Jaguar XK to get Diesel

With rising gas prices concerning virtually every consumer, Jaguar is reportedly working on offering a diesel motor in the XK coupe and cabriolet.

Although the automaker had said that the XK would be gas-powered only, the success of BMW's diesel-powered 635d coupe has Jaguar hoping the oil-burning sports cars will increase sales.

The new engine may be a twin-turbocharged version of the 2.7-liter VD turbodiesel V-6, currently used in the European-spec XF and XJ sedans. The revised diesel could produce over 250 hp (an increase of 46 hp) and return more than 30 mpg. The new variant would be offered only in Europe.

Jaguar engineers are currently hard at work on a diesel-powered XK.

Despite saying at launch that the coupe and cabriolet would only have petrol power, senior engineering sources have revealed that the economic situation has forced a rethink. So has the success of the BMW 635d.

Power for the diesel Jag will come from the uprated twin-turbo 3.0-litre version of the 2.7 V6 TD currently used in the company's saloons. It is likely to have over 250bhp on tap and should ensure that the XK is easily capable of over 30mpg in normal driving conditions.

Source: Autocar