Currently reading: Every new Jaguar will have a 4WD option
All new Jaguar powertrains to be engineered with four-wheel drive capability

Every future Jaguar will be developed with all-wheel drive capability engineered into the architecture, global brand director Adrian Hallmark has revealed.

"I can't think of any model that wouldn't benefit from not having the option of it," said Hallmark at the launch of the XF and XJ 3.0 V6 all-wheel drive models, Jaguar's first.

The XF and XJ had only ever been engineered as rear-wheel drive cars, but Jaguar took the decision to respond to market demands from the likes of the US snow belt states and Canada for all-wheel drive cars when developing its new 3.0-litre V6 engine.

No other Jaguar engine will be mated to all-wheel drive technology due to the engineering costs versus return on investment. It is for this reason the all-wheel drive technology will not be engineered for right-hand drive and sold in the UK, a market where demand for V6 petrol saloon cars with all-wheel drive is tiny.

But in developing future models, Jaguar will be able to plan and engineer in its all-wheel drive technology right from the outset.

"At the moment, we can't take the full grid of engines, models and drivetrains and tick every box and offer them all. We have to prioritise. In the future, we know what it takes to get all-wheel drive," said Hallmark.

Advertisement

Read our review

Car review

The Jaguar XJ is a thoroughly modern luxury saloon, and a brilliantly capable one

Mark Tisshaw

mark-tisshaw-autocar
Title: Editor

Mark is a journalist with more than a decade of top-level experience in the automotive industry. He first joined Autocar in 2009, having previously worked in local newspapers. He has held several roles at Autocar, including news editor, deputy editor, digital editor and his current position of editor, one he has held since 2017.

From this position he oversees all of Autocar’s content across the print magazine, autocar.co.uk website, social media, video, and podcast channels, as well as our recent launch, Autocar Business. Mark regularly interviews the very top global executives in the automotive industry, telling their stories and holding them to account, meeting them at shows and events around the world.

Mark is a Car of the Year juror, a prestigious annual award that Autocar is one of the main sponsors of. He has made media appearances on the likes of the BBC, and contributed to titles including What Car?Move Electric and Pistonheads, and has written a column for The Sun.

Join the debate

Comments
2
Add a comment…
BenC30 3 December 2012

Snowbelt

That should please many in the Snowbelt regions.

Ruperts Trooper 2 December 2012

4wd diesel in the UK

So anyone needing a diesel with 4wd capability in the UK will have to buy a Land Rover ?

Seems a strange marketing policy to me - even a statement of future intent would be better than the current "ostrich" policy.