Jaguar set to debut four-cylinder diesel in entry level XF

 Jaguar has pulled the wraps off a new four-cylinder diesel engine set to make its debut in a new entry level variant of the facelifted XF due out later this year.

The 2.2 litre oiler develops a claimed 141kW and 450Nm while returning combined-cycle 5.4 L/100km with CO2 emissions of just 149 g/km. That's noticeably down on the current base diesel XF 3.0D's 6.8L/100km and 179g/km.

With this comes a drop in performance, with a stated 0-100km/h acceleration time of 8.5 seconds, (against 7.1 for the 3.0D) and a top speed of 225km/h (240 for the 3.0D). UK magazine What Car described it as 'brisk if not scintillating'

Such figures are not likely to cruel sales for a car that will be priced to give competing Germans a run for their money. An indicator: Audi's A6 2.0 TDI starts at $75,300; Benz's E220 CDI at $81,472 and BMW's 520d at $83,300. In the UK, announced prices start around £500 below the BMW, and the Jaguar trumps the 520d on standard equipment.

"Introducing this new diesel engine derivative for Australia provides a strong opportunity for Jaguar to look at the position of the Diesel XF product range against the German competitors and to identify where the opportunity for Jaguar is," Mr Goult said.

"It will certainly provide a competitive challenge to Mercedes and BMW."

The engine is a high-tech affair, running common rail injection, a water-cooled turbocharger and a new auto stop-start system. To maximise the efficiency of the latter, the company's engineers have seen fit to install it longitudinally.

The aim was to minimise the time it takes to restart. With a new crankshaft sensor and fuel rail pressure holding system, it's designed to remain nonplussed by even the briefest of halts. The company estimates the system boosts fuel efficiency by 5-7 per cent.

In conjunction with the new engine, Jaguar will also introduce its new ZF's eight-speed auto transmission, set up for maximum fuel efficiency with the top two ratios set to overdrive.

Jaguar has declared NVH a priority, too, with plenty of work going into sound insulation around the engine bay and firewall and active damping in the engine mounts contributing to a 3dB cut in cabin noise. What Car notes its success in this respect, describing it as 'quiet at whatever speed you're travelling' with 'a superb blend of body control and steering to give and unbeatable balance of agility and comfort'.

The exterior updates to the XF remain a mystery. The mule give to selected UK media remained heavily disguised during road testing. What Car suggests 'take a look at the C-XF concept car that previewed the original XF and throw in a dose of XJ and you're about there'.

The new XF goes on sale in Britain in September; its local release schedule is yet to be announced. The covers come off it for its global launch at the New York Auto Show on April 22.

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