Jaguar Land Rover uses Los Angeles event to showcase new models
JAGUAR LAND ROVER will use the platform of the Los Angeles Motor Show to showcase three new models to one of its most important markets.
The show, which begins tomorrow and runs until December 9, is one of the most important events on the JLR global marketing calendar.
Andy Goss, JLR North America President, said: “This year’s Los Angeles Auto show is one of the most significant US shows in years for Jaguar Land Rover as we introduce three breakthrough new products.
“JLR is making major strides to grow the business with highly targeted new products. The new Jaguar F-Type, Jaguar XFR-S and all new Range Rover will all make a major impact, specifically in the United States, which will be the world’s largest market for all three vehicles.”
Making its global debut at the show will be the XFR-S model, the fastest and most powerful saloon Jaguar has ever produced. This is the second model in the ultra-high performance R-S range and builds on the already acclaimed XFR.
Making its US motor show debut will also be the all-new 2013 Range Rover; the world’s first SUV with a lightweight all-aluminium body.
The US specification vehicle with the naturally-aspirated 5.0-litre V8 will be approximately 380kgs lighter than the outgoing equivalent. The new model goes on sale in the US in December.
Also making its Los Angeles debut is the new two-seater F-Type, which is being shown for the first time in its Black Pack performance trim. The convertible sports car goes on sale in early summer next year.
BMW is using the LA show to highlight the work of its new designers by entering them in a creative competition to find the most visionary automotive concepts.
In 2012 the challenge for the design teams was to create the ultimate 2025 highway patrol vehicle. The BMW offering, devised by its subsidiary DesignworksUSA, features the ePatrol concept.
The design teams were given a set of criteria which included: future needs for advanced technology; speed and agility on future freeway systems; creativity of the solution; and meeting a specific region’s emission standards and environmental sensibility (including maintenance and recyclability).
Laurenz Schaffer, President of DesignworksUSA, said: “We wanted to present a visionary impulse to the theme of highway patrol. Hence our contribution to the LA Design Challenge is a vision concept with no links to BMW´s future design strategy. We took the liberty to think out of the box. To emphasise the conceptual approach our design is independent from BMW design elements and known visual cues but looks at new product typologies and fresh ideas on shapes.”
The design of the ePatrol Vision centres on a modular structure and drone technology. The main structure can deploy three drones. The top drone sits above the main structure and is a flying drone, while the other two are one wheel vehicles attached to the rear. In the case of a pursuit during heavy traffic areas, the patrol officer sitting in the two passenger main structure can deploy either the flying drone or one of the single wheel drones to chase the suspect and report back data to the main structure. When all drones are deployed, the main structure can continue to function. All drones have added protection benefits in that they can send an impulse to another vehicle and disable it.
