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The introduction of an all-new, state-of-the-art V6 Diesel engine marks yet
another milestone in the evolution of Jaguar’s S-TYPE premium executive saloon.
The arrival of the twin-turbo AJD-V6 engine – which will be available in
Europe from June 2004 – means that, for the first time, S-TYPE buyers will be
able to choose diesel power as an alternative to the existing four petrol engine
options.
“The Jaguar S-TYPE is already recognised as an excellent car and one of the
leaders in the premium saloon segment. The introduction of an all-new,
state-of-the-art Diesel engine, together with significant styling and
specification enhancements, makes it an even more attractive proposition.”
Mike Wright, Managing Director, Jaguar Cars
The addition of an advanced new 2.7 litre turbodiesel is not the only
improvement in the new S-TYPE. Striking styling changes including a new rear-end
design and a new aluminium bonnet, dynamic improvements, enhanced interior
features and a wider choice of equipment, are among the highlights of a package
of revisions announced at the beginning of the year.
Embracing diesel in the new S-TYPE is a natural progression for Jaguar, with
diesel engines now able to deliver the refined performance that customers of the
marque demand. The all-new AJD-V6 is a superb example of a state-of-the-art
diesel engine and complements perfectly the advanced technical attributes and
sporting character of the S-TYPE.
The engine’s specifications make for impressive reading. The four-cam,
24-valve, twin-turbo V6 features the second generation common-rail direct
injection and super-fast piezo-electric injector operation. Maximum power from
the 2.7 litre engine is 153kW DIN, putting the S-TYPE ahead of all but one of
its directly comparable rivals. Torque peaks at a heady 435Nm DIN, which is
actually higher than that of the S-TYPE’s naturally aspirated 4.2 litre V8
petrol engine, yet the Diesel has 47 per cent better fuel consumption. More
crucially still, 80 per cent of this torque is available from just 1500rev/min,
all the way through to 4000rev/min.
This combination of substantial power and torque gives the new S-TYPE Diesel
huge mid-range flexibility and refinement. True to Jaguar tradition, it is
relaxed when cruising, yet pleasingly rapid cross-country - characteristics
which buyers can accentuate by their choice of transmission: a standard
six-speed manual or optional six-speed automatic.
“Once again, the Jaguar Product Development team at Whitley has delivered an
engine – and a car – that exceeds expectations. Our new V6 Diesel is a perfect
complement to the existing S-TYPE petrol engines, with all the power,
performance and refinement that Jaguar customers demand.” Joe Greenwell,
Chairman and CEO, Jaguar Cars
The new S-TYPE Diesel also addresses environmental challenges, its CO2
emissions of 189g/km with manual transmission bringing accompanying tax benefits
in Europe.
Why diesel? The diesel market in Europe has experienced consistent – and
significant – growth over the past decade and, in recent years, demand has
increased dramatically in the premium market. Diesel now accounts for one in
three sales across the premium segment in Europe and by the end of next year,
this is expected to have risen to 40 per cent.
“Introducing the new V6 Diesel does much more than simply broaden the S-TYPE
range – it makes Jaguar accessible to a significant number of premium saloon
buyers who will only consider a diesel car. Our message to those people is
simple: Jaguar now has the car that you want.” Mike Wright, Managing
Director, Jaguar Cars
Jaguar added a Diesel model to the X-TYPE range last autumn and, as
anticipated, this has proved very popular. In the final quarter of 2003, diesels
accounted for one-third of global X-TYPE sales. In Europe, this proportion
increased to as much as 80 per cent in some key markets, evidence of
considerable pent-up demand for diesel among Jaguar customers. There is every
indication that a similar latent demand exists in the S-TYPE marketplace, and
with its all-new, high-technology, twin-turbo V6, the S-TYPE Diesel is perfectly
poised to capitalise on this.
At this stage there are no plans to introduce the S-TYPE Diesel into the
Australian market
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