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Filed under: Sedan, Jaguar, Luxury

Tata Motors chief executive Carl-Peter Forster has acknowledged that Jaguar needs a smaller, higher-volume vehicle and it appears that just such a car is already under development. Unlike the less-than-stellar X-Type which was based on the second-generation Ford Mondeo, the new car should actually be a real Jaguar.

Jaguar is reportedly working on a new modular aluminum platform that would be shared between the new smaller car, the mid-sized XF and the next-generation XK. In renderings posted by AutoExpress at least, the baby Jag bears a strong resemblance to the XF but with curvier rear haunches and XJ-style taillamps. Of course, what the real thing will ultimately look like is anyone’s guess.

Power will likely come from downsized and boosted four-cylinder gas and diesel engines, with the current 3.0-liter diesel V6 as a range-topper. Also look for a hybrid to enter the mix. All of this will help Jaguar meet the new EU CO2 emissions limits once the new smaller Jaguar debuts, which could happen as soon as soon as 2012.

[Source: AutoExpress]

Rumormill: Jaguar working on aluminum X-Type successor originally appeared on Autoblog on Sat, 24 Jul 2010 17:05:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Filed under: Technology, Mercedes-Benz

According to Autocar, an admission by a Mercedes-Benz engineer proves that the company is working on a nine-speed automatic transmission. That isn’t exactly new, since talk of such a beast has been broached before. The difference this time is that Autocar’s sources says the gearbox will be “introduced on large-capacity engines.”

With no numbers for context we can’t be sure what’s meant by “large-capacity.” However, Motor Trend reported that the baby SLS would get a nine-speed double-clutch transmission for it’s twin-turbo-V6-hybrid engine, and Automobile said that all of the next generation S-Classes, arriving in 2012, would “have hybrid powertrains and a new nine-speed automatic transmission.”

We don’t expect any of those engines to be of particularly large displacement, especially now that the SSK AMG appears to have gone from a twin-turbo V8 to a V6 twin turbo with electric assistance. Still, we have no doubt we’ll see a nine-speed transmission somewhere. And when the Mercedes engineers opine that “nine ratios is the maximum that is technically possible, as well as being the most that customers will be able to cope with,” we believe they’re wrong. A company is really going to leave double-digit transmission bragging rights on the table? Uh, no. Can I get a ten-speed… anyone…?

[Source: Autocar]

It Will Never End: Mercedes-Benz reportedly working on nine-speed automatic originally appeared on Autoblog on Mon, 19 Jul 2010 16:31:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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