He explained the Modular Longitudinal Architecture underpinning the 2022 Range Rover has been developed to accommodate a hydrogen powertrain. As you may recall, MLA was initially programmed to debut with the next-generation Jaguar XJ electric sedan, but the fullsize luxobarge was canceled right before its official premiere. Land Rover now says that aside from gasoline/diesel mild-hybrid engines, plug-in hybrids, and battery-powered EVs, the platform can also be used for a fuel cell electric vehicle.

The Tata Motors-owned company is no stranger to hydrogen as it’s already testing a Defender prototype fitted with a fuel cell. In the coming months, Land Rover is expected to take the wraps off a drivable concept to demonstrate the advantages a hydrogen-fueled vehicle offers over an equivalent EV powered by batteries.

FCEVs do indeed provide a longer range than a battery-electric car and can be refilled in only a few minutes, comparable to a car fitted with a combustion engine, but the lack of infrastructure is a big problem that’s unlikely to be resolved in the near future. It’s the main reason why Toyota is selling the second-generation Mirai only in select markets where there are enough charging stations.

These EVs, whether they have batteries or a fuel cell, are part of Land Rover’s greater plan to reach zero emissions as early as 2036. Meanwhile, no fewer than six electric models – including the Range Rover EV – are coming in the next five years, with Jaguar becoming a purely electric brand from 2025.

Source: Autocar

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Despite looking oh-so-familiar, the 2022 Range Rover is actually going to be an all-new vehicle by adopting the MLA platform. That means it’s going to be the most electrified generation of the luxobarge ever, with mild-hybrid tech likely standard across the range. In addition, a more efficient plug-in hybrid version has been spied testing repeatedly and should be available from day one.

The biggest news we’re expecting from Land Rover is the confirmation of a purely electric version, which multiple reports say is scheduled to hit the market sometime in 2024. One would argue that’s a bit too late seeing as how the Tesla Model X has been around for so long while Mercedes is putting the finishing touches on the EQS SUV prior to its 2022 launch, with a smaller EQE SUV not far behind.

Owned by Tata Motors, Jaguar Land Rover has announced its intentions to become a purely electric automotive group by 2039. As a matter of fact, Jaguar will be switching to an EV-only lineup as early as 2025, and the conglomerate aims to introduce its first zero-emissions production model after the I-Pace in 2024, like the Range Rover. No fewer than six EVs across the Range Rover, Discovery, and Defender families are scheduled to arrive within the next five years.

These promises are part of JLR’s “Reimagine” plan, which sadly doesn’t include the next-generation Jaguar XJ as the fullsize luxury sedan – which was supposed to get an EV option – has been canceled at the very last minute. Jaguar has hinted that the stately sedan will return one day as an electric-only offering, but it’s unlikely to happen until towards the end of the decade at the earliest.

Source: Land Rover

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The Jaguar brand will have a zero-emissions lineup from 2025 while Land Rover will heavily invest in hybrid and electric underpinnings for its Range Rover, Discovery, and Defender series. During an online press conference with Financial Times, JLR CEO Bollore provided some preliminary details regarding a split in strategy for the Discovery and Defender models.

While the current versions of the two SUVs share much of the same platform and are built together at the company’s factory in Slovakia, their direct successors will be greatly differentiated. The next-gen Discovery will switch to what Bollore refers to as a “battery-native” platform, specifically the Electric Modular Architecture: “The need for the Defender in terms of platform is different from the one that is going to carry Discovery, Discovery Sport, Velar, and Evoque.”

Based on previously released information about the EMA platform, it means the revamped Discovery will be offered as a full hybrid, a plug-in hybrid with a four-cylinder gasoline engine, or as a pure EV. The new hardware is being engineered to “support advanced electrified ICE” but without a diesel powertrain as this type of internal combustion engine will be phased out sooner rather than later.

As far as the Defender is concerned, it will transition to the Modular Longitudinal Architecture (MLA) supporting an array of electrified gasoline engines but with less focus on PHEVs. The differentiation will allow Land Rover to avoid sales cannibalization, which could become a real issue soon for the current Defender as a bigger 130 version is planned with a seven-seat layout.

Source: Automotive News Europe

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We’re being promised “a dramatically beautiful new portfolio of emotionally engaging designs and pioneering next-generation technologies.” There is some bad news in all of this as the next-generation XJ fullsize electric sedan has been axed even before being officially revealed. Jaguar had been testing prototypes for a while, but there won’t be a production version after all. However, the British marque claims it will retain the “XJ” nameplate, suggesting it might come back at one point in the future.

“Reimagine” is more than just a zero-emissions Jaguar brand as all JLR nameplates will be available as EVs by the end of the decade. In the next five years, the Land Rover brand will unveil six purely electric vehicles for its three families of models: Range Rover, Discovery, and Defender. The first of the bunch is programmed to premiere in 2024.

In the long run, Jaguar Land Rover as a whole aims to go entirely electric and achieve net-zero carbon emissions across its supply chain, production, and operations by 2039. Meanwhile, the conglomerate is developing hydrogen technology and will have fuel cell prototypes testing on public roads in the United Kingdom within the next 12 months.

During an online presentation held earlier today, Jaguar Land Rover CEO Thierry Bollore also revealed plans to gradually phase out diesel engines to ensure a cleaner product portfolio. “Reimagine” is also about simplification as JLR will switch to just three global vehicle architectures going forward while retaining all of its core manufacturing facilities.

Source: Jaguar Land Rover

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