin Stride has also mentioned that the marque is working on a hybrid powertrain.

Whether or not a petrol-electric system will be fitted to the new XJ remains to be seen; however, given the car is a ground-up redesign, integrating such technology should be relatively easy.

[Autoweek]