It’s no secret that
Jaguar Land Rover is working on an assortment of new models, but the company
has confirmed plans to launch three new nameplates – including the Defender –
by 2024. Revealed as part of an investor presentation discovered by Auto News
Europe, the plan suggests two the models will be unveiled between 2020 and
2021. The slides reveal one of these models is the highly-anticipated Defender,
while the other could be the Jaguar J-Pace.
The third new model
will arrive between 2022 and 2024. Nothing is official, but this could be the
rumored Range Rover Allroad. The model could also be something else entirely as
Land Rover is planning a family of Defender models. Besides confirming plans
for the three new models, the presentation revealed some additional information
about the Modular Longitudinal Architecture (MLA) and the Premium Transverse
Architecture (PTA). The latter platform will debut on the redesigned Range
Rover Evoque and it will eventually be used on other smaller crossovers.
Getting into
specifics, the new platform will allow for mild hybrid and plug-in hybrid
powertrains that feature a battery pack underneath the floor. The architecture
also promises to offer a more comfortable ride and improved aerodynamics.
The MLA platform,
on the other hand, will debut around 2020 and it is expected to underpin the
all-new Defender. The platform has designed to accommodate an assortment of
different powertrains including internal combustion engines, mild hybrid
systems, plug-in hybrid systems and fully electric powertrains.
The focus on
eco-friendly powertrains will play a big role in the company’s future as JLR’s
mid-term forecast calls for plug-in hybrids and battery electric vehicles to
make up approximately 20% of their global sales. As part of this effort, all
new models will be electrified by 2020.
Even models will
conventional engines will become more eco-friendly thanks to the increased use
of aluminum to reduce weight. Future models will also be more aerodynamic and
feature more fuel-efficient engines.
The presentation
also talked about the company’s next-generation infotainment system and the
slides show the system will be always on, always connected, always listening
and always up to date. A later slide explains the infotainment system will boot
up instantly, connect to 4G and 5G networks and sync with the cloud. The new
system also promises “full interaction through voice” thanks to partnerships
with Amazon, Microsoft and Nuance.
The infotainment
systems will also receive over-the-air updates and have a unique hardware
upgrade cartridge concept. Little is known about the latter, but the image
suggests swapping out old infotainment systems for newer systems could
streamlined.