 | Jaguar is working on a 57mpg hybrid saloon, to be revealed in prototype form later this year. It's based on the new luxury XJ saloon, also to be unveiled during 2009, and is known internally as the GreenLimo, according to the Sunday Times newspaper. The GreenLimo is an electric car, propelled by a battery pack that can be recharged on the move by a small petrol engine, making this an Electric-Range Extender Vehicle, or E-REV. It's claimed to produce emissions of under 120g/km, and potentially as little as 100g/km. The principles behind it are very similar to those used by the General Motors Chevrolet Volt, which goes on sale in 2010, followed by a Vauxhall version in 2011. The GreenLimo can also be plugged into the domestic electric mains supply, affording it a 30 mile zero emission range - sufficient for many work commutes.
The GreenLimo is powered by a 170bhp electric motor said to be capable of giving it the performance of a diesel-powered XJ, although its top speed will be restricted to 112mph. The car is being developed by Jaguar in partnership with Lotus Engineering, the Motor Industry Research Association and Caparo, which specialises in aluminium body construction, and is being part-funded by the government under its Technology Strategy Board.
Jaguar's sister company Land Rover is working on range-extender technology suitable for large models like the Discovery and Range Rover, while another Jaguar project is concentrating on flywheel technology, which harnesses the car's excess kinetic energy - the energy wasted when it is coasting and braking - to reduce fuel consumption and emissions. When used in conjunction with the XF saloon's latest V6 diesel the flywheel is expected to reduce consumption and Co2 emissions by 20 percent. |
