Jaguar Land Rover’s brand new engine manufacturing center is just another piece in the puzzle of the amazing turnaround they’ve had and one less item they have to rely on others to manufacture for them.
A little blast from the past – nice seeing Rover cast into both, 1971 on the left and 2014 on the right:
Here’s some info about it from an earlier JLR Press Release, pictures to follow
Jaguar Land Rover’s new Engine Manufacturing Centre in the UK is essential to support the company’s long-term strategic growth plans and will be the home for a new generation of technologically advanced, lightweight 4-cylinder low emission diesel and petrol engines.
Reinforcing Jaguar Land Rover’s commitment to manufacturing and innovation in the UK, the company will increase its investment in the facility to in excess of £500 million. This will almost double the number of highly skilled engineering and manufacturing jobs at the plant, taking the total number of people who will be employed at the site to almost 1,400.
Speaking at the show, Jaguar Land Rover’s Chief Executive Officer, Dr Speth said:"Jaguar Land Rover’s new Engine Manufacturing Centre in the UK is a clear demonstration of our business strategy guiding our investment plans."
"Not only does it bring our engine supply back to our production doorstep, but it gives us significant new resource as we continue to innovate with new products and markets."
The new family of engines is currently under development at Jaguar Land Rover’s advanced research and development facility. It will strengthen and expand the company’s engine range supporting future product development plans. Jaguar Land Rover will deliver high performance engines with class-leading levels of refinement and significant reductions in vehicle emissions, allowing it to compete even more effectively and attract new customers globally.
The state-of-the-art facility is the first in the company’s history to be entirely designed and specified by Jaguar Land Rover. At almost 100,000 sq m, the plant will include an engine testing centre alongside the manufacturing and assembly halls. The building will meet the highest standards of sustainable production and will feature a variety of energy efficiency technologies.
The new Engine Manufacturing Centre will open later this year with the first engines coming off the production line in 2015.
Some screenshots:
InControl app listing from within the iPhone app
Within the video, they go from an app to the cellphone interface which looks exactly as it does on a pre-InControl vehicle. I think I wrongly assumed with InControl the entire system would be getting an interface overhaul but that may not be the case, yet.
Here’s a look at the Winston app they’re very keen on, it’s will read aloud the items coming in through various feeds.
and finally the cityseeker app for nearby attractions, restaurants, lodging, etc…
Looks like a great start!
Interesting news release today with top-of-the-line Autobiography spec being added for the Range Rover Evoque. Further still, these type of packages usually don’t make it over to the US market but this PR was released by both LR UK & US. All the talk of a higher-performance Evoque might be realized in the Autobiography Dynamic which now includes a 45HP upgrade. They tweaked the front grille, it will be interesting to see if that rolls out across the line or if it’s Autobiography specific.
This is also the first real mention of the InControl system in a production vehicle.
Pics & official PR to follow:
- Two new premium derivatives debut for 2015 – Range Rover Evoque Autobiography and Autobiography Dynamic, bringing heightened luxury and performance
- Autobiography Dynamic debuts with 285PS/400Nm 2.0-litre petrol engine and revised chassis for sharper handling
- A world first – Land Rover InControlTM Apps* enables vehicle-optimised smartphone apps to be displayed and controlled with their original look and feel from the vehicle’s touchscreen
Land Rover is introducing the Autobiography name to the Range Rover Evoque for the first time with two new premium derivatives to the line-up for 2015: the luxurious Autobiography tops the range, complemented by the more powerful, more agile Autobiography Dynamic with its 285PS turbocharged engine and optimised chassis for enhanced performance and sharper handling.
