1986 Land Rover Defender on 2040-cars

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Jaguar Land Rover proposes seats that scientifically massage your butt, for your health

Habitually sitting too long can degrade a person's health. Scientific research has proven that dormancy can increase the risk of obesity, diabetes, cardiovascular disease, deep-vein thrombosis, and metabolic syndrome, according to the Harvard Medical School. Although sitting can be avoided in many cases, such as using a standing desk at work, taking a seat is the only option when hopping in the car for a drive. Jaguar Land Rover (JLR) is hoping to address this negative aspect of cars with a new high-tech seat that the company says mimics the act of walking.  JLR calls the concept a shape-shifting, or morphable, seat system, and it is currently in a trial period with Jaguar Land Rover’s Body Interiors Research division. Using actuators built into the seat's foam, the seat will constantly be in motion with micro-adjustments that can be tuned to the needs of different people and body types. JLR believes it has created a system that recreates what is known as pelvic oscillation, a motion that can supposedly trick the brain into thinking the body is walking. In addition to helping to prevent internal health issues, JLR also notes that a sedentary lifestyle can degrade and shorten muscles in the legs, hips, and rear. If these muscles are worked on a regular basis, the chance and risk of injury and back issues could potentially be reduced. The new seats are just one of many car interior technologies JLR has explored. In the past, we've seen tech that tracks brainwaves and heart rates, creates augmented reality, helps prevent motion sickness, and helps stop the spread of germs. They've also taken the time to have an expert demonstrate the perfect seating position. Most of this stuff is experimental for now, but it's possible similar features could eventually trickle down to production cars, in time. See how the seat moves in the video below. Related Video:    

Jaguar Land Rover invests $1.5B to build factory in Slovakia

Jaguar Land Rover will invest 1 billion pounds ($1.5 billion at current rates) to build a new factory in Nitra, Slovakia. Construction will commence in 2016, and the site will have an initial capacity of 150,000 vehicles a year when the first of them roll out in late 2018. JLR expects to employ 2,800 people there. JLR won't yet say what vehicle it will build in Slovakia, other than it will be an all-new aluminum model. The 2018 timing for the plant's start of production seems to coincide with the launch of the radically different next-gen Land Rover Defender, though. Earlier reports suggested that JLR also considered locations in North America, particularly Georgia, and Europe for the new factory. However, the company signaled the Slovakia choice earlier this year when it signed a letter of intent with the government there in August. The automaker then did a final feasibility study before committing to the site. The new factory continues JLR's recent manufacturing expansion. The company opened an engine plant in the UK last year and a factory in China. There will also be one soon in Brazil, and it will reportedly bid to buy the Silverstone Circuit as a new headquarters. JAGUAR LAND ROVER CONFIRMS NEW FACTORY IN SLOVAKIA • New world-class premium manufacturing facility confirmed in Nitra • The next stage of the Company's plans for sustainable global growth • Today's announcement also supports long-term investment in the UK Bratislava, Slovakia – Jaguar Land Rover has confirmed that it will be the first British carmaker to open a manufacturing facility in Slovakia. The announcement follows an agreement between the company and the Government of the Slovak Republic to build a new plant in the city of Nitra, western Slovakia. The new world-class GBP1 billion premium manufacturing facility will eventually employ around 2,800 people. Today's announcement follows Jaguar Land Rover's recent confirmation to double its investment in its engine plant in the UK to almost GBP1 billion – the largest injection into a new British manufacturing plant in decades creating several hundred new jobs. Dr Ralf Speth, Chief Executive Officer, Jaguar Land Rover commented, "Jaguar Land Rover is delighted today to welcome Slovakia into our family. The new factory will complement our existing facilities in the UK, China, India and Brazil and marks the next step in the company's strategy to become a truly global business.

Jaguar Land Rover mulling factory in Georgia?

London's Sunday Times reported last October that Jaguar-Land Rover was sniffing around The South looking for a potential manufacturing site, and was "talking to several southern states." We imagine Georgia was one of them; The Peach State has Kia Motors Manufacturing in West Point, it claims Porsche HQ as a resident, and soon the Mercedes-Benz regional office, too. The Atlanta Journal-Constitution has said that Governor Nathan Deal recently took the initiative to fly to the UK to "make prospect calls" with JLR executives about a deal. We don't have any details about the calls, but we'll guess that they involved Deal making a financial case for GA over other states while sipping a cup of tea. It's said that the English luxury maker wants to build a factory here with a 200,000-unit capacity, to take advantage of the same financial efficiencies that have planted other automakers in the US and Mexico; it opened a facility in China last year to build the Range Rover Evoque, Land Rover Discovery Sport, and the Jaguar XE, and is casting eyes over Brazilian and Saudi Arabian soil for other facilities. No timetable has been given for a decision. Related Video: News Source: Atlanta Journal-Constitution via Automotive News - sub. req.Image Credit: AP Photo/Tony Ding Government/Legal Plants/Manufacturing Jaguar Land Rover Luxury