The Jaguar AJ-V8 is a compact V8 piston engine used in many Jaguar vehicles. It was the fourth new engine type in the history of the company. It is a DOHC design and replaced the Jaguar AJ6 engine in many cars. It is available in displacements ranging from 3.2 L to 5.0 L, and a supercharged version is also produced. Ford Motor Company uses this small V8 in other products as well, including the Lincoln LS and Land Rovers.
The AJ-V8 was designed to use Nikasil-coated cylinders rather than the more-common iron cylinder liners. However, like the BMW M60, high-sulphur fuel reacted with the Nikasil liners and caused engine failures. Jaguar replaced affected engines, and has used conventional cast-iron linings ever since.
The engine uses a two-state Variable Valve Timing system to switch the intake cam timing by 30°. Newer engines use a more sophisticated system which can vary intake timing incrementally up to 48°. The Lincoln version does not use this technology.
Other engine features include fracture-split forged powder metal connecting rods, a special one-piece cast camshaft, and reinforced plastic intake manifold.
The AJ-V8 was on the Ward's 10 Best Engines list for 2000.
Jaguar AJ-V8 and gearbox | AJ-V8 brochure image |
AJ26
The 4.0 L (3996 cc) AJ26 engine was introduced in 1996 It has a square 86 mm bore and stroke. It was updated in 1998 as the AJ27 with continuously variable valve timing. The AJ-V8 was updated again in 2000 as the AJ28. The normally-aspirated version produces 290 hp in the 2004 XK8.
Vehicles using this engine:
Daimler V8
AJ26
1997-1998 Jaguar XJ8
1997-1998 Jaguar XK8
AJ27
1999-2004 Jaguar XJ8
1999-2004 Jaguar XK8
AJ28
2000-2002 Jaguar S-Type (281 hp, 287 ft-lb)
AJ26S
The supercharged version of the AJ26 is used in the high-performance R versions of Jaguar's cars. The engine was updated with AJ27 specifications for 2000. It produces 370 hp (276 kW) and 525 Nm.
Vehicles using the supercharged version include:
AJ26S
1998-1999 Jaguar XKR
AJ27S
2000-2003 Jaguar XJR
2000-2003 Jaguar XKR
2000-2002 Vanden Plas
2002 Daimler Super V8
3.2
The 3.2 litre variant was the second to be introduced. It reduces the stroke to 70 mm and power falls to 179 kW and 316 Nm.
Vehicles using this engine:
Jaguar XJ (non-US)
3.5
The 3.5 L was used in the XJ series as well. The stroke was 76.5 mm. Output was 262 bhp (195.4 kW) at 6250 rpm and 345.0 Nm (254 ft-lb) at 4200 rpm.
Vehicles using this engine:
2002-2004 Jaguar XJ8 3.5
Land Rover Range Rover (260hp)
AJ35
The 3.9 L (3934 cc) AJ35 variant is used by Ford and Lincoln and is built in Lima, OH. Bore is 86 mm and stroke is 85 mm. Output is 280 hp (209 kW) at 6000 RPM with 286 ft-lb (388 Nm) of torque at 4000 RPM. It uses bucket tappets rather than the Jaguar VVT system.
Vehicles using this engine:
2000-2002 Lincoln LS, 252 hp
2003-2004 Lincoln LS, 280 hp
2002-2004 Ford Thunderbird, 252 hp 267 ft-lb
AJ34
The 4.2 L (4196 cc) AJ34 version features a longer 90.3 mm stroke with the same 86 mm bore. It was introduced in 2003 as the AJ33 and produces 294 hp (219 kW) at 6000 RPM with 303 ft-lb (411 Nm) of torque at 4100 RPM.
Vehicles using this engine:
2003 Jaguar XK8 (294 hp, 303 ft-lb)
2003 Jaguar S-Type 4.2
Jaguar XJ8
AJ34S
The AJ34S is a supercharged/intercooled variant of the AJ34. It was introduced in 2003 to replace the 4.0 SC and produces 390 hp (291 kW) at 6100 RPM with 399 ft-lb (541 Nm) of torque at 3500 RPM.
Vehicles using this engine:
Jaguar XJR
2003 Jaguar XKR
2003 Jaguar S-Type R
4.3
Vehicles using the supercharged version of this engine:
Land Rover Range Rover (400 hp)
4.4
The 4.4 L version features a 2 mm wider bore over the 4.0 to increase torque. Aston Martin developed a special version of the engine with dry-sump lubrication and many other modifications.
Vehicles using a 4.0 L AJ-V8 includes:
2005 Aston Martin AMV8 (400 hp)
2005 Land Rover Discovery/LR3 - 300 hp (220 kW), 315 ft-lb (425 Nm)
2006 Land Rover Range Rover Sport
5.0
A special 5.0 litre racing engine was produced with 550 hp, though no road car uses this engine.