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SVR plans to tune electrified Jaguar-Land Rover models, but not the I-Pace

Jaguar-Land Rover's SVR division has only put its name on high-horsepower gasoline-burning cars, like the XE Project 8 built in strictly limited numbers. It's open to the idea of tuning electrified models, whether they're electric or hybrid, but it confirmed it's not currently planning on making a spicier evolution of the I-Pace. "We will be developing electrified versions of our cars, be that fully electrified or plug-in hybrids," affirmed Michael van der Sande, the division's managing director, in an interview with Auto Express. But although the electric I-Pace (pictured) raced in a one-make race series held on the sidelines of Formula E events for two seasons, and SVR could credibly claim to inject track DNA into a street car, it stressed the I-Pace doesn't appear in its product plans for reasons that remain a little bit murky. Jaguar announced the end of the eTrophy series in May 2020, which might explain why it's reluctant to exploit racing's marketing power. "There are other various things we are working on which we can't talk about, but we're very interested in electrification. That's why we got involved in eTrophy," van der Sande clarified. "The technology transfer, the learning applies to that car and other cars but we're not planning an SVR I-Pace at the moment." His comments confirm we'll need to be patient to see what SVR's take on an electric or hybrid car looks like. One of the first electrified models to receive the go-fast treatment might be the next-generation XJ tentatively scheduled to make its debut before the end of 2020. It will be exclusively electric, though it won't look as radical as the I-Pace, so Jaguar will need to find a way to replace the hot-rodded XJR 575 model it positioned at the top of the last-generation model's line-up. It's not too far-fetched to speculate the next Range Rover also due out in the coming months will receive some degree of electrification, and it could spawn an SVR-tuned model, too. Related Video:    

Jaguar turns down offers to join V8 Supercars, questions AMG, Volvo participation

Rumors have swirled in recent weeks that Jaguar may be the next manufacturer to join the V8 Supercars racing series, made popular in Australia but now well-known in other parts of the world as well. Sadly, Jag's participation is not to be. In fact, it would be "insane," according to Jaguar Land Rover Asia Pacific Managing Director David Blackhall, for it to accept either of the two offers it has received to bring Jaguar into V8 Supercars.
Not only is Jaguar not interested in entering V8 Supercars, says Blackhall, it also fails to understand the recent entries from AMG and Volvo. "I don't know what it does for AMG to get flogged by a V8 Commodore week after week, but it's their brand, their issue. And the same thing will happen to Volvo to be honest."
Judging by Blackhall's statements to motoring.com.au, after not-so-serious consideration, the automaker decided the monetary commitment it would take to compete for wins would be more than any potential exposure would be worth, despite the fact that Jaguar has a 5.0-liter V8 to go along with what would seem to be a tailor-made rear-wheel-drive chassis. For what it's worth, one offer would have had Jaguar putting its name across an engine made by someone else, an option that was flatly turned down.

Jaguar J-Pace crossover spied with diesel hybrid power

The new Jaguar F-Pace is only now hitting dealerships, but the British automaker is already testing a bigger, higher-end example. Allegedly named J-Pace – tying it to the flagship XJ sedan the same way the F-Pace is to the XF (so expect an E-Pace before too long) – Jaguar's engineers stretched the wheelbase and cobbled together a big CUV from an F-Pace's body parts. The biggest giveaway is on the rear door's cutline. A normal F-Pace's shut line runs right into the middle of the rear wheel arch. But on this mule, the door closes well forward of the arch. Outside the axles, Jag has stretched the front overhang – it's far more prominent with a completely different lower intake – and the super-short rear overhang reinforces the idea that we're seeing a longer platform. While we know the wheelbase is longer than the normal F-Pace, the platform underpinning this mule could go one of three ways. First, in what would probably be the most cost-effective route, Jaguar could simply stretch the chassis underpinning the F-Pace. Second, Jag could mine the Land Rover parts bin for a fullsize platform, perhaps from the Range Rover. It's not a crazy idea, and would open the J-Pace to a more potent line of powertrains – hello 5.0-liter, supercharged V8. Finally, the J-Pace could borrow its platform from the XJ sedan. One reason this mule could be riding on a Land Rover platform is because of its powertrain. According to the vehicle lookup on the British Ministry of Transport's website – see the final slide in our gallery above – the mule's number plates belong to a vehicle with a 2.0-liter turbodiesel engine and an electric motor, a diesel hybrid. The fullsize Range Rover is available in such a configuration outside the US, but it uses a 3.0-liter V6. Clearly, the J-Pace is still very early in its development process. That means we shouldn't count on seeing a production-ready vehicle for quite some time. Our spies point to a 2019 debut as a 2020 model. We'll just have to wait and see. Related Video: Featured Gallery Jaguar J-Pace: Spy Shots View 12 Photos Image Credit: KGP Photography Green Spy Photos Jaguar Crossover Hybrid Luxury