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New Delhi: A few years back, on a random day, when no one was least expecting, Jaguar hit that reset button, and since then, the brand claims that ICE is on the way out. Last month, it fulfilled this promise by cancelling the ICE completely, following the final F-Pace rolling out of the assembly line from their Solihull plant in UK.
The other ICE models had already been discontinued, and the SUV’s retirement marked the end of the luxury brand’s ICE heritage after 90 years of production.
Until the Type 00 enters production later this year, Jaguar has no cars in its lineup. The media reports have now picked up the chatter that the pledge to be totally EVs might have been too early for the brand. Media reports claim that the new car might still come with a combustion engine.
As told by The Times, there are concerns that within Jaguar, there are growing concerns over Type 00’s range. While the battery pack is expected to be on the larger size, due to the vehicle’s stately footprint, engineers are reported to be exploring adding an ICE to come as a generator. They would turn the polarising four-door GT more towards an electric range-extending vehicle (EREV).
Jaguar were quoted to have an EV range of 770 km on the WLTP cycle for the Type 00 concept. Even though these numbers are healthy. Still, Jaguar fears that it could deter buyers due to range anxiety. Adding the range-extending ICE would make the production-ready Type 00’s range surge to 1,100 km, making it a proper GT.
The Times said people familiar with the subject have said that the engineers have been given “secret initiative” to extend the car’s range.
Like EREVs are, the ICE won’t be powering the wheels, but will act more as generators to recharge the battery while on the move. BMW is often regarded as a pioneer of the technology, having brought the i3 REx with a motorcycle engine coming as a generator, almost a decade ago.
It has been reported that the range-extending version won’t be coming at launch later this year. The alternative powertrain is in early stages, suggesting that the decision to explore EREVs came when the model was already well into its development. However, multiple news houses, including Autocar, have reported that the Jaguar senior officials have denied The Times report.
For now, it is all confusing, and it is clear that the engine, if it were coming, it would of tiniest size. JLR is currently bringing back the Freelander as a different brand of China-made models, with range-extenders among other powertrains. The vehicles are being developed in partnership with Chery, which will engineer and make them locally. We don’t know if Jaguar will take cues from them or not.
The Type 00 will come on a dedicated “tech platform” called the Jaguar Electrical Architecture. However, the long hood requires an ICE, but Jaguar have been adamant. Jaguar have categorically denied the rumours and continues to move towards EV powertrain. Still, one would wish for the ICE days to come back.
