Jaguar will be the first marque to benefit from this state-of-the-art common-rail diesel engine, followed by Peugeot, Citroën and by Ford Motor Company brands.

This all-new power unit is the result of an intensive collaborative engineering programme between Ford engineers in both the UK and Germany, PSA Peugeot Citroën engineers, and Jaguar engineers at the company's research and development centre at Whitley, near Coventry. It will be produced at purpose-built facilities at Ford's Diesel Business Centre at Dagenham, in the UK.

The investment by Ford Motor Company and PSA Peugeot Citroën in manufacturing and engineering for the V6 diesel engine programme is ¤350 ($380) million.

Sir Nick Scheele, President and Chief Operating Officer of Ford Motor Company, said: "The new 2.7 V6 diesel is proof of the outstanding success of the strategic partnership between Ford Motor Company and PSA Peugeot Citroën, which began in 1998. This unique international project has already delivered a family of world-class diesel engines. The collective engineering expertise of these world-renowned companies is now poised to deliver a premium diesel engine of the highest performance and quality."

PSA Peugeot Citroën's Chief Executive Officer, Jean-Martin Folz commented: "The exciting new V6 engine shows that together we have the engineering expertise and the economies of scale, to reach customers in the volume segments and also in the highly specialised and demanding niche segments. Just as importantly, this new engine proves that together we have the resources and the expertise to develop a wider range of power units than either partner alone."

The highly efficient, high performance, 24-valve 2.7 litre V6 will be available in a range of power, torque and emission specifications. The engine features advanced technologies including the latest generation, high pressure, common-rail, direct injection fuel system and the use of a lightweight Compacted Graphite Iron (CGI) cylinder block. An industry first for high volume cylinder block manufacture, CGI achieves a lightweight, compact structure of outstanding strength and stiffness for enhanced durability and noise attenuation.

Jaguar Cars, part of Ford Motor Company's Premier Automotive Group, will be the first to feature this state-of-the-art common-rail diesel engine, which will debut in the Jaguar S-Type in a year's time.

Bob Dover, Chairman, Jaguar Cars, said: "Competition is fierce in the premium diesel market and expectations of a Jaguar diesel are particularly high. The new 2.7 V6 diesel, the result of a highly successful alliance with PSA Peugeot Citroën and Ford Motor Company, employs advanced powertrain technologies to deliver the levels of power, refinement, and spirited performance that our customers expect."

Demand for diesel-engined models in the premium car market has accelerated dramatically, particularly in Europe. The new V6 engine line up will offer customers a broader choice in this highly competitive market segment.

The new 2.7 litre V6 is the latest product of the agreements signed by PSA Peugeot Citroën and Ford Motor Company in September 1998 and expanded a year later into a large-scale cooperative programme covering the joint design and production of four families of common rail, direct injection diesel engines.

The advanced design of the V6 engine ensures that it is Euro IV capable and with the application of Diesel Particulate Filter technology, particulate emissions are reduced to a level where they are almost undetectable.

The new engine will be offered with power outputs of up to 207 PS (EEC) and torque outputs of up to 440Nm (EEC) for a number of applications by Ford Motor Company and PSA Peugeot Citroën.