Jaguar has announced that it is introducing all-wheel drive to the 2013 XF and XJ ranges. The AWD models will be powered exclusively by Jaguar‘s new 3.0-litre V6 Supercharged petrol engine in 340bhp form, and will offer optimised traction in all grip conditions. The AWD models will be available in selected markets including North America, Russia, China and Continental Europe, but there is no word on the Indian market yet, and we really don’t understand why.
Ian Hoban, Vehicle Line Director, Jaguar, said: “Our All-Wheel Drive system preserves all the dynamic qualities of our rear-wheel drive Jaguar saloons in terms of handling, steering quality and ride refinement while adding a new depth of ability in low-grip conditions. The system delivers all the traction benefits you would expect, but the AWD XF and XJ are still very rewarding cars to drive – which was exactly our intention.”
The new Jaguar AWD operates ‘intelligently’, continuously monitoring grip levels and driver inputs to both pre-empt and react to wheel-slip, enabling maximum traction in all conditions. Feed-forward torque distribution allows the system to actively anticipate wheel slippage and prevent it occurring, therefore providing greater driver confidence and vehicle stability in low-grip scenarios. At speed in normal grip conditions the AWD system delivers drive predominantly to the rear wheels, thus providing the dynamic driving experience all Jaguars are renowned for, while maximising powertrain efficiency. Suspension and steering systems have also been reengineered in order for the AWD XF and XJ to match their rear-wheel drive counterparts’ acclaimed driving dynamics.