Diesel focus to grow for Jaguar, but Ford stays as engine supplier

Diesel will play an increasing role in Jaguar's future says its vehicle program boss, Mick Mohan.

Down Under for the launch of the new XF, Mohan says that compression ignition powerplants, including "performance diesels", will play a more prominent role in the marque's future powertrain strategy. He cautions, however, some markets will still demand entry-level petrol engines and has confirmed that Ford will supply the marque's base engine technology in the "medium term."

The new XF range launches locally with identically priced ($105,500) entry-level models -- a 3.0-litre 175kW/293Nm petrol V6 and a 2.7-litre twin-turbo direct-injected diesel with 152kW/435Nm. Around 50 per cent of local presales for the XF are the 3.0-litre petrol V6, although Jaguar Australia sources say they expect a significant proportion to swap to the turbodiesel model before deliveries take place.

"Diesel's clearly grown massively [worldwide, but regarding] the 3.0-litre V6 there's still drive for that engine in China and Japan. The V6 is [still] an important part of the engine line-up there," Mohan told the Carsales Network.

"[But] I think we're [Jaguar] going to start seeing a switch towards diesels. [Especially] As the people understand more and more that diesels are actually very clean, are actually very efficient, and more importantly, they've got lots of accessible performance.

"There's great torque in the 2.7 twin turbo and I think once people catch on to that in markets like Australia, like they have done in the UK and Europe, then there'll be a switch," he opined.

Mohan says that the switch to diesel as the marque's bread and butter powerplant could open Jaguar to the opportunity to build an overtly sporting V6 petrol engine -- as Mercedes-Benz has done with its recent Sportmotor version of its 3.5-litre V6. But the Head of Programmes for the brand says Jaguar must consider its resource availability going forward.

"Potentially [there is a chance of building a sporting petrol V6], but we need to see.

"The key thing is Jaguar can't compete in all different parts of the [luxury] segment. We're going to need to pick the parts we think we can really excel at. I think performance diesels moving forwards are a key part [of the strategy]."

Land Rover currently uses a 3.6-litre twin turbo V8 diesel powerplant (pictured) in Range Rover models. This UK-built joint-Ford/PSA powerplant could easily find its way into an XF model -- perhaps with a capacity boost for good measure.

Mohan confirmed Jaguar will continue to rely on Ford-based engine architecture in the medium term -- especially in the petrol realm.

"Medium term, that [using Ford's architecture] will continue. You don't suddenly change engine strategies overnight and we don't need to. We've got some great powertrains and we will have a great relationship with [Ford] as our supplier in the future.

"What we'll do longer term we need to wait and see… What Tata's ambitions are [and] we need to see where we want to take both the Jaguar and Land Rover brands -- because engine choice is not just a Jaguar choice."

"As we see it at the moment with the engine line-up we've got we're more than happy." Mohan said.

Mohan would not confirm Jaguar intent to adopt Ford's new generation turbo direct-injection four and six-cylinder EcoBoost powertrains, but conceded direct-injection would make its way into the XF range (and other Jags) soon: ie, before any mid-life facelift.

This may be part of the reason the arrival of Ford's V6 (and PSA turbodiesel!) engine family Down Under in the Falcon -- a situation that could see a six-figure Jaguar and humble $35K XT fleet special using the same base powerplant -- does not phase Mohan.

"We need to see where the market goes. I think there are other things that we already have planned -- that we can't talk about today -- that will help us differentiate ourselves," he said.

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