Jaguar Land
Rover Classic has set out to prove that even owners of classic cars
needn’t fear the push towards electrification.
The official classic car department of Jaguar Land Rover has
swapped a fully electric powertrain into the iconic Jaguar E-Type sports car.
Called the E-Type Zero, the car is strictly a concept but Jaguar Land Rover is
keen to see the market’s reaction.
And while the move might seem like sacrilege, according to
the people behind the project, it’s all about ensuring classic cars remain
viable in a world where internal combustion engines are restricted or possibly
banned.
“Our aim with E-type Zero is to future-proof classic car
ownership,” Jaguar Land Rover Classic boss Tim Hannig said in a statement.
“We’re looking forward to the reaction of our clients as we investigate
bringing this concept to market.”
Despite the tight confines of the E-Type, which normally
packs an inline-6, Jaguar Land Rover Classic has managed to integrate the
electric powertrain in such a way that the whole process could be reversed. The
powertrain could also be used in any other Jaguar that originally ran the
inline-6 known as the XK. For example, the XK120, Mk2 and XJ6.
And there are 40-kilowatt-hours of battery capacity tucked
in, enough for a practical range of 170 miles. The relatively high number is
made possible because of the low weight of the car coupled with its slippery
shape, according to Jaguar Land Rover Classic.
But does it perform? You bet. The powertrain develops 295
horsepower and will see the car sprint from 0-60 mph in less than 5.5 seconds.
That’s quicker than the original. And surprisingly weight is actually down by
around 100 pounds.
Because of the weight characteristics, the structure and
chassis hasn’t required modification. In fact, front-rear weight distribution
is unchanged. According to Jaguar Land Rover Classic, this has resulted in
ride, handling and braking performance pretty much on par with the original.
The E-Type Zero was unveiled on Thursday at Jaguar’s Tech
Fest event in the United Kingdom. The automaker also used the event to announce
a commitment to a fully
electrified lineup as well as a self-driving
city car concept.
source: http://www.motorauthority.com/news/1112543_jaguar-melds-old-with-new-for-e-type-zero-electric-sports-car
by Viknesh Vijayenthiran
http://www.boscheuropean.com
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