Will this be Fords engine future

[syco26]

Just seen this and had to ask wheither or not Ford will start something like this for the future performance cars after the Falcon is gone.

Details of the $1.3m C-X75’s F1-inspired 1.6-litre four-cylinder engine revealed as Jaguar announces expansion plans

Jaguar’s C-X75 will be one of the most powerful supercars on the planet when it reaches production, thanks to an F1-inspired engine that has just four cylinders and displaces only 1.6 litres.

That’s right, Jaguar's powertrain development group has confirmed its new ‘hypercar’ will be powered by a turbocharged and supercharged 1.6-litre four-cylinder engine that can rev to no less than 10,000rpm and deliver some 373kW of power.

Giving new meaning to the phrase ‘mean and green’, however, the svelte C-X75 coupe’s power output will be further boosted by a pair of electric motors, resulting in extreme performance targets including a top speed of more than 320km/h and 0-100km/h acceleration in less than three, with the potential to return Prius hybrid-like fuel consumption as low as 4.0L/100km.

Based on the C-X75 concept car revealed two years ago at the 2010 Paris Motor Show, Jaguar’s wildest production model since the XJ220 will be built in very limited numbers from 2014 - just 200 in all, each with a pricetag of around $1.35 million (£900,000).

Despite that, at least two Australians are seriously interested in the immensely powerful hybrid sportscar, likely making the C-X75 all but a sell-out success Down Under.

Although the production version won't feature the turbine jets of the highly acclaimed concept, no fewer than 11 radiators are still required to regulate internal heat from the twin electric motors and twin-charged petrol engine.

While the latter features a fast-acting supercharger to boost low-speed engine performance and a high-pressure turbo that kicks in at higher speeds, making it similar in some respects to the 1.6-litre six-cylinder turbo engines that will soon be mandated in F1.

Jaguar's new hybrid halo car – which will be a direct rival to next year’s left-hand drive-only 918 Spyder plug-in hybrid supercar from Porsche - will be practical as well as fast, with electric motors that can operate in isolation to provide an electric-only driving range of 60km.

Weight is kept to a minimum thanks to Jaguar's first carbon-fibre frame (which was developed with help from Williams F1 Team), while a seven-speed automated manual gearbox will transfer power from the mid-mounted petrol engine to the rear wheels. However one of the vehicle's two electric motors is permanently connected to the front axle, effectively making it AWD.

As work on the cutting-edge supercar continues, Jaguar's day-to-day operations are on the improve. The British brand last week also announced that increased global demand for its cars has necessitated the hiring of 1100 new staff and the expansion of its manufacturing plant in Castle Bromwich, where the XJ and XF models will be built from this year.

Dr Ralf Speth, Jaguar Land Rover CEO, said the company will introduce 40 major product 'actions' (read: new models and/or updates) over the next five years.

“The launch of our latest Jaguar models, including the new XF Sportbrake later this year, means it is a very exciting time for Jaguar,” he said. “These new models will attract new customers to the brand as we look to expand our global reach and further enhance our position in the market.

“Innovation in design, engineering and technology is at the core of our business and for the UK, this means we will continue to invest in new products, develop new technologies and enhance the skills of our employees,” said Dr Speth.

Jaguar sold almost 30,000 vehicles globally in the first six months of 2012, which is a 19 per cent jump in sales year-on-year. In Australia, Jaguar has increased sales by 24.7 per cent so far in 2012, with 424 sales compared to 340 last year.