- The Jaguar Type 00 could get a range-boosting gas engine.
- This will increase the total driving range to 684 miles (1,100 km).
- Even if approved, the gas-engined variant will not be available at the launch of the 00 EV.
Ever since Jaguar surprisingly hit the reset button a few years ago, it has consistently claimed that internal combustion engines are going out of their way. Last month, it lived up to that promise by canceling Snow altogether when the last F-Pace rolled off the assembly line at the Solhull plant in the UK. Other gas-powered models had already bowed out, marking the luxury SUV’s retirement after 90 years of production, marking the end of Jaguar’s ice lineage.
Until the 00 goes into production later this year, Jaguar is effectively a automaker without a single model in production. In the meantime, however, we’re hearing that a commitment to going all-in on EVs may be premature, as a new report claims the striking car could still feature a combustion engine.
According to a recent report published Timesthere are growing concerns within Jaguar about the Type 00’s range. While the battery pack is expected to be on the large side, given the car’s sculpted footprint, engineers are reportedly looking to include a gas engine to serve as a generator. This will transform the polarizing four-door GT into an Electric Range Extender Vehicle (EREV).
Photo by: Jaguar
Jaguar quotes an electric range of 478 miles (770 km) on the WLTP cycle and 430 miles (692 km) according to the EPA for the Type 00 Concept. While these are healthy numbers, Jaguar is reportedly worried that they still aren’t ready to let buyers deal with range anxiety. Adding a range-extending gas engine would turn the production-ready Type 00 into a proper GT, capable of covering up to 684 miles (1,100 km).
Times It doesn’t specify the test cycle on which this figure is based, although our money would be on the WLTP as the UK uses a globally harmonized light vehicle test procedure. The London-based National newspaper has cited “sources familiar with the situation” who claim there is an ongoing “secret initiative” in which engineers have been tasked with extending the car’s range.
As with other aeros, a combustion engine will not power the wheels. Instead, it will act purely as a generator to recharge the battery on the go. BMW is considered the pioneer of this technology, having introduced the i3 Rex with a motorcycle engine as a generator more than a decade ago.
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Source: Insiders
The report adds that a more extreme version of Jaguar’s exotic GT is unlikely to debut alongside the standard EV later this year. Alternative drivetrains are said to be in the early stages of engineering, suggesting the decision to explore the Aerio came when the model was already deep in development.
When contacted by the British publication, parent company Jaguar Land Rover (JLR) declined to comment. The fact that he didn’t completely deny the report hints that there might be some truth to the rumor. however, Autocar cites a “senior source” who claims the original report is “rubbish” and that the Type 00 will be marketed strictly as an EV. As with everything with Jaguar lately, it’s all a bit confusing. If engineers were trying to fit a gas engine into a car that was supposed to be electric-only, it would almost certainly be a small unit.
JLR is reviving the Freelander as a separate brand of Chinese-made models, among other powertrains. The vehicles are being developed in partnership with Chery, which will engineer and manufacture locally. It’s too early to say whether Jaguar will borrow from these ranges-extending setups, but it can’t be ruled out.
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Source: Jaguar
Take Motor 1: Officially, the Type 00 will be built on a “dedicated technology platform” known as the Jaguar Electrical Architecture. However, we’ve long argued that the imposingly long hood seems to beg for a combustion engine underneath. Given the car’s generous footprint, a small snowpack might not be particularly difficult.
That said, overhauling the car to accommodate the gas engine wouldn’t be cheap and would put more strain on Jaguar’s already fragile state. If approved, the REEV would likely arrive later in the life cycle, sitting alongside battery-only EVs.
Expect Jaguar to charge a premium for the range extender, meaning buyers should be prepared to spend more than the roughly $120,000 expected for the standard electric version.
