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Jaguar wants to become the British electric company

Jaguar has been telegraphing its electric future for years, and this week we're beginning to see it come to fruition. The company's Formula E race team officially launched September 8 with sponsorship, livery, and an interesting name for its racecar, the I-Type 1. It marks Jaguar's return to factory-supported racing and serves as a model for the company's future strategy. "The Formula E championship will enable us to engineer and test our advanced technologies under extreme performance conditions," Nick Rogers, executive director of product engineering at Jaguar Land Rover, said in a statement. "We will apply this vital knowledge as part of our real-world development." Formula E competition starts October 9 as the all-electric racing series begins its third season. Panasonic signed on as the title sponsor of the team. Formula E is a natural move for Jag and allows the British company to remain true to its racing heritage while still looking toward. The company claims seven Le Mans titles, which is the fourth-most in history, even though it hasn't won one since 1990. That's a great lineage, but Jaguar knows it's getting dusty. Launching a Formula E effort allows it to compete in a form of motorsports that should prove relevant to road-car technology. Jag is drawing on Williams Advanced Engineering (you might have heard of its F1 team) for the electric powertrain. Williams also helped with the development of Jaguar's C-X75 plug-in concept car. Meanwhile, we also captured an F-Pace crossover silently testing this week in the Alps. Though it looks like a normal F-Pace, spy shooters report it was producing no engine noise, leading (or perhaps leaping) to the conclusion it's the rumored electric SUV Jaguar is working on. Likely, this prototype has a diesel engine as a range extender. View 11 Photos Though the camouflaged F-Pace is great fodder for speculation, Jag's electric efforts are not a secret. Jaguar and Land Rover showed off three electric-vehicle demonstrators last year and the company is exploring everything from mild hybrids to full electric powertrains. JLR has filed paperwork to secure trademarks for I-Pace and E-Pace. "JLR is definitely rushing headfirst into electrification," said Ed Kim, vice president of industry analysis for research firm AutoPacific.

Jaguar Land Rover seeks to block U.S. imports of Porsche, Audi, Lamborghini, VW SUVs

You wouldn’t know it was about Jags and Lambos, to judge by its rather dry name: In the Matter of Certain Vehicle Control Systems. But thatÂ’s the complaint Jaguar Land Rover Automotive Plc filed on Thursday to block U.S. imports of Porsche, Lamborghini, Audi and Volkswagen sport utility vehicles it says are using its patented Terrain Response technology without permission. Jaguar Land Rover, a British carmaker owned by IndiaÂ’s Tata Motors Ltd., said in its filing with the U.S. International Trade Commission that the technology helps negotiate a “broad range of surfaces” and is a key feature in JaguarÂ’s F-Pace and Land Rover Discovery vehicles. “JLR seeks to protect itself and its United States operations from companies that have injected infringing products into the U.S. market that incorporate, without any license from JLR, technology developed by JLR and protected by its patent,” JaguarÂ’s lawyer, Matthew Moore, said in the filing. Representatives of Volkswagen didnÂ’t immediately respond to emails seeking comment on the complaint. Jaguar wants to block imports of PorscheÂ’s Cayenne; LamborghiniÂ’s Urus; AudiÂ’s Q8, Q7, Q5, A6 Allroad and e-tron vehicles; and VWÂ’s Tiguan vehicles. It said there are plenty of other luxury midsize SUV and compact crossover vehicles to meet consumer demand if the SUVs are banned from the U.S. Still, the premium Porsche and Audi lines provide much of the profit VW is using to fund its investments in technology for electric vehicles, autonomous vehicles and further innovations. In addition to the four brands, Volkswagen Group owns other upscale nameplates, including Bentley and Bugatti. The International Trade Commission is an independent, quasi-judicial agency that investigates complaints of unfair trade practices, like patent infringement. It canÂ’t award damages but does have the power to block products from entering the U.S. Owners of patents and trade secrets like it because it can work faster than the federal district courts -- the typical investigation is completed in 15 to 18 months. But Jaguar also filed patent lawsuits against the companies in federal courts in Delaware and New Jersey, seeking cash compensation for the use of the technology. Those cases are likely to be put on hold once the trade commission launches its investigation. The case is In the Matter of Certain Vehicle Control Systems, 337-3508, U.S. International Trade Commission (Washington).

2021 Jaguar E-Pace spied on the Nurburgring hiding its styling changes

We just spied a Jaguar E-Pace lapping the Nurburgring covered in camouflage from front to back. Jaguar released the first E-Pace as a 2018 model year, so we’re fast approaching what will be the modelÂ’s first light refresh. Things donÂ’t appear to be drastically changing from an exterior design perspective. The same shapes, cutouts and vents are all visible on the rear fascia and hatch. Even the slick taillights look largely the same as the E-Pace thatÂ’s on sale now. If thereÂ’s going to be some change in this crossover, we suspect itÂ’ll be up front where the coverings change from skin-tight camo print to pieces of fabric that completely disguise whatÂ’s underneath. Two cutouts in the fabric are visible on the side air intakes, presumably allowing air to pass through to keep the E-PaceÂ’s vitals cool on the Nurburgring. Possible changes include a new grille and front bumper design, most likely mimicking the lightly massaged F-Pace front end design. Seeing that Jaguar spent most of its time upgrading the F-PaceÂ’s interior, thereÂ’s a good chance Jaguar is doing the same with the E-Pace. ItÂ’s definitely the area that requires the most attention, especially now that the F-PaceÂ’s interior is so handsome. WeÂ’d love to see Jaguar put as much tech and style into its small crossover, and this is its chance to do that. Powertrain options shouldnÂ’t depart much from what you can buy now. ThereÂ’s a P250 packing a 2.0-liter turbocharged four-cylinder thatÂ’s good for 246 horsepower. The upgrade is the P300 with a more potent four-cylinder, raising output to 296 horsepower. Seeing as the recently redesigned Evoque still has no engine more powerful than the E-Pace, the Jag will likely carry over these power units, as well. If anything, the E-Pace will gain a mild-hybrid powertrain option, which could be what Jaguar is stress testing on the Nurburgring right here. Jaguar still hasnÂ’t announced the 2021 E-Pace, so this model could be the refresh. If theyÂ’re not as far along as we guess, itÂ’ll certainly end up being the 2022 E-Pace. Either way, an improved E-Pace isnÂ’t that far out.