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Jaguar Land Rover likely to build US plant... in three years

Jaguar Land Rover may very well open a plant in the United States, but the latest word has it that it'll be another three years or so before the company even makes a decision on the matter. The prospect first came up on our radar back in October when we reported that JLR was considering building a plant in the South. Georgia governor Nathan Deal even flew to the UK to solicit JLR's business. Former parent-company chairman Ratan Tata subsequently confirmed the idea was under consideration last month. And now the British automaker's CEO has told Automotive News that JLR will need a US assembly plant to fuel its growth in the vital North American market, but that'll it'll take a while to get going. The reasons for the delay, according to chief executive Ralf Speth, are threefold. For one thing, the automaker has its hands full at the moment opening plants in other locations: last year it opened one in China and this year it opened one in Brazil. It also recently opened a new SVO facility, an electric-propulsion R&D center and a new engine plant all in the UK, and can only handle building so many new facilities at a time. JLR will also need US suppliers of aluminum components to step up their game, as the company relies heavily on aluminum construction for their vehicles. US automakers shifting to aluminum for models like the new Ford F-150 will encourage American suppliers to get into the game, but it may be a while before they're up to Jaguar Land Rover standards. Finally, JLR will need to increase its sales potential in the US in order to justify local production. Speth says the company would need one model of which it could sell 30,000 to 40,000 units in the US alone, and it sold less than 18,000 units of its best-selling the Range Rover Sport here last year. In fact the entire Jaguar brand sold less than 16,000 units throughout all of last year in America, with Land Rover selling far more at over 50,000 units to contribute to total sales of over 67,000 units. Related Video: Featured Gallery Jaguar Land Rover Engine Manufacturing Center View 16 Photos News Source: Automotive News - sub. req.Image Credit: Jaguar Land Rover Plants/Manufacturing Jaguar Land Rover jaguar land rover jlr

Audi considers a rugged SUV — maybe on the Scout platform

Audi engineers are formulating plans to possibly build a “super saloon” luxury off-roader SUV in 2027, It would compete in a segment that now includes the Land Rover Defender and Mercedes-Benz G-Class, according to a report in BritainÂ’s Autocar. According to Audi designer Marc Lichte, quoted in the story, the platform for the new model could be borrowed from the Volkswagen GroupÂ’s recently announced sister brand, Scout Motors, which is currently developing electric-powered concepts and prototypes. While Audi has developed a PPE (Premium Platform Electric) architecture for its base EV lineup, that would be replaced in the planned model with ScoutÂ’s ladder chassis to provide the steep departure angles and ground clearance needed to negotiate tough terrain, as well as with the latest generation of AudiÂ’s Quattro four-wheel-drive technology, Autocar reports. Audi is well into development of its Activesphere project, an enticing design blend of coupe and hatchback. The Activesphere uses PPE, co-developed by Audi and Porsche, and will appear in a production Audi product by the end of this year. Audi says. Beyond that, “I think there is space" for a rugged SUV in AudiÂ’s passenger car lineup,  Lichte said. “There is potential because there are only two premium players” in this particular segment" (Mercedes-Benz and Land Rover) “and I think there is a space for a third one.” The upscale Defender was by far Land RoverÂ’s best-selling car last year, with 66,805 sold, and the G-Class set a new sales record the previous year with 41,174 moved worldwide. Audi obviously would like to capitalize on this popularity of the rugged 4x4 segment. The proposed competitor, said Lichte, “will not look like a G-Class and it will not look like a Defender, I can promise you. It will be something else."

Jaguar Land Rover reveals Bond cars [w/video]

We interrupt your regularly scheduled Frankfurt Motor Show coverage to bring you something far cooler. Jaguar Land Rover has officially introduced the cars it's lending to the latest James Bond film, Spectre. There's not much that wasn't previously covered as part JLR's February 2015 release, although there are some comments from the stars, as well as a pair of behind-the-scenes videos. At the very forefront of the British brand's charge is the Jaguar C-X75, the stillborn concept that set hearts aflutter with its handsome looks and its innovative turbine-powered drivetrain. According to Jaguar Land Rover, the orange supercar will be piloted by baddie Dave Bautista as part of an enormous chase scene throughout Rome. Meanwhile, Eve Moneypenny, played by Naomie Harris in her second Bond flick, will pilot the blacked-out Defender. For those that remember Skyfall, Miss Moneypenny spent most of the film's pre-title sequence tearing through Istanbul, Turkey behind the wheel of a silver Defender. Joining the Defender is the most powerful vehicle Land Rover has ever produced. The new Range Rover Sport SVR will show up wearing a menacing black paint job and featuring some extra lighting on both its roof and in its bumper. It's not clear who will be driving the 550-horsepower SVR, but in the photos released by JLR, it's shown trading places with a pair of Defenders as they rampage through the Austrian snow. Check out the photos of the vehicles below. You'll find both studio stuff and some set photos. There's also a full press release from JLR, as well as a pair of behind-the-scenes videos. Show full PR text Jaguar and Land Rover stunt vehicles Jaguar C-X75, Range Rover Sport SVR and Land Rover Defender make international debut in Frankfurt, Germany ? SPECTRE cast members Naomie Harris and David Bautista attend star-studded event ahead of reveal at motor show ? Guests entertained by British singer and musician John Newman ? Jaguar Land Rover Special Vehicle Operations [SVO] as well as Jaguar and Land Rover Design worked with filmmakers on the conception and creation of the Bond ? SVO is responsible for the most luxurious and highest performing cars that Jaguar Land Rover makes ? Jaguar and Land Rover to release exclusive and interactive behind-the-scenes SPECTRE content on www.JaguarUSA.com and www.LandRoverUSA.com (FRANKFURT, GERMANY) – September 15, 2015 - Today, Jaguar Land Rover celebrated their vehicles appearing in the new Bond adventure, SPECTRE.