The upcoming electric Range Rover, based on the Modular Longitudinal Architecture (MLA Flex) platform, is inching closer to production and release. The electric SUV is expected to retain the luxurious design of its gas-powered and plug-in hybrid counterparts, aligning with the brand’s emphasis on electrification. Sharing the MLA Flex platform allows the electric Range Rover to maintain its off-road capabilities, a hallmark of the Range Rover lineup.
Jaguar Land Rover (JLR) has initiated rigorous testing for the electric Range Rover, subjecting prototypes to various conditions, including extreme temperatures and challenging terrains. The electric SUV is designed to handle off-road adventures, consistent with the capabilities of traditional internal combustion engine Range Rovers.
Key details, such as battery sizes and estimated driving range, are yet to be officially disclosed. However, the electric Range Rover will feature an 800-volt architecture, enabling ultra-fast charging. The batteries and electric motors for the model will be produced at JLR’s Wolverhampton factory in the UK, while the final assembly will take place alongside the regular Range Rover in Solihull, UK.
As announced recently, the Land Rover name as a brand will no longer be used by JLR (formerly Jaguar Land Rover), and the Defender, Range Rover and Discovery will become brand names rather than just model lines. It’s part of the ‘House of Brands’ approach in the company’s Reimagine roadmap moving forward.
For a start, the Defender brand will have an additional model – the new Defender 130 Outbound – along with the Defender 130 V8. These join the Defender 110 which will now be available with a new heritage-inspired County Exterior Pack, the Hardtop commercial model, and the advanced P400e PHEV variant.
One of Britain’s most cherished automakers, Land Rover, is no more. As the custodian of the four brands Jaguar, Range Rover, Discovery, and Defender, it is currently known simply as JLR.
They are all turning electric now and a significant £15 billion (RM82.6 billion) investment in the UK automobile industry proves it.
There are likely to be many who grieve JLR’s decision to stop using the Land Rover name; it receives not a single mention in the press releases.
Having been around for 75 years, Land Rover is a brand name that is recognisable all over the world. Its original Defender model had a highly recognisable shape which is embedded in the brand’s design DNA. It is associated with 4×4 vehicles in the same way as Jeep and in fact, spread further around the world than the American brand.
In spite having periods of difficulty at different times in its history, Land Rover soldiered on like the tough vehicles it has produced. Although it can lay claim to having given the world the first premium SUV – the Range Rover – back in 1970, it only truly entered the premium segment when the 21st century began.
The success of the Range Rover in the premium segment led to the company establishing its name as a brand on its own around 10 years ago. The Range Rover brand would be for the premium models while Land Rover would be for models like the Freelander, Discovery and Defender.
Aiming for net zero carbon emissions by 2039, in line with the Reimagine strategy announced last month, Jaguar Land Rover’s (JLR) aim includes zero tailpipe emissions from its vehicles by 2036. This means that internal combustion engines will no longer be used. Electrical power is the most viable solution for future powertrains as they will have zero emissions, and JLR is developing various prototypes.
Fuel cells, spin-offs from the space program, are being considered by a number of manufacturers, some of whom already have commercialised fuel cell electric vehicles (FCEVs). JLR is also looking to use a hydrogen fuel cell and is developing a prototype FCEV based on the latest Land Rover Defender.
Advantages of hydrogen FCEV
FCEVs, which generate electricity from hydrogen to power an electric motor, are complimentary to battery electric vehicles (BEVs) on the journey to net zero vehicle emissions. Hydrogen-powered FCEVs provide high energy density and rapid refuelling, and minimal loss of range in low temperatures, making the technology ideal for larger, longer-range vehicles, or those operated in hot or cold environments.
Since 2018, the global number of FCEVs on the road has nearly doubled while hydrogen refuelling stations have increased by more than 20%. By 2030, forecasts predict hydrogen-powered FCEV deployment could top 10 million with 10,000 refuelling stations worldwide.
JLR’s advanced engineering project, known as Project Zeus, is partly funded by the government-backed Advanced Propulsion Centre, and will allow engineers to understand how a hydrogen powertrain can be optimised to deliver the performance and capability expected by its customers: from range to refuelling, and towing to off-road ability.
The Defender’s platform, which can accommodate combustion engines as well as hybrid powertrains, is also being used for the development of a fuel cell electric vehicle.
The project also has other partners involved such as Delta Motorsport, AVL, Marelli Automotive Systems and the UK Battery Industrialisation Centre (UKBIC) to research, develop and create the prototype FCEV with testing scheduled to begin this year. The testing, in the UK, will verify key attributes such as off-road capability and fuel consumption.
“We know hydrogen has a role to play in the future powertrain mix across the whole transport industry, and alongside battery electric vehicles, it offers another zero tailpipe emission solution for the specific capabilities and requirements of Jaguar Land Rover’s world class line-up of vehicles. The work done alongside our partners in Project Zeus will help us on our journey to become a net zero carbon business by 2039, as we prepare for the next generation of zero tailpipe emissions vehicles,” said Ralph Clague, Head of Hydrogen and Fuel Cells for Jaguar Land Rover.
A Land Rover factory in the UK.
Producton facilities are carbon neutral
JLR was the first UK automotive manufacturer to have met the internationally recognised PAS 2060 standard for carbon neutrality across its vehicle manufacturing assembly operations and product development sites. In January last year, its facilities completed a second consecutive year being certified as carbon-neutral by the Carbon Trust. Together, these sites represent 77% of JLR’S global vehicle production.
The Carbon Trust re-certification is part of the carmaker’s journey to ‘Destination Zero’, after it was originally achieved two years ahead of a commitment to operate carbon-neutral UK manufacturing by 2020.
The COVID-19 pandemic has brought on changes to many different aspects of life to fight the coronavirus. One of the important measures is the reduce the spread of bacteria and viruses, which can be on the many surfaces we come in contact with. Researchers are also beginning to find that the viruses can float in the air for a while too.
For the auto industry, urgent work has been carried out to develop systems and switch to materials that can help in the fight against bacteria and viruses. The latest development is from Jaguar Land Rover which, together with the University of Cambridge, has a new contactless touchscreen technology. This will also help keep drivers’ eyes on the road, improving motoring safety.
The patented technology, known as ‛predictive touch’, uses artificial intelligence and sensors to predict a user’s intended target on the touchscreen – whether that’s satellite navigation, temperature controls or entertainment settings – without actually touching a button.
The pioneering system, developed with engineers at the University of Cambridge, is part of Jaguar Land Rover’s ‘Destination Zero’ vision – a desire to make its vehicles safer and the environment cleaner and healthier.
In the ‘new normal’ once lockdowns around the world are lifted, a greater emphasis will be placed on safe, clean mobility where personal space and hygiene will carry premiums. Jaguar Land Rover vehicles are already designed to help improve passenger wellbeing, with innovations including a Driver Condition Monitor, engine noise cancellation and cabin air ionisation with PM2.5 filtration to capture ultrafine particles and allergens.
New technology like predictive touch is another step forward in addressing the wider landscape of mobility, from how customers connect with mobility services, to the infrastructure required to enable fully integrated, autonomous vehicles in cities.
Lab tests and on-road trials have shown the predictive touch technology could reduce a driver’s touchscreen interaction effort and time by up to 50%. At the same time, this will limit the spread of bacteria and viruses from the touchscreen surface to fingers.
Uneven or poor road surfaces can often cause vibrations that make it difficult to select the correct button on a touchscreen. This means drivers must take their attention away from the road, increasing the risk of an accident. The technology uses artificial intelligence to determine the item the user intends to select on the screen early in the pointing task, speeding up the interaction.
A gesture tracker uses vision-based or radio frequency-based sensors, which are increasingly common in consumer electronics, to combine contextual information such as user profile, interface design and environmental conditions with data available from other sensors, such as an eye-gaze tracker, to infer the user’s intent in real time.
Existing displays need not be replaced as the technology is a software-based solution using artificial intelligence.
This software-based solution for contactless interactions has reached high technology readiness levels. It can be seamlessly integrated into existing touchscreens and interactive displays, so long as the correct sensory data is available to support the machine learning algorithm. This means that existing systems do not need to change, keeping costs down.
“As countries around the world exit lockdown, we notice how many everyday consumer transactions are conducted using touchscreens: railway or cinema tickets, ATMs, airport check-ins and supermarket self-service checkouts, as well as many industrial and manufacturing applications. Predictive touch technology eliminates the need to touch an interactive display and could therefore reduce the risk of spreading bacteria or viruses on surfaces,” said Lee Skrypchuk, Human Machine Interface Technical Specialist at Jaguar Land Rover.
“The technology also offers us the chance to make vehicles safer by reducing the cognitive load on drivers and increasing the amount of time they can spend focused on the road ahead. This is a key part of our Destination Zero journey.”
To celebrate 70 years of adventure, Land Rover is bringing the Above and Beyond Tour to Malaysia. This year’s tour was recently held in Penang, and now it comes to Kuala Lumpur this weekend, 17th & 18th November 2018, providing participants with the unique opportunity to experience first-hand the signature capability and composure that is at the heart of the Land Rover’s DNA.
This year’s Above and Beyond Tour will see participants take on a series of custom-made obstacles that have been designed to simulate the challenging terrain of the great outdoors. Under the expert guidance of Land Rover Experience instructors, participants will be able to drive either the Range Rover Velar or the Discovery Sport through a wading pool, side slope and a bumpy course section. Spanning 15-metre-long and 600mm deep, the wading pool replicates the difficulty of navigating a flooded road or forging across a shallow river.
Nonetheless, the Range Rover Velar and Discovery Sport’s class-leading wading depth will enable participants to overcome this challenge with ease before taking on the bumpy course. Designed to simulate a deeply rutted or rock strewn ground, the bumpy course will allow participants to appreciate first-hand Land Rover’s Terrain Response® system and remarkably rigid chassis, which enables the vehicle to conquer the most difficult of terrain. The off-road driving experience climaxes on a sideway tilt on the side slope course. At almost a 45° angle, participants will be treated to an unforgettably thrilling experience while witnessing the unsurpassed off-road capability of Land Rover vehicles.
In addition to the simulated off-road experience, participants will also have the opportunity to take on three fun challenges that could win them a once-in-a-lifetime driving adventure on the Above and Beyond Tour Grand Finale in New Zealand. The first of these is the Ring Fenced challenge, where participants have three minutes to drive into an enclosed circular space, make a complete 180° turn and exit the course. The second is the Auto Test challenge, which consists of a narrow ‘L’-shaped bend; participants will have three minutes to navigate the course, before having to reverse and return to their initial starting position. The last, entitled “What’s Wrong with My Car”, challenges participants to identify missing parts or non-functioning features on a Land Rover display vehicle. The participant with the best score from both the Penang and Kuala Lumpur events will be the overall winner from Malaysia.
The Above and Beyond Tour is by invitation or registration only. Members of public interested in participating in the Above and Beyond Tour are invited to visit the official event page at www.landrover.com.my/abtfor information on how to register. Successful registrants will be contacted via email. Slots on the Above and Beyond Tour are limited. Interested individuals are encouraged to register as early as possible.
Guidelines for the A&B Tour:
Participants must be at least 18 years old and hold a valid driver’s license.
Above and Beyond Tour Kuala Lumpur takes place at The International Gallery at ALYA Kuala Lumpur
Date: 17 and 18 November 2018
Time: 9am to 5pm
Address: No. 2A, Jalan Bukit Kiara 1, Bukit Kiara, 60000 Kuala Lumpur, Wilayah Persekutuan Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
It here! The new 2018 Jaguar F-TYPE has arrived. Boasting a new design for its headlights, rear lights and bumper, the F-Type’s existing contemporary design matches the pure performance of this 2.0L turbocharged Coupé even more now. Since it was launched in 2012, the F-Type, Jaguar’s all-aluminium two-seater, has firmly established itself as the most desirable sports car in its segment and has won more than 170 awards worldwide. The unrivalled balance of a seductive design, stunning performance and outstanding dynamics has always made the F-TYPE unique, in a range that has evolved to include Coupé body styles, manual transmissions, intelligent all-wheel drive and now a powerful four-cylinder.
The F-TYPE Coupé, embodies the uncompromised design vision of the stunning Jaguar C-X16 concept sports Coupé, which debuted at the 2011 Frankfurt Motor Show. Jaguar’s expertise in aluminium technology has enabled the design vision for the F-TYPE Coupé to be delivered in a lightweight yet extremely strong bodyshell. The Jaguar F-TYPE Coupé is the ideal performance sports car due to its breadth of capabilities to suit the demands of the road and the driver. It is also the latest in its category to deliver both performance and innovative car technology.
Its new 300PS 2.0-litre turbocharged Ingenium engine carries with it Jaguar’s sports car DNA with enhanced agility as well as improved efficiency and affordability. This model retains the performance expected from an F-TYPE, and can accelerate from 0-100km/h in only 5.7 seconds and achieve a top speed of 250km/h. The engine’s high maximum torque of 400Nm is generated from just 1,500rpm.
The latest version introduces new futuristic LED headlights and rear lights as part of the improved exterior aesthetics of the F-TYPE. The new headlights from the optional LEDs has a colour temperature of 5,500-6,000K, which is close to daylight resulting in better visibility for night driving and adds on to the styling of the car. With three different beam pattern modes to choose from (i.e: city, highway and bad weather), the driver can choose a mode that suits the driving environment. A redesigned bumper, a new single exhaust tailpipe finisher and new 18” wheels also gives the F-TYPE a redefined look, adding more masculinity to the car’s personality. The introduction of the new Silicon Silver exterior colour also emphasises the character lines further and exudes the boldness of the F-TYPE.
Entering the Coupé, one will notice significant enhancements, aimed at making the car feel even more luxurious than before. Lightweight slim-lined seats and new chrome and aluminium trim finishers heighten the driver-focused feel of the interior and perfectly complement the enhanced interior colour schemes which includes the Siena Tan leather option now available across the range. The seat frames are pressure die cast magnesium alloy – a material that has a high strength-to-weight ratio and excellent formability, allowing for the ergonomic form of Jaguar’s innovative seat design. Weight savings for the Coupé as compared to its predecessors are more than 8kg.
Every F-TYPE now features the Touch Pro infotainment system with a 10-inch touchscreen. Its super-fast responses, intuitive tablet-style operation, intelligent navigation functions such as Share ETA and online services such as real-time traffic and live weather reports make every journey more rewarding and put a world of information at the driver’s fingertips. Touch Pro, the most advanced infotainment system to be offered by Jaguar comes standard for the entire F-TYPE range. Designed and developed around state-of-the-art technologies including a powerful quad-core processor, high-speed 60GB Solid-State Drive (SSD) and an ultra-fast Ethernet network, Touch Pro delivers a world-class performance and functionality as well as an outstanding user experience. The 2018 F-TYPE 2.0L Ingenium retails at RM575,800 (excluding road tax, registration and insurance) and is now available at all Jaguar showrooms nationwide.
All vehicles distributed by Jaguar Land Rover Malaysia are compatible with the Malaysian climate, environment, fuel quality and meet the Malaysian emission standard. All Jaguar vehicles distributed by authorised dealers also come with ‘Jaguar Care’ programme which is based on whichever comes first i.e a 5-year Warranty or 150,000km, 5-year Servicing or 65,000km and 3-year Roadside Assistance. Please visit www.jaguar.com.my for more information.
HOT from Auto Express, the successor to the Jaguar F-Type will embrace hybrid technology and go mid-engined when it launches around 2022, Auto Express (AE) has exclusively revealed this. And further down the line, Jag could launch a fully-electric version to rival the forthcoming Porsche Taycan. Development work on the F-Type’s successor is under way, with engineers devising a plan that will transform the model into the brand’s halo product to compete with McLaren and Audi Sport.
Central to the plan and favoured by engineers is the shift from a front to mid-engined layout for the performance car. According to high-ranking technicians working on the project, the Honda NSXis being used as a benchmark for the next-generation Jaguar model, because key to the car’s armoury will be the use of hybrid technology to boost performance. Although it will be a replacement for the current F-Type, the new product is likely to bear little resemblance to the existing car. The switch to a mid-engined layout will enable Jaguar to be more daring with the proportions; the long bonnet and cab- rearward design of the current F-Type will make way for a lower, sleeker overall look, previewed here in AE’s exclusive images.
The mechanical make-up of the car is yet to be finalised, but it’s expected that at least two electric motors, one on each axle to give four-wheel drive, will supplement a mid-mounted V6 engine. If it is to be competitive, a power figure upwards of 550bhp is likely, placing it among competitors such as the McLaren 570Sand Audi R8. It will be only the second mid-engined car in Jaguar’s 83-year history, following on from the XJ220 of the nineties (below).
Image from www.autocar.co.uk
The firm came close to launching another in 2010 with the C-X75. Developed with Williams Advanced Engineering, the supercar was pitched as a rival for the McLaren P1, but the economic situation at the time concerned Jaguar and the project was axed due to a fear of a lack of return on the company’s investment.
The flexible platform on which the new F-Type will be based will also allow the brand to develop a fully-electric version. Auto Express understands engineers are keeping a close eye on the Taycan project and are keen to build a rival for that car. Jaguar has much more experience recently with developing electric cars as opposed to mid-engined vehicles. The I-Pace is widely regarded as the best of its kind and is driven by concentric permanent magnet synchronous motors – that means the car’s driveshaft runs through the middle of them – which are designed and built by Jaguar itself.
It’s also possible that by the time the F-Type EV arrives, solid state battery technology, which is being analysed and developed by a host of global car brands, could be ready for production. Given the extensive changes the F-Type’s successor will undergo, it’s possible Jaguar could rename the model J-Type. The firm applied to trademark the name as recently as last month.
Jaguar F-Type EV Exclusive Photos (all 2022 F-Type photos from Auto Express UK)
The new Range Rover Velar which has just been launched nationwide brings a new dimension of glamour, modernity and elegance to the Range Rover family. Designed and engineered based on ‘reductionism’ and elegant simplicity, this new luxurious mid-sized SUV has a unique character incomparable with other SUVs in its class.
With a starting price of RM529,800 the Velar features pioneering consumer technologies such as the flush deployable door handles and the Touch Pro Duo infotainment system which is the centrepiece of the Velar’s interior. The Touch Pro Duo features two 10-inch high-definition touchscreens integrated seamlessly behind secret-until-lit surfaces. These slim, intuitive displays work in harmony with the cabin architecture while adding an overall sense of modernity to the vehicle’s design.
The Touch Pro Duo system allows the driver to multitask with greater safety by using two screens simultaneously. When travelling to a new destination, the lower screen can be used to make a call without losing the navigation on the upper screen. Other technology-advanced features include a Head Up Display**, Interactive Driver Display and Navigation Pro.
Winner of the Car Design of the Year at the 2018 World Car Awards, the Velar carries a progressive design featuring a seductive silhouette, flush deployable door handles, integrated rear spoiler as well as distinctive design cues from the front bumper to the rear of the vehicle, foil stamped grille and Matrix LED Headlights. The twin chrome exhaust finishers** that are integrated into the rear bumper, provide a subtle reference to the Velar’s power and performance.
Zooming into some of the Velar’s high-tech features:
Flush Deployable Door Handles
The flush deployable door handles are unique to the Velar in the Land Rover family. A futuristic feature, the door handles deploy when the vehicle is unlocked and the handles retract once the vehicle is locked. The door handles contribute to the low drag coefficient of only 0.32, making it the most aerodynamically-efficient Land Rover ever produced.
Matrix LED Headlights
The most slender ever to appear on a Land Rover vehicle, these boldly designed Matrix LED headlights produce a quality of light close to daylight, giving excellent illumination and reducing eye fatigue.
3-inch Interactive Driver Display
The new Interactive Driver Display makes driving the Velar more interesting especially with four visual themes and a full-screen 3D navigation display.
Touted as a calming sanctuary, the interior of the Velar is uncluttered, exquisite in detailing and offers exceptional refinement with the use of premium and luxury materials. The instrument panel’s strong, horizontal beam is the defining element of the Velar’s interior architecture. It rakes back dramatically towards the windscreen to create the fastest angle of any Land Rover and underlines the Velar’s dynamic driving characteristics. The slender air vents reinforce the Velar’s reductive, technology-enabled design.
Fortified with the Sports-Command driving position, the Velar’s front seats balance its performance-oriented design and support with opulent comfort. Meticulously weight-optimised and designed to liberate additional interior space and legroom, the seats have also been carefully sculpted for ease of entry and egress to and from the cabin.
Kvadrat highly durable wool-blend premium textile contrasted with Suede cloth is made optional for customers who prefer the option over the perforated grained leather for the P250 variant or perforated leather with suede cloth*** that comes with the R-Dynamic variant. Kvadart is Europe’s leading manufacturer of high-quality design textiles. The use of Kvadart premium textile in the Velar is unique to luxury SUVs of this segment.
***Depending on interior colour choice
The Velar’s body is built with aluminium-intensive monocoque using Jaguar Land Rover’s Lightweight Aluminium Architecture. Aluminium alloys account for more than 81 percent of the body-in-white – a figure no competitor can match. Its light, stiff, aluminium-intensive body, together with double-wishbone front and Integral Link rear suspension provides the perfect basis for agile handling, superior ride comfort and outstanding refinement. It also delivers exceptional levels of crash protection that the Velar has been developed to meet.
It is also one of the safest vehicles due to its comprehensive safety system that includes six airbags and a suite of technology advanced driver assistance systems including Head Up Display**, Navigation Pro System and Cruise Control Speed Limiter.
The Velar delivers exceptional composure and agility on-road, as well as class-leading capability off-road. The most significant of these is an intelligent, efficient, torque on-demand all-wheel-drive (AWD) system, which provides the optimum torque distribution to suit various road conditions. Depending on road conditions, it can make the transition from 100 percent rear bias to fully locked in only 165 milliseconds; transient torque delivery to the front axle can take as little as 100 milliseconds. This makes the AWD system incredibly responsive, delivering exceptional performance in all conditions.
Exceptional performance and efficiency comes from its Ingenium powertrain, that is matched to a smooth-shifting ZF eight-speed automatic transmission and all-wheel drive with Intelligent Driveline Dynamics. The Velar is fitted with the P250 powertrain. It is the first of the two new petrol engines that develops peak power of 250PS and high maximum torque of 365Nm, which is maintained from just 1,200rpm to 4,500rpm. This means that the Velar can accelerate from 0-100km/h in 6.7 seconds and return an impressive 7.6-litres/100km and 173g/km CO2 on the European combined cycle.
When purchasing the Velar, customers can choose from the following options:
Velar (P250) – RM529,800*
Velar R-Dynamic (P250) – RM588,800*
*Selling price is inclusive of 6% GST. Excludes Road Tax, Registration and Insurance.
The Velar is available in eight exterior colours i.e Fuji White, Yulong White, Corris Grey, Santorini Black, Kaikoura Stone, Firenze Red, Silicon Silver and Carpathian Grey; five interior colour options of Ebony/Ebony, Acorn, Vintage Tan/Ebony, Eclipse/Ebony and Light Oyster/Ebony. The Velar (P250) comes standard with 20-inch rims while the Velar R-Dynamic (P250) comes with 21-inch rims.
Designed and engineered at Jaguar Land Rover’s development centres in the UK, the Velar is manufactured at the company’s Solihull production facility.
All vehicles distributed by Jaguar Land Rover Malaysia are compatible with the Malaysian climate, environment, fuel quality and meet the Malaysian emission standard. All Land Rover vehicles distributed by authorised dealers also come with Land Rover Care programme which includes a five-year warranty, five years’ free service and three years’ roadside assistance. Please visit www.landrover.com.my for more information.
