Nice, I like it.
But how do I get over a Mazda in my driveway?

 

Sometimes its a distant generation that carries the torch forward.
If not for Mazda, the British formula of a fun roadster would be dead. Also the rotary engine would be dead.
This is the perfect company to keep the flame alive, they have done it before.

(BTW. according to some recent patents that show the engine behind the front axle, it would have to be a rotary. But the have also filed for a inline-6, and without the overhead of a mechanical valve train, the I6 will blow a boxer out of the water)

 

Sure does look like a jag !!!

​​​​​​I have noticed their entire line-up (Mazda) are looking more and more like Jaguars I guess until they can develop a decent 2+2 the Maserati mc stradale might just have to do for us

 

My ego wouldn't allow me to get one as my fun car.

 

DB11, Evora GT, or California T would be my top 2+2 choices.

 

I'd throw Vanquish in there also, but comparatively, the XK/R is less than half the price. Originally. Except the Lotus. I'm not a fan of those anyway.

 

They've stepped up their game regarding quality as well. They were at the bottom of the pack along with Nissan for decades. Not so much anymore.

 

You definitely want to wait for electronic valves before buying another sports car. We are going to get to experience what F1 engines feel like- effortless and instant revs to 18000rpm. "You can go from idle to 100 percent throttle in one revolution" fck!
Its going to be the first major change to an internal combustion engine. Total gamechanger. Jaguar is all over it, as is Koneigsegg. They are getting 600hp and 600nm torque from 2l 3cyl engine.

Look what they did for a Chinese car company- which tells you how ubiquitous this technology will be soon, for obvious reasons who is going to say no to less cost, 40% more power and 15% less fuel consumption.

 

50% more horsepower (240hp) and 33% more torque (320nm) with 15% less fuel consumption and 35% less emissions compared to the same 1.6L Turbo conventional valve engine with 160hp and 240nm of torque. With fewer mechanical parts, smaller size and less weight. Amazing!

But is it enough to survive the onslaught of the fully-electric car? Maybe, in a hybrid, but I don't think so. Electric motors have fewer moving parts, require less maintenance, are quiet and develop maximum torque almost instantaneously, but they require heavy batteries and are slow to recharge. Both internal combustion and electric have pros and cons, but I predict that internal combustion FreeValve won't survive because it still pollutes, albeit 35% less.

But not zero.

 

You left out the only important thing: Cost. For 99% of the population, there is only one consideration when buying a vehicle and its not emission, hp, or payload, its at what cost can any of those things be had.
Electronic valves dramatically reduce cost of vehicle, not just by doing away with many expensive parts, but 40% more power means 40% smaller engine, which means substantially lower cost car. A motorcycle engine can now replace a 4cyl turbo.
A 2-liter 3-cylinder engine can replace your 5-liter supercharged V8 monster, and have 100 extra hp!! Oh BTW they have achieved zero emissions.
Look below at what Koenigsegg was able to do in terms of space for 4 adults in a mid-engined car, 1000km range. It shows from a different angle what can be achieved when you have a tiny 3 cyl engine putting out 600hp.
Think of it another way, our XKR / XJR could be 1000 lbs lighter. Have 100 more HP and cost less than the 4cyl Ftype, and room for 4.

 

[QUOTE=Queen and Country;2205469]You left out the only important thing: Cost. For 99% of the population, there is only one consideration when buying a vehicle and its not emission, hp, or payload, its at what cost can any of those things be had.
Electronic valves dramatically reduce cost of vehicle, not just by doing away with many expensive parts, but 40% more power means 40% smaller engine, which means substantially lower cost car. A motorcycle engine can now replace a 4cyl turbo.
A 2-liter 3-cylinder engine can replace your 5-liter supercharged V8 monster, and have 100 extra hp!! Oh BTW they have achieved zero emissions.
Look below at what Koenigsegg was able to do in terms of space for 4 adults in a mid-engined car, 1000km range. It shows from a different angle what can be achieved when you have a tiny 3 cyl engine putting out 600hp.
Think of it another way, our XKR / XJR could be 1000 lbs lighter. Have 100 more HP and cost less than the 4cyl Ftype, and room for 4.

Pretty slick and if I had a family and the price came in at around $50K I would consider it. As my personal fun car it wouldn't suit my needs.

 

Some impressive stuff! I'm glad there are still creative people out there using science to 'fine tune' internal combustion engines rather than throwing them away.
Although I'd never be able to afford one of these.....even when the markets do swing back! lol

 

Yes, the Vanquish as well. Has more interior space than the DB9.

 

I switch cars every 3-4 years, so plenty of time between what is next and when electronic valve cars are available for regular consumers.

 

There is another massive unrealized benefit- smaller engine with built-in engine management. Think of how many existing dirty engines can retroactively be replaced. Holy smokes that market is big enough to bring us out of recession.

Yes this depression might setback electric cars because we will be forced to face reality- the only way you can afford one with 200mile range, is if you also have a gasoline one that can do all the donkey-work. Thats- 1% of the population.
Its so arrogant to believe that everyone has a place to park an electric car with an outlet. (forget the $70k it cost to buy the car- and notice no one is stupid enough to buy an electric car used- despite them saying its more reliable -lol)

 

Seems to me that the hybrid formula is one which could have taken us neatly from ICE to EV, with the hybrid as a half-way house until such time as technology is ready for a fully electric vehicle. These small engines with battery assistance when needed are powerful, relatively clean, have no range issues and are compact - a good interim solution while we work sensibly towards the goal of all-electric vehicles, which to a large extent is going to depend on some sort of breakthrough in battery technology.

 

I agree. I bought my wife a BMW 330e as she moved jobs to be only a km or so away from home so she uses electric most of the time but still has the engine if she wants to go and see her parents who live 3 hours drive away, over a mountain range.

It will do 0-60 in just under 6 seconds when using both power sources so is nippier than your average EV or hybrid and has the usual luxuries of a 3 series BMW.

 

There's luxury in a BMW 3 series?

 

The trim spec of my wife's car is actually called Luxury so BMW thought so!

It is also much better than the Toyota Prius or Nissan Leaf that my wife assumed that I would buy when I mentioned that I was looking at electric cars for her.

It didn't do too badly in the What Car awards winning Best Plug-in Hybrid Car and Best Executive Car of the Year awards.What Car? said, “The astonishing BMW 330e is not only the best plug-in hybrid you can buy, but the best executive car full stop. It slickly integrates the latest green technology with the long-held wants and needs of people shopping in this class.”

 

it's easy! do what I did. my first jag was a black 2011 XKR 175 my next one was an Italian Racing Red 2014 XKR-S I bought both with a few miles on them and save a ton of money on each one.