3-Cylinder Engines in JLR’s Future

Tata Motors Ltd.'s Jaguar Land Rover unit will begin making its own engines next year for the first time since 1998, and plans could include adding 3-cylinder gasoline and diesel powerplants to the 4-cylinder mix, Automotive News Europe reports.

JLR has said it will manufacture 4-cylinder diesels by the end of next year at its new $750 million plant in Wolverhampton, England. About 18 months later, a turbocharged 4-cylinder gasoline engine will join the production line.

Reports says the engines will be small 2.0-liter units that feature turbocharging, direct fuel injection and variable valve timing. The engines are expected to debut in the upcoming small Jaguar sedan and small Land Rovers.

Wolfgang Ziebart, JLR's group engineering director, tells ANE that the company is considering other engines for the plant, including 3-cylinder gasoline and diesels in the 1.5-liter range. Ziebart says the smaller engine would cost more than a 4-cylinder but be more fuel-efficient.

The new engine plant's volume is expected to eventually reach 300,000 units a year.