Jaguar F-Pace EV Already In The Works?

Autocar says a “highly placed industry source” is the basis for a report that the upcoming Jaguar F-Pace crossover  is being considered for a battery electric powertrain with a target range of 300 miles. If so, the new Jag would compete head to head with the forthcoming Tesla Model X.

We do know that crossover vehicles (part SUV/part sedan) represent one of the hottest categories in the new car market and that Jaguar is keen to bring a crossover vehicle of its own to market as soon as possible. The F-Pace will be that car and reportedly will feature a number of powertrain options, from the company’s turbo 4 cylinder to its supercharged V-6. There is also a possibility of a plug in hybrid being part of the mix.

But Jaguar and all other manufacturers are working feverishly to meet the requirements set down by California that 15.4% of all cars sold within its borders be zero emissions models by 2025. 8 other states have signed on to the California model as well. Emissions regulations in Europe are also getting a lot tighter in coming years.

Jaguar has recently trademarked the name EV-Type in the US and Europe. Its corporate sibling Land Rover is known to be experimenting with electric powertrains in all of its models. It would make sense for the parent company to spread the development costs of a battery electric vehicle across both divisions.

The electric F-Pace, or EV-Pace, could be on sale as early as 2018.

Diesel Hybrid Range Rover US-Bound?

After six months of fretting and saying distasteful things about the decision-making acumen of Rover executives to Rover executives, it seems like American Range Rover fans needn’t have worried. Land Rover was saving something for us. Something even better than the diesel Range Rover. A diesel HYBRID Range Rover!

We’ve been lamenting the lack of diesel Range Rovers here in the US since- well, since we knew they existed, frankly! The high-MPG, high-torque, high-society diesel Rovers are hot-sellers in Europe, and their 37 MPG rating from the EU seemed like it would help Land Rover meet its ever-tightening CAFE requirements here in the US.

The diesel hybrid system in the concept Range Rover shown, above, uses a 3.0-liter V6 diesel backed up by a new ZF eight-speed transmission and an integrated electric motor. The 1.7-kWh battery pack sits below the floorpan, so interior room space isn’t overly compromised. At the time of its release, Range Rover quoted a combined 333 horsepower, a six second run from 0-60 mph, and over 45 MPG (again, per EU figures).

Land Rover is expected to launch US-bound production versions of the diesel-hybrid Range Rover at the Frankfurt Auto Show this September. No pure EVs are expected from Land Rover, as yet.

Source: Green Car Reports.

Geneva 2013: Electric Land Rover Defender 4×4 Concept

Land Rover’s UK line-up has always been sexier than the leather-stuffed luxo-barges the company sends Stateside, from bare-bones, go-anywhere Defender off-roaders to 40 mpg diesel Range Rovers. The big electric Land Rover Defender concept that’s bowing at this week’s Geneva show, however, might have a better chance to cross the pond than you might think.

If California maintains its ZEV mandate, then Land Rover will pretty much have to bring over an electric something is what I’m getting at.

As for this electric Defender concept, it remains true to its 4-wheel drive roots with a modified version of the company’s Terrain Response System, which the company has been testing under extreme conditions. How extreme? Land Rover says that the electric Land Rover has successfully pulled a 12-ton “road train” up a 13% grade hill in trials, and can wade to a depth of nearly 3′ without putting the electric drive systems in jeopardy – and can do so for nearly 8 (eight!) hours on a single charge!

Antony Harper, Head of Research at Land Rover, said: “This project is acting as a rolling laboratory for Land Rover to assess electric vehicles, even in the most arduous all-terrain conditions. It gives us a chance to evolve and test some of the technologies that may one day be introduced into future Land Rover models.”

Source: Gas2.0

Land Rover says plug-in hybrid Range Rover on the way

Think of it as an SUV for the environmentally conscious gentry.

Land Rover might make a plug-in hybrid-electric vehicle (PHEV) version of its Range Rover as early as 2015, UK's Auto Express reports, citing Jaguar Land Rover Hybrid Technology Chief Engineer Peter Richings.

Land Rover, whose Jaguar affiliate has already produced a PHEV prototype that gets an estimated 73.5 miles per gallon equivalent, is eying the Range Rover as a possible production PHEV because the model's buyers would likely be able to afford the cost of the new technology. Richings said the model would debut sometime between 2015 and 2020.

Land Rover confirmed at its 2013 model unveiling in September that it would get a hybrid variant that would pair a 3.0-liter diesel V6 with an electric motor. That model, which won't be available in the U.S., will have 333 horsepower and 45 miles per gallon (on the more lenient European driving cycle). Land Rover said in April that it may also get an extended-range plug-in variant as early as 2014. Pictured above is the diesel-powered hybrid Range_e concept from the 2011 Geneva Motor Show.




Source: Autoblog Green

How Cars Can Get Better Gas Mileage, Invisibly: Lower Weight

There's a lot of focus--perhaps too much--on carmakers using smaller engines, hybrids, and plug-in cars to meet increasingly higher gas-mileage standards from now through 2025.

But another, equally important method is reducing the amount of car that has to be moved around in the first place.

That doesn't mean making cars smaller--absent a significant and sustained rise in the price of gas, the mix of cars and trucks sold changes very slowly, if at all--but making them lighter.

It's the invisible way to boost gas mileage. And two recent introductions typify the trend.

First, the all-new 2013 Range Rover--just unveiled last night--that will go on sale in December.

It's only the fourth all-new Range Rover since the iconic luxury all-wheel drive brand launched in 1970.

The new model, while stuffed with more electronics and luxury features than ever, is up to 925 pounds lighter than the outgoing model.

It uses an all-aluminum unibody structure that weighs fully 40 percent less as a "body in white" than did the steel shell of the last model. Front and rear subframes and suspension carriers are aluminum too, supporting air suspension for all four wheels.

Range Rover says the U.S. model, with a 5.0-liter gasoline V-8 engine, weighs 700 pounds less than a similar outgoing model. In Europe, there are two V-6 diesel options too. (Despite a prototype for a model intended to launch in 1999, no V-12 Range Rover is likely to be built now or in the future.)

2013 Cadillac ATS

The second case study is the 2013 Cadillac ATS, which GM's luxury brand is putting directly up against that icon of compact sports sedans, the BMW 3-Series.

Cadillac is very proud of the fact that the ATS is 58 to 146 pounds lighter than a comparable four-cylinder BMW 328i--and likely lighter than it would have been if designed even four years earlier.

Unlike the Range Rover, the ATS uses a steel body structure. But it uses a variety of high-strength steels and carefully engineered structure to eliminate unnecessary mass while keeping the desired performance characteristics.

2013 Cadillac ATS

As Ward's Auto notes, GM engineers learned a great deal about minimizing weight on the ATS program that they will carry over to future vehicle programs.

And there's more to come on the weight-saving front. The 2014 BMW i3, its first all-electric car, uses a body structure of Carbon Fiber-Reinforced Plastic (CFRP) that sits on an aluminum platform that carries the battery, electric motor, and power electronics.

Expect to see more aluminum, a slow emergence of carbon fiber for car bodies, and far, far more high-strength steel and complex structural engineering in cars to come.

It takes less energy to move a lighter object the same distance. That's basic physics.

There's also aerodynamics, another (mostly) invisible way to reduce the energy lost to wind resistance at speeds of 40 mph or above.

But we'll leave that one for another day.

Source: Green Car Reports

LAND ROVER EXHIBITS IT'S GREENEST MODELS EVER AT THE 2011 GENEVA MOTOR SHOWLAND ROVER EXHIBITS IT'S GREENEST MODELS EVER AT THE 2011 GENEVA MOTOR SHOW

• Electric 'Range_e': Land Rover's electric plug in development vehicle showcasing diesel hybrid plug-in technology capable of 89 g/km CO2.

• The new Range Rover Evoque: Coupe and 5-Door with customer personalisation options to be shown for the first time.

• The new Range Rover Autobiography Ultimate Edition: Land Rover's new limited edition Range Rover - the most luxurious ever.

• The 2011 Discovery 4 'Landmark' Limited Editions with Black and White theme: new variants bringing a fresh, more contemporary sense of design to the latest Discovery 4 line-up.

Gaydon, Warwickshire, 16 February 2011 - Land Rover's stand at the 2011 Geneva Motor Show will establish this year as one of the most exciting in the brand's history. A hybrid technology showcase, the new Range Rover Evoque in both coupe and 5-door derivatives, and exciting Discovery 4 and Range Rover Limited Editions complete the line-up

Making its motor show debut is the 'Range_e': Land Rover's diesel hybrid plug-in prototype. The technology-packed 'Range_e' is one of several working prototypes currently being developed at Land Rover's design and engineering centre in the UK.

'Range_e' is based on a Range Rover Sport and features a 3.0-litre TDV6 diesel with an eight-speed ZF automatic transmission. Matched with a plug-in parallel diesel hybrid system it offers a premium SUV that can run as a pure electric vehicle. The 'Range_e' is the first capable 4WD model from Land Rover to achieve 89g of CO2. It has an EV range of 20 miles, a top speed of around 120mph and a range of 690 miles.

Taking centre stage will be the new Range Rover Evoque with both coupe and 5-door derivatives. On press day (1 March 2011), Land Rover will be announcing full European pricing (excluding UK) and will be showing a range of exciting options available, giving Range Rover Evoque customers the opportunity to create a vehicle that is truly tailored to them.

The choices range from designer exterior packs, contrasting colours on the roof and spoiler, immaculately-trimmed designer interiors, and a range of desirable technologies to maximise comfort and enjoyment on board. Rather than using a traditional trim hierarchy, the Range Rover Evoque gives customers the choice of three design themes: the cool and contemporary 'Pure', the luxurious 'Prestige', and the bold and sporting 'Dynamic'.

Customers can further tailor these themes with different designer interiors, option packs, standalone options and accessory items, providing even more freedom to specify the car of their choice.

Gerry McGovern, Land Rover design director said: "Customers like to make their own unique statement with a vehicle and we have provided individuals with lots of opportunity to personalise their new Range Rover Evoque, whilst maintaining the essence of the design."

Owners can also choose from a very broad selection of official Range Rover accessories. The accessory range includes exterior and interior styling, together with a comprehensive choice of practical loading and towing items.

Also debuting at the Show are two Limited Editions. The Range Rover Autobiography Ultimate Edition is the most luxurious Range Rover ever. With unrivalled levels of luxury for both driver and passenger, the Range Rover Ultimate Edition offers an assortment of super-premium features including hand crafted soft feel leathers; a yacht inspired teak floor and rear cabin iPads* as standard.

The 2011 Discovery 4 'Landmark' Limited Editions with Black and White themes are new variants bringing a fresh, more contemporary sense of design to the latest Discovery 4 line-up. Both models blend high-end interiors with bold, contemporary colour schemes. In keeping with the core appeal of the Discovery 4, both of these Limited Editions offer on-road refinement to match most executive saloons, the versatility of a large people carrier and unrivalled off-road capability. The Discovery 4 'Landmark' is now on-sale in the UK priced from £46,945 on the road.