Finally, Jaguar will have a diesel option. After years of queries from both the motoring press and Continental distributors, the prestige marque will offer a 128 bhp two-litre common-rail diesel engine in its X-Type model range from September. Michael McAleer reports.
This is the second diesel announcement from the executive marque in as many weeks. Last week we learned that Jaguar, part of Ford's Premier Automotive Group, is to benefit next year from its parent's five-year alliance with Peugeot and Citroën (PSA) with the arrival of a new 24-valve turbocharged V6 engine offering the latest common-rail direct-injection fuel system. Developing 207 bhp, a 2.7-litre unit will be fitted in the S-Type and is out to challenge the likes of BMW's 530d and Mercedes E270 diesel.
The full-frontal assault on the diesel segment is hardly surprising, even from a marque with such a petrol-driven heritage. It reflects the enormous growth in diesel sales in recent years, not just in the prestige segments either. The percentage of diesel-powered cars in Europe has more than doubled since 1993, from 20 per cent to over 40 per cent in 2002. In some markets Jaguar were finding it was proudly topping the petrol-powered market, but losing out in volume sales to the diesel variants from competitors.
While it may seem like a hard sell to some of the more conservative elements of the Jaguar following, the line from Jaguar is that the move offers choice to customers and is hardly likely to drive current fans away just because diesel derivatives are offered.
The choice on offer may prove attractive if Jaguar Ireland follows the British lead and price the two-litre diesel X-Type the same as its petrol equivalent, at about €40,630.
Signs are they will, and when long-term benefits are taken into account - such as lower fuel costs and stronger residual values - it would seem enticing to even the ardent X-Type petrolhead.
Indeed Jaguar is so confident of the package, and of the continued growth in diesel sales that they are predicting that two-thirds of all X-Type sales across Europe will be diesel. Here the predictions are for 100 diesel sales in a full year, bringing X-Type annual figures up to 250.
So to the car itself. As if to instil the message that the diesel move does not mean any deviation from its strong sporting heritage, Jaguar brought us to Nurburgring in Germany, a place of high octane motoring heritage. As low-set sports cars of every variety roared past, we were also introduced to Jaguar's new test centre located adjacent to the track, and new home for its testers.
But it was not to take the X-Type onto the gruelling Nordschleife cicuit that we came. This car is very much regular road and our test route took in some testing hills and tight bends, where we got to put the car through its paces in some heavy and awkward traffic.
For traditional Jaguar owners, virgins to diesel driving, the low torque power will prove popular, if a little disconcerting as it dies off at higher revs, above 3,500 rpm. It means earlier gear changes, but the engine is competent, if not quite the potent performer. For that we will have to wait for the 2.7-litre in the S-Type.
A key factor for potential customers will, of course, be noise, and the new engine does give a clear diesel note, though it is well muffled by the sound proofing. In fact in the cabin the engine is largely unobtrusive. The diesel X-Type will only be available in two-wheel-drive, and there are no plans for an automatic option.