This is interesting but confusing because at first glance the specifications
advertised, at least, have not changed. I have the sales brochures for the
Canadian-market X-Type for all years; all of them in the specifications
section under “Drivetrain” describe the system thus in English: “Front
engine, transverse with permanent AWD” and in French: “Moteur transversal
à l’avant et transmission à 4 roues motrices en prise permanente”
(emphasis mine). The introductory package, sent to me by Jaguar Canada on
February 23 2001 lists the “Mechanical standard features” beginning with
“Jaguar Traction 4 - full-time all wheel drive” with the Dynamic Stability
Control listed under “Individual Options”. The 2002 brochure has the same
listing arrangement.
This description does not mate with a supposed change in specification of
the AWD system. To quote: “basically front wheel drive until the front
wheels slip at which point the stability control applies the front brakes
which forces the drive to the rear axle”; this seems highly unlikely
ESPECIALLY because the Dynamic Stability control was an OPTIONAL feature on
some models while the “Jaguar Traction 4 AWD” was a standard feature on all
these cars. So a change of the AWD system involving the DSC for 2004 onwards
simply “doesn’t compute”. The 2005 brochure, for example lists under
standard features on all the models the AWD system and under “X-Type 3.0
Optional Features” it lists “Dynamic Stability Control [DSC] with Emergency
Brake Assist [EBA]”; this particular brochure is for Jaguar USA and for
Jaguar Canada, published 08/04. The 2006 brochure has the same listing. By
2007 the Dynamic Stability Control was a standard feature but so was the
automatic transmission.
In this same brochure the AWD system is described thus: “Jaguar Traction 4
is a system that automatically distributes power to all four wheels”. As
brochures go, these are very light on mechanical details in keeping with the
absurd “Gorgeous” advertising campaign of the period.
The British brochures are more helpful. The 2002 UK brochure, large format
describes the system as "To give a sporty, mainly rear wheel drive feel,
power is split 40% to the front, 60% to the rear wheels. If the rear wheels
show any tendency to spin - for example under acceleration on a wet surface
- more power is directed briefly to the front wheels. It’s all done so
quickly and smoothly, you’ll never notice it happening." (and they are
correct about that - it is seamless).
There is no indication in the published material I have that any change was
made in the system at any point. The descriptions are perfectly consistent
from introduction through the last models of the X-Type. This does not,
however, preclude the possibility of a change in specification. Regarding
driving feel: I have driven X-Types from early production to late production
and noticed no difference in road feel (that is front or rear drive bias) at
all.
The power unit training course material, if it claims a change in the AWD
system dependent upon involvement of the Dynamic Stability Control, does not
seem credible at this point but some further research is warranted.
Gregory,
Victoria, British Columbia, Canada
1966 3.8 Mk 2, Pale Primrose
1992 Series III V12 Vanden Plas, Black Cherry
2002 X-Type, 5 sp. manual, Anthracite
2004 XJ8, Ebony-----Original Message-----
From: owner-x-type@jag-lovers.org [mailto:owner-x-type@jag-lovers.org] On
Behalf Of Cliff Burk
Sent: October-25-10 8:36 PM
To: x-type@jag-lovers.org
Subject: RE: [x-type] Buying an X Type
Gregory motivated me to double-check with my source of info, a Master
Mechanic for Jaguar and fellow club member. Here’s what he reports:
"Cliff,
Attached is a section from the power unit training course. It explains that
the viscous coupling, which provided the full-time 40-60 torque split to the
rear axle, was deleted at the 2004 model year. See the last page.
[Strangely, that is the year they added the “AWD” motif to the boot lid]
With the coupling deleted, they relied on the electronic stability control
to provide the “AWD”. The car is basically a front drive vehicle until the
front wheels slip, at which point the stability control applies the front
brakes which forces the drive to the rear axle.
Anyone who really wants the “feel” of a true all-wheel-drive vehicle should
stick with the 2002-2003 model years