Jaguar Land Rover (JLR) is planning to offer an electrification option on half of its vehicles by the end of 2020. The automaker made the announcement in a statement that coincided with the introduction of the I-Pace concept at the ongoing Los Angeles Auto Show. JLR chief executive officer (CEO) Ralf Speth said that its powertrain strategy included battery electric vehicles (BEVs), plug-in hybrid electric vehicles (PHEVs), and mild hybrid electric vehicles (MHEVs), as well as diesel and gasoline (petrol) engines. Separately, the automaker has also revealed a Jaguar XKSS, which will form part of a batch of continuation models that was first announced earlier this year. The vehicle shown at the Petersen Museum in Los Angeles will be the template for nine vehicles being built to replace those lost in a fire during 1957. The vehicles will use period chassis numbers and are all being sold at a price in excess of GBP1 million (USD1.25 million).
Significance: In line with many of its rivals in the premium space, JLR is having to embrace electrification as part of its powertrain strategy to help drive down emissions. Although the automaker has launched a hybrid version of the Range Rover, this failed somewhat in the execution, not helped by the use of a diesel engine. However, we are about to see a more concerted effort in this area, led by the I-Pace, which IHS Automotive sees as being the start of the electrification strategy with MHEVs and PHEVs to follow. As for the Jaguar XKSS, this is the second recreation model to feature unused or destroyed chassis numbers following the six Jaguar E-Type Lightweights that have reached customers between 2015 and 2016. These have not only generated marketing for the brand but also shown off the capability of Jaguar Classic, which offers a range of services including components and restoration of the brand's historic vehicles. Although the XKSSs built are accurate recreations of the lost vehicles, there have been some minor deviations in specification to enhance safety, including a more robust fuel cell. The hand-building of the first customer car will begin later this year.
