Autoblog http://www.autoblog.com Autoblog http://www.blogsmithmedia.com/www.autoblog.com/media/feedlogo.gif Autoblog http://www.autoblog.com en-us Copyright 2009 Weblogs, Inc. The contents of this feed are available for non-commercial use only. Blogsmith http://www.blogsmith.com/<![CDATA[Jaguar/Land Rover sale a done deal, Tata names new CEO]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2008/06/02/jaguar-land-rover-sale-a-done-deal-tata-names-new-ceo/http://www.autoblog.com/2008/06/02/jaguar-land-rover-sale-a-done-deal-tata-names-new-ceo/http://www.autoblog.com/2008/06/02/jaguar-land-rover-sale-a-done-deal-tata-names-new-ceo/#commentsFiled under: , , ,

It looks as if Ford is finally putting a fork in the sale of Jaguar and Land Rover to Tata Motors... it's done. According to a statement from Ford, which can be read after the break, the sale of the two British automakers has been officially finalized as of today. Ford also wishes the best for its recently departed companies and their employees. Awww, isn't that sweet? We're glad we can all still be friends.

At Jaguar Land Rover, things seem to be business as usual. The company has announced that its new proud papa, Tata Motors, has named former CFO David Smith the new CEO for Jaguar and Land Rover. You may recall the untimely death of Geoff Polites, the company's previous CEO. Today's announcement of Smith's new appointment comes right on schedule based on past information provided by the company. Smith has already been the acting CEO since Polites' death late last April.

[Sources: Ford and Automotive News - sub. req'd]

Continue reading Jaguar/Land Rover sale a done deal, Tata names new CEO

Jaguar/Land Rover sale a done deal, Tata names new CEO originally appeared on Autoblog on Mon, 02 Jun 2008 14:01:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>david smithdavid-smithDavidSmithfordgeoff politesgeoff-politesGeoffPolitesjaguarjaguar ceojaguar land roverJaguarCeoJaguarLandRoverland roverland rover ceoland-roverLandRoverLandRoverCeotata motorstata-motorsTataMotorsMon, 02 Jun 2008 14:01:00 EST<![CDATA[Hybrid Jags and Land Rovers coming in five years]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2008/05/28/hybrid-jags-and-land-rovers-coming-in-five-years/http://www.autoblog.com/2008/05/28/hybrid-jags-and-land-rovers-coming-in-five-years/http://www.autoblog.com/2008/05/28/hybrid-jags-and-land-rovers-coming-in-five-years/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , ,

With the cash-infusion that Jaguar and Land Rover are getting from their recent acquisition by Tata Motors, hybrid vehicle development for the two brands is now underway. Indeed, production hybrid vehicles are expected within the next five years. A three-liter liter diesel six cylinder engine, an enlarged version of the current 2.7 liter, and a new five-liter direct injected V8 will be used for these planned hybrids. While JLR knows it wants a hybrid, the exact system for development is still under debate. Mercedes plans to use a new transmission from supplier ZF for its upcoming S-Class, and Jaguar is said to be considering this unit as well. According to Autocar, another option for Land Rover is known internally as the 'Electric Rear Axle Drive' electric motor.

Both Jaguar and Land Rover have recently received government funding for the development of eco-friendly technologies, and much of the work for the upcoming hybrids is expected to be completed as part of these initiatives.

[Source: Autocar]

Hybrid Jags and Land Rovers coming in five years originally appeared on Autoblog on Wed, 28 May 2008 17:59:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>hybridjaguarjaguar hybridjaguar land roverjaguar-hybridjaguar-land-roverJaguarHybridJaguarLandRoverland roverland rover hybridland-roverland-rover-hybridLandRoverLandRoverHybridWed, 28 May 2008 17:59:00 EST<![CDATA[British company building electric Range-extended Rovers]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2008/05/23/british-company-building-electric-range-extended-rovers/http://www.autoblog.com/2008/05/23/british-company-building-electric-range-extended-rovers/http://www.autoblog.com/2008/05/23/british-company-building-electric-range-extended-rovers/#commentsFiled under: , , , ,


click on the image above to enlarge

We have a few reservations about Liberty Electric Cars' plan to convert Range Rovers to extended-range Rovers in the U.K. While we applaud the idea of using electric vehicles in urban environments, it seems a little counter-productive to start with a large, heavy 4x4 like the Range Rover. Still, if the company is able to pull of its stated goal of creating 250 jobs along with "tens of thousands" of electric vehicles, we're all for it. To make this rather ambitious goal a reality, Liberty has invested £30 million into the "re-engineering" of the Rovers. A brand new electric drivetrain is being worked up, which is said to allow up to 200 miles of range on electricity alone for the Liberty Range Rover. Pricing starts at £95,000, and for £125,000, the company can fit the Landie with a range-extending generator, which makes the machine similar in concept to the much-hyped Chevy Volt. For those who can afford a $187,000 to $246,000 USD all-electric SUV, this is great news. For the rest of us, we hope these large electric luxury machines will allow for the adoption of smaller, lighter and therefore less expensive conversions in the near future.

[Source: Liberty Electric Cars Ltd. via AutoblogGreen]

Continue reading British company building electric Range-extended Rovers

British company building electric Range-extended Rovers originally appeared on Autoblog on Fri, 23 May 2008 08:31:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>electric range roverelectric-range-roverElectricRangeRoverland roverland-roverLandRoverliberty electricliberty-electricliberty-electric-carsliberty-evliberty-range-roverLibertyElectricrange roverrange-roverRangeRoverFri, 23 May 2008 08:31:00 EST<![CDATA[E.U. officials clear sale of Jaguar, Land Rover to Tata]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2008/04/25/e-u-officials-clear-sale-of-jaguar-land-rover-to-tata/http://www.autoblog.com/2008/04/25/e-u-officials-clear-sale-of-jaguar-land-rover-to-tata/http://www.autoblog.com/2008/04/25/e-u-officials-clear-sale-of-jaguar-land-rover-to-tata/#commentsFiled under: , , ,

In what seems like an official bookend to the sale of Jaguar and Land Rover from Ford to Tata, the European Union, like the U.S. Federal Trade Commission, has given its official seal of approval to the deal. The E.U. had received no complaints regarding the impending purchase, so approval of the $2.3 billion deal had been expected. In fact, the "simplified procedure" used by the European Commission has never ended up with anything but acceptance. No more speed bumps appear ahead of the Indian automaker, which previously had specialized in small and inexpensive vehicles. Now that these formalities are over and done with, hopefully we can simply look forward to what an injection of cash can do to the two classic British marques.

[Source: Automotive News - sub. req'd]

E.U. officials clear sale of Jaguar, Land Rover to Tata originally appeared on Autoblog on Fri, 25 Apr 2008 15:32:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>european commissioneuropean unioneuropean-commissioneuropean-unionEuropeanCommissionEuropeanUnionjaguarland roverland-roverLandRovertataFri, 25 Apr 2008 15:32:00 EST<![CDATA[Alfa to work with Jaguar on new vehicle platforms, dealerships?]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2008/03/25/alfa-to-work-with-jaguar-on-new-vehicle-platforms-dealerships/http://www.autoblog.com/2008/03/25/alfa-to-work-with-jaguar-on-new-vehicle-platforms-dealerships/http://www.autoblog.com/2008/03/25/alfa-to-work-with-jaguar-on-new-vehicle-platforms-dealerships/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , , , ,


Click above for high-res gallery of the Alfa Mi.To

Hot on the heels of the impending sale official sale of Jaguar and Land Rover to Tata and news that Fiat is looking to start producing Alfa Romeo vehicles in the U.S. are reports that Fiat would be interested in partnering up with the new Jaguar ownership to share rear-wheel-drive platforms for their high-end Alfa models. Tata and Fiat already have close ties, as Ratan Tata, chairman of the Tata Group, is a member of Fiat's board and the two companies jointly produce engines and transmissions in India.

In addition to possible platform sharing between Jaguar and Alfa, Fiat is also interested in using the existing Jaguar and Land Rover dealer base in the U.S. as a way to ease Alfa's re-entry the American market. Anything that helps get Alfa Romeo back in the U.S. is fine by us, but there are surely issues with selling what could possibly be competing brands from the same dealer lots.

[Source: The Financial Times]

Alfa to work with Jaguar on new vehicle platforms, dealerships? originally appeared on Autoblog on Tue, 25 Mar 2008 17:57:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>alfa romeoalfa-romeoAlfaRomeofiatjaguarland roverland-roverLandRoverratan tataratan-tataRatanTatatataTue, 25 Mar 2008 17:57:00 EST