Jaguar hybrid cars due in 2013-14

Jaguar will launch its own hybrid vehicles soon after Land Rover, CAR can confirm. Parent company Jaguar Land Rover is developing battery-assisted hybrid versions for both brands but its strategy puts part-electric Land Rovers first on the launchpad in 2013.Hybrid Jaguars – set to include the XJ and XF, but eventually every model – are therefore likely to be on the market by 2013-2014, using a similar eight-speed ZF hybrid transmission to petrol-electric BMWs.The staggered roll-out of battery Jags and Land Rovers makes sense: heavy 4x4s have come in the firing line from green protestors who label them Chelsea Tractors. Hybrid Land Rovers will trim emissions and – in plug-in hybrid mode – enable even big bulky Range Rovers to drive in zero-emissions mode into central urban areas emitting nothing more unsaintly than an electric whir.So which Jaguars will go hybrid first?It's likely that the largest models such as the XJ will receive the hybrid power packs first; large cars reap the greater benefit and can more easily swallow the additional cost, put at around £10,000 in today's money.JLR's Midlands engineering bases in Whitley and Gaydon now employ 100 engineers in the expanding hybrid powertrain business unit launched 18 months ago.

Jaguar Land Rover creates another 1100 jobs

Jaguar Land Rover (JLR) are creating a further 1,100 jobs in the Jaguar plant at Castle Bromwich to cope with anticipated demand. Last week we said we were expecting an announcement from Jaguar Land Rover about production at Castle Bromwich following a deal with Unions to secure new working practices. And this seems to be it.

BMW's M Sport 7-series (2009): first official pictures

By James Popsys First Official Pictures 26 June 2009 00:01 BMW has revealed its first ever M Sport 7-series, engine revisions for its best-selling 730d, and a new 740d that will become the most powerful ever Seven diesel when in goes on sale in September 2009.  There's an M Aerodynamic bodykit with bigger front and rear bumpers, questionable chrome highlights, and some rather tasty 19-inch twin-spoke alloys. On the inside brushed aluminium trim, an anthracite headlining, sport seats, an M Sport steering wheel and M Sport sill inlays complete the package.  Afraid not - the 740d is equipped with a 306bhp/443lb ft 3.0-litre twin-turbo engine. The result is a 0-62 sprint completed in just 6.3 seconds, a limited top speed of 155mph top speed, 40.9mpg on the combined cycle and CO2 emissions of just 181g/km.