Jaguar to Build Electric Car in 2011

Is it the truth or just wishful thinking that British car company Jaguar is developing an electric luxury vehicle?

Jaguar has an electric vehicle, the XE roadster - a two-seat convertible, scheduled for introduction at the Geneva show in 2011. The XE roadster will come with an optional range-extended electric drive-train, which is similar to the Chevy Volt.

The roadster will receive an electric motor with an extended-range three-cylinder gas engine, which is being engineered for the new-age E-Type. It is uncertain whether this engine would come in addition to Jaguar’s conventional 5.0-liter and supercharged 5.0-liter V-8s.

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However, no promises are being made that the XE would even hit production. And it is unclear whether the concept will even be ready for its scheduled 2011 ‘coming out’ due to a lack of resources (thanks again, economic crisis).

More uncertainty arises with regards to the XJ range-extended electric vehicle that Jaguar also has scheduled for formal introduction in 2011. The XJ, which is based on the next-generation XJ, would have a range of 30 miles and fuel efficiency of 57 mpg. Whether both the XJ and the XE would make their debuts in 2011, or even at all, is still uncertain.

Further development on the XJ is pending on a $407.8 million loan from the European Investment Bank.

Despite the clouds of uncertainty hanging over Jaguar’s electric vehicle development, a few rays of hope can be found. The hybrid model is catching on. Even if the XJ and XE never hit the streets, electric-drive seems firmly stamped into the minds of auto makers.

Sources: wired.com and motortrend.com

Photo Credit: diogoperez74 via flickr under Creative Commons License

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