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High-tech transmission specialist Torotrak is working with Jaguar Land Rover on a mechanical hybrid system that involves a small infinitely variable transmission (IVT) coupled with a tiny flywheel, the Lancashire-based company announced today.

The IVT and the tiny flywheel combine to make what is essentially a similar system to the KERS technology fitted to the 2009 crop of F1 contenders.

As the car brakes, the energy that goes through the IVT is used to spin the flywheel at up to ...Read the full article

I have another idea for JRT. Make smaller, lighter vehicles with smaller engines, then you won't need to spend millions developing this sort of nonsense. Reclaiming some kinetic energy is all well and good, but if you don't expend it in the first place.....

Well, if it can cope with Americans on lawnmowers, I guess it's probably just about up to the job of hauling a two-tonne car about...

I've got an even better idea. Why don't Jaguar or Land Rover bring out some new products that customers can actually buy instead of puffing stuff to Autocar that may or may not appear in a showroom some time in the distant future.

noluddite:

I have another idea for JRT. Make smaller, lighter vehicles with smaller engines, then you won't need to spend millions developing this sort of nonsense. Reclaiming some kinetic energy is all well and good, but if you don't expend it in the first place.....

You obviously know nothing of building cars!  If it was that easy, they would be doing it already.

 

I could be wrong, but I think ToroTrak license there tech. actually to a firm that makes F1 KERS systems; I think its on ToroTrak website.

Personally I think it is brilliant, a UK tech. company, espeically in automotive which is growing! I think it is fantastic and it is UK owned with a great US partner; that is stunning!

Well done ToroTrak....they deserve it, they are a hard working company; I am pleased for them!....Well Done!

Its good to see JLR thinking out of the box and not just plonking a battery and motor into their vehicles and claim to be envo. friendly hybrids. Both GM and Ford tried that and terribly failed.

Building smaller, slower, cheaper cars is not their forte and would be a terribly stupid idea. Moving in that direction will see JLR jump into the fire directly. It doesnt have the money, volumes or customer base to justify this, theyve aldready learnt this lesson with the X type.

Both Merc. and BMW are struggling to make any money out of their small car platforms (A/B class, Mini) and the competition is only getting tighter with the likes of Alfa introducing new models.

 

Jaguar has recently got on very well with ZF for its conventional auto boxes, so whilst I can see this tech being integrated I can't see them abandoning ZF for some CVT unit -surely a twin clutch system is next on the list but I'm not sure if ZF is working on one - last I heard it was an 8 speed traditional torque converter in the pipeline.

JLR don't really have that much cash to invest into new tech, so waiting in the wings until other firms get it right and jumping on the bandwagon would be the way to go, whilst developing the aluminium tech to make their cars even lighter than the competition.

roadtester:

Why don't Jaguar or Land Rover bring out some new products that customers can actually buy instead of puffing stuff to Autocar that may or may not appear in a showroom some time in the distant future.

The story actually came from Torotrak, not from Jaguar, and without such technological experimentation, how would JLR develop these new products?

Oh, and as an aside...

http://www.autocar.co.uk/News/NewsArticle/Jaguar-XJ/238800/

New Jag XJ, on sale later this year. Reckon that fits the 'new product' bill quite nicely...