Solihull revs up for 2015 aluminium Jaguar

 This year, JaguarLandRover’s UK Solihull manufacturing site will be the scene of much activity as advances are introduced in the aluminium process of building body-in-white (BIW).

Up until now, JLR’s two main centres of excellence for aluminium vehicle BIW manufacture have centred primarily on the company’s Castle Bromwich site and Solihull. Castle Bromwich, in particular, has seen a previously substantial investment (by Ford Motor Company) in equipment to stamp and handle aluminium body panels, primarily using a line of Schuler presses, provided the bedrock for the technology.

Jaguar readies 4x4 for Frankfurt

Jaguar can wait not a second longer to roll out a 4x4 ‘cross-over’ as it lays plans to unfurl the wraps on a new concept vehicle at the Frankfurt Motor Show next month, paving the way for production in 2016.

Jaguar has seen its competitors advance heavily into this territory and clearly wants a slice of the action.

The new arrival could pave the way for yet more diesel sales by the company but whether the new vehicle is fired by one of the Hotfire family of new engines to come from the as-yet unopened Wolverhampton engine plant (WEP) remains to be seen.