Plans to add a diesel engine to the current Jaguar XK are still being championed by some parts of the company, according to senior sources closely associated with the project.
Around 20 prototype diesel XKs have been built and tested, but the project was thought to have been canned because of reservations about the potential success of the model.
Arguments made against an XK oil-burner include the fact that it could cannibalise sales of the petrol XK in Europe, and that diesel power may sit oddly with Jaguar’s sportiest model, despite the considerable success of the diesel BMW 6-series.
The project’s supporters argue that while a diesel XK would take sales from the petrol version, XK sales are significantly down and they would benefit from a new variant — especially one that significantly increases the cost-effectiveness of the car. The recent acclaimed update of Jaguar’s twin-turbo 3.0 V6 diesel, which now has 271bhp, would make an oil-burning coupé still more credible.
It remains likely that the next generation of XK, due in 2013, will offer a diesel version from launch. In that car, which will be lighter than the current version, the engine could achieve a sub-5.0sec 0-60mph time. It would also help boost production to 10,000 to 12,000 units per year.
Richard Bremner
Twitter - follow autocar.co.ukSee all the latest Jaguar XK reviews, news and video
Join the debate
Add your comment
Re: Jaguar XK diesel 'still possible'
I saw several times in Le Mans the Diesel winning. I don’t deny their efficiency.
But which sadness to lose the music of the engines. This is an integral part of the motorsport.
A petrol is less expensive to produce. The gap gets even bigger with the Euro 6 standard. The petrol is even slightly cheaper in refinery.
I drove several recent Diesel (BMW for instance). I don’t deny the qualities and the enormous progress of these engines. They are often superior than the petrol in terms of compromise between performances and consumption. Their compromise is even often better than the hybrids one (it is necessary to say it).
A question remains; a minor portion of the emitted particles persists in spite of the particles filter.
Living in an ultra Diesel country (my poor English betraying me), my comments were a little bit provocating. I’m not naïve. I know enough automotive.
The medium and premium petrol cars are disappearing almost in term of volumes in Europe.
I find (apparently, I have to be the last one of this specimen), that a good petrol engine will always have an upper enjoyment (I don't speak about the performances, but about the way of getting them) than a Diesel one: the range of use, the refinement and the sound. It’s true, I’ve kept my child opinion.
On prestigious coupés like the Jaguar XK, it's a pity to arrive there. And we shall see on the roads practically only Diesel XK in a few years. The Diesel became now in Europe an obligation to be able to sell medium and premium cars, and even prestigious ones..
What I find it's a pity and which amplifies the phenomenon, it’s that here we are practically forced to buy a Diesel without objective reasons:
- artificially strong resale values compared to the petrol ones,
- a price of the Diesel artificially lower than the petrol at the pump,
- great incitements of the salesmen to buy Diesel (we are supposed to be crazy to want petrol cars),
- petrol cars almost unavailable to test.
I understand naturally people who buy Diesel. But, with these incitements, we arrive nowadays at a car market with about 75% of Diesel. I think that it’s necessary to vary fuels. I'm for the variety. Many persons buy Diesel without making the slightest profitability calculation.
Moreover, the ecological bonuses facilitated the sale of numerous Diesel without particles filters.
Long live the variety! And think at the pleasures of the petrol before buying your Diesel!
(With my annual mileage, I'll maybe buy a BMW...Diesel).
Re: Jaguar XK diesel 'still possible'
All these ban diesel comments, where are you from?
Jag XKD, great!!!
In Europe diesel in all vehicle segments is a big volume seller, just look at sales of Honda Accord and HRV before and after diesel introduction.
In the US, how long do you thinks it’s going to be before they catch on to Diesel? European manufactures are already offering it, and I know it not long before others will be offering it as well, after all “GAS” prices are only going to go up.
And as for the dirty argument, modern diesels with particulate traps are a lot cleaner than they used to be, you must be thinking of the dirty, noisy & smelly Cummins “B” series fitted to busses, in which case I think the argument should be to change them over to CNG!Re: Jaguar XK diesel 'still possible'
@ DavidRS- I realise that English is not your first language but really, what are you- 10? 'The Golden Age is behind us'? Sorry but what are you going on about? Dramatic or what...
If you think that all diesel engines are 'agricultural' then you either haven't driven one in the last ten years or (no offence) you really are a child and you haven't driven anything yet and you get all your opinions second-hand from forums.
BMW's diesels are exceptionally good- I couldn't give a monkeys what Beachland thinks- that's just a fact. There are some duffers out there, just like there are some dodgy petrol engines too. To argue that Jaguar shouldn't use diesel as it somehow goes against some 'sacred' ideology is naive at best and plainly misses the point of what Jaguar is trying to do....make and sell really good cars, in case you were wondering. If they can make a really good diesel then they should if that's what the market demands.
Get over it. Really.