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Jaguar Land Rover and Chery investing in Chinese plant

While the European auto market for Jaguar and Land Rover is waning, Chinese car buyers can't get enough of the British marques. To meet that demand, Tata Motors, parent company of Jag and Land Rover, is partnering with Chinese automaker Chery Automobile Co.
The two announced plans to invest $1.75 billion to build a new plant and create a new, China-focused brand. 2014 is the target for completion of the factory. Jaguars and Land Rovers built at the facility will be the first ever produced outside the UK according to the Associated Press. The JV will be called Chery Jaguar Land Rover Automotive Company Ltd.
The announcement comes less than a month after JLR announced it would open a design studio in China. It's not clear from the reports whether the two announcements are part of the same JV or two separate plans.

Jaguar's Callum refutes two XJ bodystyle rumor

Not long ago, we relayed word from Edmunds that Jaguar was planning to split its next-generation XJ sedan into two bodystyles - one model that continued the ambitious design approach fostered with the current X351-based model, and another, more upright model to better appeal to China's conservative design sensibilities.
We expressed some cynicism in the idea, noting that such a strategy "might catch more profits for the marque, but it might also represent a setback to design head Ian Callum's vision for a thoroughly modern Jaguar portfolio." Callum has been quite insistent in his belief that Jag needs to be a forward-thinking brand in terms of design, and the two-model strategy seemed to conflict with that idea. We tried to get some comment from Callum at that time, but were unable to reach him.
As it turns out, our cynicism was well-placed. Autocar says that while the next XJ will continue to have two wheelbases, Callum has denied the two-model talk, saying flatly: "I can't see us doing two bodystyles. The cost would be enormous and the message inconsistent. You have to believe in what you produce and to do two bodystyles would undermine that."

Jaguar F-Type SVR graphics package makes it look like the Project 7

If you missed out on buying a Jaguar F-Type Project 7 roadster a few years ago, Jaguar will now offer a way to get the next best thing. It's rolling out a new graphics package for the F-Type SVR that adds a set of stripes and contrasting accents that are very reminiscent of the special Project 7 and the race cars that inspired it. And since the current SVR makes the same power as the Project 7, you won't be missing out on much except the custom bodywork. Across the hood and fenders are similar horizontal stripes that only really differ in how the number "575" is included. This number represents the car's 575 horsepower. The front stripes are joined by more on the sideskirts and mirrors, with those on the sideskirts also getting the 575 designation. The stripes are complemented by a grille surround and wing end caps finished with the same color as the stripes. Jaguar will offer the graphics package in six color combinations. It can be had in white with red stripes, black with gold stripes, grey with blue stripes, red with black stripes, blue with grey stripes, or silver with black stripes. Also, while it will be a no-cost option overseas, it will add a bit to the cost of North American examples. Jaguar didn't say how much the option will be here, though. Related Video: Featured Gallery Jaguar F-Type SVR Graphics Package: Geneva 2018 View 11 Photos Related Gallery 2019 Jaguar F-Type SVR 575 with optional graphics View 13 Photos Image Credit: Live photos copyright 2018 Drew Phillips / Autoblog.com Design/Style Motorsports Jaguar Coupe Luxury Performance jaguar f-type svr jaguar project 7