Range Rover pushing for Sport hybrid

JLR are pushing for a hybrid RR Sport. Jaguar Land Rover is making good progress on the technology, with more than 100 engineers devoted to development.

“Hybrid is an expensive [engineering] investment and an expensive piece cost, so the focus has to be on larger vehicles,” said Land Rover boss Phil Popham.

Progress is focused on the Range Rover Sport, a hybrid version of which is being currently tested. Targets include a range of 20 miles and top speed of 50mph in electric-only mode, and CO2 emissions of less than 100g/km combined, but Land Rover’s hybrids boss Peter Riching said, “Our projections are that it will be a lot less than that.”

The new technology - which includes an 8 speed ZF gearbox with integrated electric motor and no torque converter, plus a 160 litre lithium ion battery pack - adds around 200kg to the vehicle. But new weight savings actually result in a lower kerb weight.

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Vauxhall introduces Insignia 4x4 diesel (UK)

The Vauxhall Insignia estate is now available as a 4WD diesel for the first time. The Insignia Estate 4x4 will go on sale in September, combining the company’s adaptive 4x4 system (previously available with the 2.0 and 2.8 litre petrol engines) with the 2.0 CDTi 160 engine.

As well as automatically dispensing power between the front and rear axles to maximise traction, the 4x4 system also comes with an electronically controlled limited-slip differential. This controls the distribution of torque between the rear wheels, transferring it to the wheel that has the most grip and allowing the car to keep moving even when just one wheel has traction.


For safety reasons, the system is able to recognise potential danger quickly and can cut the power to a wheel even before it starts to spin. At the same time, when four-wheel drive is not needed – in town, for example – the car reverts to two-wheel drive to improve fuel economy.

In the new model, four-wheel drive also comes with the company’s FlexRide electronic suspension system. This gives the driver the choice of three modes: standard, Sport or Tour.

In addition, if buyers order a 4x4 estate with a towbar, the standard stability control system comes with a Trailer Stability Assist programme.

With the standard 6 speed manual gearbox CO2 emissions are 159g/km with a combined fuel economy of 47.1mpg. The Insignia diesel 4x4 can sprint from 0-60mph in 9.8 seconds. However, specify the optional 6 speed automatic gearbox and fuel economy drops to 41.7mpg, while CO2 emissions rise to 179g/km.

Correct prices will be announced nearer to the on-sale date in September, but we expect the new 4x4 models to cost about £1,500 more than the equivalent two-wheel-drive car.

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Next generation Mitsubishi Lancer Evolution X to be diesel-hybrid

Mitsubishi is planning a drastic overhaul of its Lancer Evolution by changing the next model into a diesel hybrid. The switch of drivetrain is designed to save the Evo from strict economy and emissions regulations while saving its trademark mid-range punch.


Mitsubishi is said to have given serious thought to axing the Evo model altogether. As recently as a month ago, sources in Japan said an earlier project to switch the car to a petrol hybrid powertrain and base it on the PX-MiEV SUV concept’s platform was dead. But now, the firm’s R&D section has been given approval to push the car in a different direction: a diesel hybrid.

Engineers hope that the mix of clean-diesel torque and electric motor assistance will allow the Evo XI to deliver a 0-62mph time of under 5 seconds, yet pump out CO2 emissions of under 200g/km. Handling will be entrusted to a revised version of the Evo’s highly rated 4WD system, S-AWC, which integrates steering, braking and traction control.

The switch is a result of a big gamble for Mitsubishi. Diesel hybrid will, in effect, rule the Evo out of rivalry and could limit its demand in key markets such as the U.S and Japan, where diesels have yet to gain widespread approval.

2012 León essential to SEAT's future

Seat will use its next-generation Leon to launch its first hybrid and electric cars from 2012 as part of its new 5 year plan, even though there are still no plans for the firm to enter into new market segments.

The Spanish manufacturer is currently testing a plug-in hybrid version of the Leon, known as Twin Drive, and this is expected to be part of the next Leon range that’s planned to arrive in late 2012.

An all-electric version of the Leon is also likely after Volkswagen announced plans to build an all-electric version of the Golf (the car on which the Leon is based) from 2013. The Golf blue-e-motion drivetrain is likely to come from the IBE concept from Geneva, although there are no plans to put the IBE itself into production.

The standard Leon range itself will be the first Seat to adopt many of the new design features of the IBE concept. Both 3 & 5dr hatchback variants will be offered, while an estate version is also likely given Seat’s desire to boost capacity at its Martorell plant.

Seat, along with Skoda, has already confirmed it will launch its own variant of VW’s Up! city-car. This is also penned in for a 2012 launch; the car is still at the design stage of its development. As with VW’s Up, Seat’s version will almost certainly be offered with an all-electric drivetrain.

The 5 year plan to turn around the fortunes of VW’s Spanish subsidiary is soon to be revealed by new CEO James Muir, who joined Seat from Mazda last September. Using the spare capacity of Martorell is key to these plans; Muir wants the plant to work at more than 90% of its capacity, up from the 60% of today.

However, these plans won’t include the firm entering new market segments. Seat’s plans to launch its Tribu compact SUV are “on ice”, according to one insider, with the firm not keen on entering a new sector due to the recession.

There are still no plans for a Seat sports car either. Such a model would allow Seat to better project its image as VW’s sporty subsidiary, but the low demand for a Seat sports car and the lack of popularity for the segment in its Spanish home market has made such a model in the future unlikely.

Electric cars need steel bodies

The next generation of electric cars will need specifically designed steel bodies to exploit their green potential, according to the world’s biggest steel makers.

A new research project, the Future Steel Vehicle (FSV), is testing redesigned structural parts in an electric car’s bodywork, including the sills, front crash structure, roof and battery carrier, to cut weight and save energy.


Engineers are also weighing up a variety of steels to balance their strength in an EV body against the energy used in its manufacture. This will reduce the whole-life energy costs of an EV.

Previous steel industry projects have advanced the design of lightweight steel car bodies, doors and suspensions.

Mazda working on new rotary engine for RX-8 heir

Mazda is working on a new rotary engine for the RX-7 descendant that can run on either petrol or diesel, and offer improved fuel economy compared to the recently terminated RX-8 coupe.

The two-stroke 16X engine is designed to correct the shortcomings of Mazda’s most recent rotary engine, including its high oil consumption and lack of torque in the mid-range. Sources in Japan say the new unit has achieved considerable improvements in fuel efficiency.

But the final go-ahead has not yet been received from Mazda’s top executives. Mazda is still working out how to attain the best mixture of performance, economy and emissions. In its current situation, the 16X is expected to give the RX-7 about 300bhp and enable it to reach 60mph in less than 5 seconds.

Mazda’s R&D department has invited several external drivers and racers to test RX-7 mules, and the design team has required feedback at customer clinics.

Much of the push towards another rotary-engined sports car comes from Mazda USA. A recent autonomous survey revealed that demand for an affordable rotary-powered sports car is still as strong as it’s ever been in the U.S. It’s been suggested that were it not for American demand for the car, the project would have been abandoned.