Tag: JLR

Ian Callum’s new job is to make cars beautiful again – Top Gear

Anyone who knows Ian Callum will also know that his exit from Jaguar last month – Jexit? – after almost two decades steering its design wasn’t the end, more a new beginning. “Liberating, that’s how it feels,” he says as his new design and engineering business CALLUM (upper case) is unveiled. “I’ve been very fortunate, don’t get… Continue reading Ian Callum’s new job is to make cars beautiful again – Top Gear

Jaguar Land Rover receives £500m government loan guarantee for EV production

Jaguar Land Rover has received a £500 million loan guarantee as part of a new government initiative to support UK car manufacturers’ electrification schemes.  In a meeting of automotive industry leaders at 10 Downing Street, Theresa May announced that the guarantee would be provided by UK Export Finance. The nature of the investment means that if… Continue reading Jaguar Land Rover receives £500m government loan guarantee for EV production

Tata Communications and Thales join forces to address businesses’ data security concerns around IoT

Thales, a digital security service provider, and Tata Communications, a digital infrastructure provider, are working together to develop a secure global IoT connectivity solution. Tata Communications MOV mobility and IoT platform and Thales’s T-Sure warranted digital identity offering is set to unlock the value in data generated by connected devices such as cars and trucks, whilst… Continue reading Tata Communications and Thales join forces to address businesses’ data security concerns around IoT

Union hack: British company offers electric classic Mini conversion

The Mini Cooper SE revealed last week and the planned electric Mini Rocketman city car represent a new push from the official owner of the Mini brand, BMW.

While neither of those models has arrived quite yet, the UK-based company electric bicycle company Swind has already started making a limited number of electric conversions of classic Minis for British customers.

The specs read like something of a cross between the Mini Cooper SE and the electric Rocketman: The classic Minis get a 24 kilowatt-hour battery (about 2/3 the size of the modern Cooper SE) that delivers a potentially similar 125 miles of electric range. An internal estimate from Mini pegged the upcoming Cooper SE at 114 miles on the EPA cycle.

It has 110-horsepower electric motor, which is significantly short of the Cooper SE's 181 horsepower, but in the smaller, lighter original Mini, the effect is only slightly slower acceleration of 0-60 mph in 9.2 seconds. Swind limits the top speed of the electric Mini to 80 mph, which is perhaps wise, since the chassis was never designed to go that fast with its original gas engine.

Classic Mini Cooper electric conversion by Swind
Classic Mini Cooper electric conversion by Swind
Classic Mini Cooper electric conversion by Swind

Swind installs the battery underneath the floor, which it says improves the classic Mini's balance. It's still nose-heavy, with 57 percent of its weight in the nose, versus 68 percent for the original. Taking out the gas tank even leaves 7 cubic-feet of trunk space.

The original Mini is even smaller than the Mini Rocketman concept, which was designed to be a city car to compete with the modern Smart. It's just over 120 inches feet long, 55 inches wide, and 53 inches tall. The tiny Rocketman is more than a foot longer and wider.

The updated cars will offer USB charge ports and heaters for the front seats, windshield and rear windows, and under-floor radiant heat. Buyers can opt to add a navigation system, power steering, air conditioning, and a full-length cloth sunroof in addition to performance upgrades and custom paint colors—but of course these conversions are lacking most modern safety features. Swind offers a one-year warranty.

The classic electric Mini conversion is the latest in a cottage industry of electric-car conversions in Britain, including Jaguar E-Types that the automaker has begun to sell, Porsche 911s, Aston Martins, and Morgan roadsters.

Swind started building the electric Minis in February and plans to make up to 100 of the Mini electric conversions in customers' choice of right- or left-hand drive.

The conversions cost 79,000 British pounds (almost $88,000). With new Mini Cooper SE prices expected to start around $30,000 before tax credits, you could buy three of them for about the price of a converted original.

NEVS and AutoX – robot taxis for Europe

NEVS and AutoX have joined forces to provide Autonomous Driving in Europe. The Swedish company NEVS, which originated from the company Saab, works on the autonomous driving with electric vehicles and is already with Phantom car entered into a cooperation. Now you work with the startup AutoX who have already received permission to operate robotic… Continue reading NEVS and AutoX – robot taxis for Europe

Ian Callum: In conversation with an automotive design legend

“ From humble Scottish roots, Ian Callum has impacted a global industry, re-imagined the Jaguar brand and along the way created icons many of us lust to own or drive. Paul Stead was privileged to spend 90 minutes with the – until very recently – director of design at Jaguar’s HQ in Coventry. Like many,… Continue reading Ian Callum: In conversation with an automotive design legend

Ford Bridgend: No decision yet on Ineos 4×4 location – BBC News

No final decision has been made by Ineos Automotive on whether to build its new 4×4 in Bridgend. The company has been deciding between the Ford site and another in Portugal for months. Ford announced last week it would close its Bridgend plant in 2020 with the loss of 1,700 jobs. However, one industry expert… Continue reading Ford Bridgend: No decision yet on Ineos 4×4 location – BBC News

Electric Cars Are Difficult To Live With According To Jaguar Boss

Difficulty with charging infrastructure still holds back adoption Many of today’s electric vehicles offer improved range. Nonetheless, if an area’s charging infrastructure is lacking, in disrepair, or over-complicated, people will still have range anxiety and be apprehensive about making the switch to electric. Rawdon Glover, UK managing director for Jaguar, is well aware of the above issue,… Continue reading Electric Cars Are Difficult To Live With According To Jaguar Boss