Land Rover Santa Sled

Land Rover Santa Sled

We're not sure how the jolly old elf ever managed before, but Jaguar and Land Rover have outfitted a pair of new sleighs for Santa Claus, and it's pretty clear who's getting the presents this year. (Remember, dude--High Gear Media's editors want 27-inch iMacs this year.)

Land Rover's design studios penned the first futuristic sled for St. Nick, a "particle-accelerator" powered machine "designed to meet ever-increasing delivery timetables." It's outfitted with a laser-guided present delivery system and CRS--Chimney Recognition Software--so the happy fat dude can sit back with an eggnog in the driver's seat, continue to text and drive with impunity, and make tentative plans for his next 364 days off.

On the downside, sadly, it looks like all of the reindeer save for Rudolph have been cast off and are now seeking employment.

Jaguar's take on Santa's sleigh

Jaguar's take on Santa's sleigh

Jaguar tosses its pointy red-and-white hat in the ring with a retro-futuristic take on the season's most famous flying conveyance. Dubbed the "Little Helper" according to the WWII airplane-style graphics on its nose, it's an interpretation of the chubby cheer-bringer's ride from the pen of 25-year-old Jaguar exterior designer Thomas Smith.

Once again, only Rudolph is left of the original compliment of reindeer, the rest having been stuck under the hood to drive the rear-mounted propellers. Unlike the Land Rover version, however, the Jaguar sleigh has no high-tech laser-guided Chimney Recognition Software or particle accelerator technology.

GE's high-tech sleigh

GE's high-tech sleigh

Jaguar and Land Rover have indulged their inner children today--and we have along with them--in designing 21st-century sleds for old Saint Nick, but GE's gone one step farther, looking to show off some real-world technology while also sticking with the theme of reindeer obsolescence.

The poor antlered icons apparently don't have a place in the Christmas of the future--and it could be that environmental legislation is to blame. Reindeer would require some serious particulate filters to meet emissions requirements, after all, not to mention catalytic converters and urea collection.

All of these new sleigh proposals could also be coming on the heels of the North Pole's conversion to a right-to-work state. The elves never bothered to organize when they could, but they're kicking themselves (with their tiny, booted feet) now.

The real-world tech on the GE sled is pretty trick, however. Ice-shedding nano coatings, self-powered OLED lighting, carbon fiber composites, RFID sensors and intelligence tracking technology are just a sampling of the real-world projects GE is using this little farce to show off. The ice-shedding nano coating could have particular use in the automotive world--imagine never having to scrape another icy windshield, or paint that never got dirty, or wet, or snowy. That's a present we could all appreciate. Hit the link below to learn more about GE's sleigh and its tech.

[Jaguar-Land Rover, GE]