Jaguar Land Rover rolls out more Ingenium tech

JLR's Ingenium powertrain technology is set for some very interesting updates including a brand-new petrol engine and a revolutionary new gearbox design.

Joining the diesel engine already in production, the new Ingenium petrol four-cylinder engine is a key component to JLR's low-emissions strategy. It is being exclusively manufactured in the company's new £1 billion engine manufacturing centre at Wolverhampton in the UK.

Replacing the Ford-sourced EcoBoost engines that have powered the petrol Jaguar XE since its launch last year, the new engines will be the most advanced ever manufactured by JLR, and will deliver 25 per cent more power and up to 15 per cent better fuel economy.

Leading-edge technologies such as an electro-hydraulic valvetrain, integrated exhaust manifold and a twin scroll turbocharger with ceramic ball bearing technology feature prominently in the technical description.

Nick Rogers, Group Engineering Director at JLR, said: "Ingenium has been developed as a modular family of powerful, efficient and refined all-aluminium petrol and diesel engines. All Ingenium engines deliver benchmark low levels of friction, contributing to inherently good efficiency and refinement."

JLR's new engine isn't the only innovation, however, as the British manufacturer has also created a new type of automatic transmission. The transmission project, codenamed 'TRANSCEND', is a £30 million development partially funded by the British government.

The eight-speed TRANSCEND transmission uses a revolutionary ultra-wide spread of ratios in a dual-clutch system embracing hybrid-drive technologies. JLR says this will enable new levels of off-roading ability and performance and increase fuel economy by up to 10 per cent.

According to JLR, TRANSCEND transmissions will be manufactured using advanced techniques to create an eight-speed transmission that will be 20kg lighter than conventional eight speed autos. JLR says the gearbox could be used in both longitudinal rear-wheel drive and all-wheel drive vehicles.

"TRANSCEND demonstrates Jaguar Land Rover's commitment to original research that improves the driving experience and the environmental performance of our vehicles. It will make manoeuvring and off-road use easier than ever before for drivers whilst also improving on-road vehicle dynamics and CO2 emissions." said Rogers.

Despite these announcements, there's no official word yet from the manufacturer concerning the rumoured inline six-cylinder engine based on the Ingenium architecture.