Jaguar E-type Series 1 1966 on 2040-cars

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Jaguar CEO says people just don't want EVs right now

"Customers are not impressed with it currently." These are the words of one Ralf Speth, CEO of Jaguar Land Rover, spoke at the Automotive News Europe Congress in Birmingham, England. The "it" Speth is referring to is battery technology, which he characterized as "too heavy, too expensive," and with power density that's "too low." That all could go some way towards explaining why the British automaker has yet to bring an electric vehicle to market, why it killed the C-X75 hybrid-turbine supercar project, and why it only recently started offering hybrid versions of its Range Rover models (and has yet to offer them in the United States). That doesn't mean the company won't pursue electric propulsion in the future, though. According to Automotive News Europe, Speth forecasts that "the next generation of batteries will be higher density, lower weight and the cost will come down." What he didn't say, exactly, is when he expects that next generation of battery tech to come around – or when JLR will start to more closely embrace electric propulsion. In the meantime, Jaguar Land Rover will continue investing in research and development. Since Tata acquired the brands from Ford seven years ago, JLR has quadrupled its R&D budget and doubled the number of engineers on staff. Related Video:

Who picks car colors and materials? Designers like Hannah Custance

As automotive journalists, we're often asked "how did you get that job?" People usually didn't even know you could do such a thing. In this 7 Questions series, we're highlighting other jobs in the automotive industry that you might not have heard about before. What do they do, how'd they get to do it and other questions about their particular corner of the car world. Slowly but surely, the automotive landscape is becoming more colorful. Look beyond the unrelentingly conservative palette of white, black and gray most buyers opt for and you'll see the increased use of exterior trim types beyond the usual chrome. There's gloss black, of course, but also other metallic finishes like gold or copper. Those can be found inside, too, where there's also an increase in colorful leathers and trims, innovative fabrics, new wood types and finishes, and greater creativity in general. So where is this change coming from? The answer is designers like Hannah Custance, the color and materials design manager for Jaguar Land Rover. Her team's latest effort is also its magnum opus, the 2022 Range Rover. Although saddled with the expectations that comes with one of the automotive industry's classic nameplates, the all-new Range Rover is also a celebration of cutting edge manufacturing and fashion-forward materials selection. We sat down with Hannah at the L.A. Auto Show to find out more about color and materials designers, how she ended up in the industry, and advice she might have for young designers out there. It has been condensed for brevity. Autoblog: What does a color and materials design manager to do?Hannah Custance: I basically look after a team of designers who design finishes for every A surface on the car. So, that could be exterior finishes. It could be interior trim materials, soft materials, hard materials, chromes, metals, woods, ceramic – that's one of the new ones – anything you can kind of touch and see is color material design. Autoblog: How early in the design process does your team become involved.Hannah: Right at the very start. In fact, we look at materials that don't have a product assigned to them or a car assigned to them. So, it takes actually a very long time for us to get materials approved and fully validated. We have to find suppliers that are willing to work in automotive and our test standards are incredibly high, some of the highest in the industry.

2022 Jaguar F-Pace Review | Brings some flash to a subdued segment

The 2022 Jaguar F-Pace is an aesthetically pleasing alternative to the regular crowd of compact luxury SUVs from Europe and Asia. It bears the leaper proudly on its tightly-wrapped and attractive bodywork, and there’s little to complain about on the interior, too. Jaguar offers a level of performance available for whatever fits your fancy, but this SUV would rather be a cruiser and backroad bruiser versus a Nurburgring-carver no matter the model you choose. Some of our usual Jaguar Land Rover gripes have dissipated with the F-Pace recently, as itÂ’s now sporting a competent suite of tech to match its good looks. Plus, the new and complex inline-six engine is a real treat to use no matter the environment — it pulls hard when called upon, but has a smooth and luxurious side around town. We think itÂ’s the engine to get.  The F-Pace fits in nicely to this large group of luxury crossovers on sale today, offering an unmatched level of style and a good dose of substance to back it up. WeÂ’d still recommend a couple luxury SUVs before it, but the F-Pace is a more worthy alternative than itÂ’s ever been today.  Interior & Technology   |   Passenger & Cargo Space   |   Performance & Fuel Economy What it's like to drive   |   Pricing & Features   |   Crash Ratings & Safety Features WhatÂ’s new for 2022? There are no notable changes for the F-Pace in 2022 beyond a few optional items being made standard. Those include a power tailgate and privacy glass for the four- and six-cylinder models, and adaptive cruise control with lane-following assist for the SVR. The F-Pace received a makeover for the 2021 model year, and you can read more about that here. What are the F-Pace interior and in-car technology like? The F-PaceÂ’s interior just went through a big rethink last year that upgraded it into the realm of a top-shelf luxury cabin. It has an upscale look, uses excellent materials, and while it may struggle to find that balance between the inclusion of features and maintaining ease of use, nobody will criticize it for a lack of trying with technology. Per usual with Jaguar, the color and materials choices are vast, allowing you to find a combination that best fits your personality. The standard heated (front) seats are comfortable, and the interior as a whole measures up to its leading competitors out of Germany in the BMW X3 and Mercedes-Benz GLC-Class.