Jaguar Land Rover should have put out a one line press release that said:

“Thank you but we’re still working on things”

Instead they list their accomplishments without ever mentioning the other half of their company that actually came in last place.  It’s a little embarrassing.  Jaguar should be very proud of what they’ve accomplished but at the same time for all their talk of synergy and being a family, to have Land Rover come in dead last really should temper any excitement. 

Crazier still is putting out a picture like the one below knowing that right out of frame are some Land Rovers which came in dead last in same survey.  How do they all look at each other with straight faces?  Even the J.D. Power guy has to be concerned.

Something is still very wrong at Jaguar Land Rover.  Cars are great – some of the best out there but these customer service issues have to stop.

Go read how long it took multiple California dealers to fix a clearly documented rattle in a brand new $137,000 Range Rover Autobiography: rangerovers.net – Rattle in 2015 RR ATB

From the new Jaguar XF Press Release:

Infotainment and connectivity is the most advanced Jaguar has ever offered. The all-new InControl Touch Pro system features a 10.2-inch touchscreen and Dual View technology which simultaneously allows the driver to see information such as navigation, while the front seat passenger watches TV or a DVD.

To handle the enormous amounts of data, InControl Touch Pro features a solid-state drive and a quad-core processor, and runs on state-of-the-art, ultra-fast Ethernet – a next-generation network offering exceptional data transfer rates. Combined, they deliver incredible graphics, fast response times and truly exceptional performance.

Looks like the Jaguar interior guys really love buttons over dials and the buttons they choose to feature are interesting too – while the Sync button is helpful (especially for the OCD inclined), wouldn’t it make more sense to make the Climatic Seats button a double-wide?  I would think it’s a more popular button on a daily basis?

But I digress…

This new wide screen design does finally look like something modern and we can only hope the performance is there to match the looks.  We can sort of assume we’ll be seeing something similar on the next interior refresh for Range Rover.

One other note, it looks like they did some photoshopping on the full image from above:

When zooming into the Meridian badging on the door speakers, the driver side one is mirrored:

◾Land Rover officially confirms New Range Rover Evoque Convertible at 2015 Geneva Motor Show

◾Premium compact SUV convertible is the first vehicle to have driven Crossrail tunnels below London

◾First prototype demonstrates Land Rover capability in underground surroundings

Whitley, UK, 02 March 2015 – Land Rover has confirmed the world’s first premium compact SUV convertible will go on sale in 2016 by releasing a unique underground testing film.

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Full text of Press Pack at end of article.

** Double roof fins are for vehicles with the hotspot option, second antenna is for the 3G radio – 3G, is it 2010? How many people in the car are actually supposed to share that lightning fast 3G connection?  Will the extra antenna really make any difference?

** Dial graphics have been refreshed and the 5” screen resolution has doubled to VGA levels – 640 x 480.

** Ingenium TD4 brings a new blue badging to Evoque, highlighting its E-Capability

** I hate to call out a JLR employee but I’ll paste in the quote below – I think it explains why the current generation systems are so rough – no one at Jaguar Land Rover should be talking about “vast experience” or “competitive advantage” with regard their current and/or previous systems.  Here’s hoping InControl Touch lives up to the hype but it’s still worrying.  Do the people within JLR realize how many edges were left unpolished in the current systems?

“Land Rover has vast experience with touchscreen infotainment systems, providing a huge competitive advantage as consumers increasingly become accustomed to touchscreen technology via smartphones and tablets,” said Danella Bagnall, Vehicle Line Director, Evoque.

** Evoque’s Hands-Free Tailgate can be activated both from directly behind the vehicle, and from either side of the bumper

THE 2016 MODEL YEAR RANGE ROVER EVOQUE

– PRESS PACK CONTENTS

1. 2016 MODEL YEAR EVOQUE DESIGN

1.1 Leading-edge design with added desire

1.2 An even more luxurious interior

1.3 Five revised trim levels for enhanced customer choice

2. ADVANCED POWERTRAIN AND CHASSIS TECHNOLOGY

2.1 All-new Ingenium diesel engines

2.2 Turbocharged petrol engine for maximum performance with efficiency

2.3 Revised chassis for peerless agility

2.4 E-Capability

3. STATE-OF-THE-ART TECHNOLOGY

3.1 All-new infotainment system

3.2 Ultimate in-car connectivity with Land Rover InControl^TM Apps

3.3 Advanced driver-assistance and consumer-centric systems

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This first refresh of the Range Rover Evoque for 2016 really does a great job to sharpen it up.

Some of my bullet points (official PR to follow)

• All models getting hood vents
• Two new grille designs (Dynamic & Non)
• InControl Touch available
• Tailgate can be opened with a swipe of your foot under the rear bumper
• Lane-Keeping Assist / Autonomous Emergency Braking / Driver Drowsing Monitor(UK: Attention Assist Estimation)
• Ingenium engines for UK

Some of those items give us an idea of what will be added to the Range Rover & Range Rover Sport soon!

2016 MODEL YEAR RANGE ROVER EVOQUE:

THE MOST EFFICIENT PRODUCTION LAND ROVER EVER

· 2016 model year Range Rover Evoque to make its world debut at the Geneva Motor Show in March 2015

· Ground-breaking exterior design refined to give even more distinctive appeal

· The most efficient production Land Rover ever: New Ingenium diesel engines deliver best-in-class CO₂ emissions of 109g/km* and fuel consumption of 68mpg
(4.2 l/100km)

· Sector-leading residual values and extended service intervals (21,000 miles**) contribute to lower running costs with estimated savings of up to approx. £3,700 over three years^†

· 2016 model year Evoque is now 18% more efficient than the top-selling original

· First Jaguar Land Rover to feature full-LED adaptive headlamp technology

· Three trim levels and multiple option packs allow customers even greater personalisation of their Evoque

· 3000 new jobs created at Halewood driven by Evoque over past four years

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