Motoring: JLR aiming to prove cars are a living thing
“THE car is the closest thing we will ever create to something that is alive.”
Legend has it that the man responsible for this famous saying was Jaguar founder and idealist Sir William Lyons.
It was therefore fitting that cars which were built by his company were used in a very special event to underline a significant moment in the future of not just the famous marque but the UK automotive industry in general.
The new Jaguar XE is a very important car to the future of Jaguar – and the industry – and it is set to reintroduce the brand to the large volume executive market. The company is hoping the vehicle will carve out a slice of the market currently dominated by the BMW 3 Series, the Mercedes C Class and the Audi A4.
JLR has spared no expense in the model and invested £500m into the production facilities at Lode Lane in order to produce the volume of XEs it hopes the market will sustain.
The move marks the first time Jaguars have been produced at the spiritual home of Land Rover and to mark the occasion the company pulled out all the stops for a unique celebration of the twin marques and their distinctly British characteristics.
The 40-car parade around the Lode Lane plant was led by legendary British racing driver Sir Stirling Moss in a Jaguar XK120 alongside Solihull operations director, Alan Volkaerts. They were joined by Jaguar test driver extraordinaire Norman Dewis, well-known TV presenter – and Jaguar Land Rover aficionado – Quentin Willson, plus many other VIP guests (of which I was lucky enough to be one).
Models from Jaguar’s illustrious 80-year history such as the SS1 Tourer, XK120, and E-Type were lined up with the new XE in a circuit of the factory, which was watched by thousands of workers given an hour’s grace from their stations in order to soak up the atmosphere and understand their place in the company’s future success.
The Jaguars were joined by Land Rover’s finest in the form of a Series l, 101 Forward Control and the newly launched Range Rover Sport SVR.
John Edwards, managing director of Jaguar Land Rover Special Operations – the new division tasked with melding the best of the company’s past to its future successes – said: ”It’s wonderful to see great cars from both Jaguar and Land Rover’s heritage helping us to celebrate the exciting new future at Solihull. Even more so when they are being joined by the future classics currently being made here such as the Jaguar XE.”
Sir Stirling said: “Cars like the Jaguar XK120 and E-Type look as wonderful today as they did when they were new and it’s brilliant that they are here, taking part in the celebration of a great new chapter in Jaguar’s illustrious history.”
Dewis said: “It makes you proud to see all these great cars here again. It’s something we don’t make enough of.
“But it’s not just these classics that are great; it’s the new cars as well. I’m sure Sir William would be very happy.”
Few manufacturers can boast the sporting heritage of Jaguar and it has taken some time for the company to fully exploit that history for commercial gain.
However, it now has a better understanding of heritage and how important this is to the buying experience.
If further proof were needed, the company is also launching a new Land Rover Heritage division – and has chosen to launch it in of all places, Germany – at the Techno Classica in Essen, which opens today.
Land Rover Heritage forms part of Jaguar Land Rover’s Special Operations division and is intended to compliment Jaguar Heritage in supporting vehicles 10 years out of production across Land Rover’s global sales network.
The Land Rover Heritage stand at Essen will feature a stunning example of the Range Rover Classic with selected genuine parts from Land Rover’s Heritage Parts range.
New Land Rover Heritage Parts will be created using original tooling methods and will support owners of older Land Rovers by providing genuine parts.
Gradual rollout of Land Rover Heritage activities to include Land Rover Heritage Driving Experience in the UK plus reintroduction of wider range of genuine Heritage Parts.
Body, trim and extended servicing items are being made available for the Range Rover Classic, while for Range Rover P38 and Discovery 1 and 2, Land Rover Heritage supplies salvage and extended service parts will ensure customers’ cherished cars are maintained to the highest possible standard.
For Series l, ll and lll, selected Land Rover Heritage Parts are available and the brand will gradually reintroduce more original part numbers – all made using original tooling methods and all items supported under warranty.
With production of the current Defender now in its final phase, Land Rover has committed to supply replacement parts for 15 years for this automotive icon. Thereafter, owners of the current Defender will be able to maintain their treasured car by ordering genuine Land Rover Heritage Parts through Land Rover’s global network of retailers.
Edwards said: “We are delighted to launch Land Rover Heritage, which perfectly complements the recent introduction of Jaguar Heritage. It is estimated that 70% of all Land Rovers manufactured since 1948 are still in existence so there is a large and very passionate owner base to support through Land Rover Heritage.”
Effortless everywhere – this mule hides a secret inside
EARLIER this year, Rolls-Royce gave a pledge to inform stakeholders of the progress of its Project Cullinan – the hush-hush programme thought to herald the luxury marque’s first off-road vehicle.
Keeping its promise, the company has published photographs depicting the first key milestone in the vehicle’s development programme. The photographs are of the first engineering mule, which will be seen on public roads this week.
This early engineering mule, based on a shortened Phantom Series II body, has been created purely to begin the development of an all-wheel drive suspension system.
The body may hint at the size of the new car, but it features no design aspects of the eventual high-sided, all-terrain vehicle which has been hinted at for some time.
The first series of tests will focus on Project Cullinan’s on-road behaviour from suspension throw to high-bodied stability, and will test the new suspension across all types of international road surface specification at test facilities, as well as on public roads. Test surfaces will include; Belgian Pavé, cobblestones, corrugated concrete, noise development and measurement surfaces, resonance road, and acceleration bumps.
The company said Project Cullinan engineering mules would spend equal amounts of time testing on-road and off-road to ensure future customers experienced the same unrivalled limousine ride quality on all surfaces.
Vauxhall announces Viva pricing
VAUXHALL has announced pricing details for the re-birth of its historic Viva brand.
The all-new five-door entry-level model will arrive in showrooms in the summer, priced from £7,995 on-the-road.
The Viva range consists of two trim levels: SE and SL which is a trim name carried over from the original Vauxhall Viva. There will be air conditioning and ecoFLEX versions of the SE trim, giving customers a choice of four specified models (SE, SE Air Con, SE ecoFLEX and SL).
Both Viva trim levels are said to feature a high level of standard equipment. Tyre pressure monitoring system, city mode steering, lane departure warning, cruise control with speed limiter and front fog lights with cornering function are standard.
Class-leading technology including ESP which features traction control, cornering brake control, emergency brake assist, straight line stability control and hill start assist are also standard across the range. All Viva models also feature six airbags, AM/FM radio with aux-in and steering wheel controls, electric front windows, electric/heated mirrors and remote central door locking.
Boasting a claimed 65.7mpg combined and 99g/km, the Viva SE ecoFLEX gets a front lip spoiler, extended rear spoiler with LED brake light and ultra-low rolling resistance tyres over the entry model. It is priced from £8,170 OTR.
Priced from £9,495 OTR, SL trim features electronic climate control, Morocanna seat trim, leather steering wheel and 15-inch alloy wheels. Other highlights include six speakers, USB audio connection, Bluetooth music streaming and mobile phone portal.
Options available include Winter Pack (heated seats and steering wheel), rear parking sensors and electric glass sliding sunroof.
“Short, crisp and full of character, Vauxhall’s new entry-level model is a proper small car and will hold great appeal in this rapidly growing sector,” said Tim Tozer, Vauxhall’s chairman and managing director.
“In showrooms this summer priced from £7,995 on-the-road, Viva joins new Corsa and ADAM in a compelling small car portfolio, giving Vauxhall an unrivalled position in the small car market.”
Drive safely.
