The goal is to get around 70 to 80 percent of Jaguar Land Rover’s core model range on common platforms.
The information was revealed to Autocar by Jaguar’s global brand director, Adrian Hallmark, who said his company’s engineers were looking at the Volkswagen Group’s range of modular platforms, namely the MQB, as a case study.
Right now, Land Rover uses four distinct platforms: one for its Defender, another for its LR2 and Range Rover Evoque, another for the LR4 and Range Rover Sport, and a brand new aluminum platform for the 2013 Range Rover. This aluminum platform is loosely based on the platform underpinning the Jaguar XJ and it will soon spawn redesigned versions of the LR4 and Range Rover Sport.
Jaguar, meanwhile, uses three distinct platforms: one for its XF, another for its XJ and a third for its new F-Type and XK. The F-Type essentially rides on a shortened XK platform, though it has been thoroughly updated, with most of the changes centering on lightening of the platform.
In addition to sharing platforms, the two brands will also share more components, in particular, those unseen by owners. Things like drivetrain components (many JLR models already share engines), as well as infotainment technology and safety features.
Of course, such an overhaul of Jaguar Land Rover’s lineup will take years but the first steps of integration are already well underway.
