Wolverhampton engines in latest version of Jaguar Land Rover's Evoque
Diesel engines made in Wolverhampton will be fitted to the latest version of Jaguar Land Rover's best-selling Evoque from later this year, it has been revealed.
The 2016 Range Rover Evoque goes on sale in September while the Ingenium engines, made at JLR's £500m factory on the i54 site, will give it fuel consumption figures of 68 miles per gallon.
The four cylinder Ingenium diesels, made of lightweight aluminium, will be fitted to the entry level eD4 two-wheel drive version, with prices starting at £30,200 and declared by JLR to be the most efficient production Land Rover ever built. Two versions of the Wolverhampton-made engines will be available.
The car will also include new features as standard including Lane Departure Warning, Autonomous Emergency Braking (AEB), heated eight way adjustable front seats, powerfold door mirrors, automatic headlamps, rain sensing wipers and automatic climate control.
It is one of a string of new models to feature engines made at the plant at Wolverhampton, including the new Jaguar XE sports saloon, the upcoming F-Pace Jaguar crossover and the Land Rover Discovery Sport.
It will mean producting cranking up at the Wolverhampton site, which is expected to start making petrol engines early next year and will eventually employ around 1,500 people.
Meanwhile JLR is celebrating its strongest ever March sales figure, boosted by huge demand for its Land Rover 4x4s and Range Rovers.
Group sales were up six per cent to 58,481, but Land Rover hit a record of 49,099, up 13 per cent, with the new Discovery Sport going on sale, while the ordinary Discovery was up 35 per cent, the Range Rover rose 38 per cent and the traditional Defender off-roader was up 58 per cent on March last year.
But Jaguar proved a drag of figures, down 2,349 to 9,382. The F-Type sports car did well, but many customers are waiting for the new XE and revamped XF models. The new F-Pace performance crossover – part 4x4, part saloon – made at Solihull, goes on sales next year.
Andy Goss, Jaguar Land Rover group Sales operations director said: "Fantastic news for Land Rover this month achieving its strongest ever March sales performance and particularly exciting to see Jaguar Land Rover UK and USA sales significantly up on the prior year.
"Furthermore, the response to the new Jaguar XF which was showcased at the New York and Seoul motor shows last week has been extremely positive. 2015 will most definitely be the year of the cat."
