Welcome to our regular news round-up relating to all things Jaguar Land Rover.
We look at some of the stories about Britain’s biggest car maker, which has its global headquarters in Coventry.
It continues to be an extremely challenging time for the car maker as the automotive industry struggles due to the coronavirus pandemic.
As always CoventryLive has been writing about the Whitley-based company.
Since our last round-up our coverage has included news that Jaguar Land Rover is offering voluntary redundancy to some of its furloughed staff.
The company said it was a "very small targeted" scheme that represented "a prudent step" but one worker said a lot of people were "very upset".
We've also been writing about two very special old Jaguars that are one the market; a Mk 1 Jaguar that has been specially adapted for the race track and an early Jaguar E-Type that's close to how it would have been when it rolled off the Browns Lane production line in the early sixties.
More nostalgia rounded off CoventryLive's coverage this week with a report on a huge parade of Range Rovers to mark the 50th anniversary of the iconic Range Rover.
Elsewhere in the world there were several reports of the all-electric Jaguar I-Pace being launched in India next year.
Jaguar Land Rover offers voluntary redundancy to some of its furloughed staff
Jaguar Land Rover is offering voluntary redundancy to some staff who have been furloughed during the coronavirus pandemic.
The Coventry car maker has described it as “a very small targeted voluntary redundancy programme” aimed at some salaried and management staff who are currently furloughed.
The company said the move was “a prudent step” taken in response to the challenges facing the automotive industry around the world.
One Jaguar Land Rover employee, who did not wish to be named, told CoventryLive: “I am a salaried employee of Jaguar Land Rover and, along with other Jaguar Land Rover employees still furloughed, have been contacted initially by phone and then email to be told that voluntary redundancy is now being offered.”
Another said: “I am not actually impacted but a lot of my colleagues are and a lot of departments.
“They got rid of agency staff but these are permanent employees and a lot of them have been with the company for a long time.
“I know a lot of people who are very upset by it.”
You can read the full CoventryLive story here.
A classic Mk1 Jaguar is in the market and it’s ready to race
A classic Mk1 Jaguar has gone on the market and it’s ready and raring to race.
Kent-based historic motorsport specialist DM Historics is selling the fully FIA-qualified example of one of the most-loved Jaguars ever built.
The Mk1 Jaguar spearheaded the Coventry car maker’s foray into the small luxury car market and was produced between 1955 and 1959.
This particular Mk1, which originally rolled off the production line at Jaguar’s Browns Lane factory in Coventry, is described as a “stunning” 1959 example.
It also comes with a proven competitive track record in prestigious motoring events.
It is on the market for £85,000.
First prepared for the track in the 1990s by its owner at the time, it was treated to a full race conversion enabling it to compete at the highest competitive level on the historic racing scene.
The story of this vehicle gets even more special under the ownership of historic driver Leo Voyazides. In partnership with Win Percy – British Saloon Car Championship winner in 1980, 81 and 82 – this Mk1 was driven to pole position at the 2002 Goodwood Revival.
You can read the full CoventryLive story here.
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Early Jaguar E-Type up for sale
A stunning Jaguar E-Type - which looks as good as the day it rolled off the Browns Lane production line in Coventry - has gone on the market.
Ahead of the 60th anniversary of the Jaguar E-Type in 2021, E-Type UK is offering a very early Series 1 that it says “perfectly exemplifies the fascinating developments hidden with the first E-type design”.
Chassis 407 is the 407th left-hand-drive roadster to have rolled off the production line, and the 21st model built after the final outside bonnet locker E-type.
It is being sold for £215,000.
Finished in a heritage correct Opalescent Gunmetal over Red interior with French Grey hood, fully restored, this early Series 1 E-Type retains the same shine that it did when it rolled off the production Coventry line in August 1961.
What makes Chassis 407 particularly desirable is the level of early and original features.
They include flat floors, spot welded-in louvers, two-piece door skins, correct double hinges and single drain hole of the boot, the extremely sought after Butlers number plate lights and the pumpkin-coloured cylinder head.
You can read the full CoventryLive story here.
Huge parade marks 50 years of Range Rover
A huge parade of vehicles has taken place as part of celebrations to mark the 50th anniversary of the Range Rover.
The parade consisted of 50 Range Rovers spanning the decades and took place at this year’s Goodwood Speedweek.
An eclectic mix of Range Rovers from the last half century formed the parade around Goodwood Motor Circuit to commemorate the special anniversary.
The line-up ranged from original classics to a modified ambulance and a 6x6 fire engine.
The parade was led around the famous circuit by two iconic vehicles the first being a 1969 driveable chassis, originally developed to allow engineers to monitor suspension and powertrain over rough terrain.
The second was a brand-new limited edition ‘Range Rover Fifty’, number 1 of 1970, produced specifically to mark this year’s celebrations.
You can read the full CoventryLive story here.
Jaguar Land Rover to launch electric Jaguar I-Pace in India in early 2021
There were several reports regarding plans to launch the all-electric Jaguar I-Pace in India next year.
The following one appeared in the Hindustan Times.
It said: "Jaguar Land Rover (JLR) plans to launch its electric Jaguar I-Pace sedan in India early next year, the automaker's country head told Reuters on Thursday, as governments across the world push for more clean-energy vehicles.
"The British luxury carmaker owned by India's Tata Motors also plans to launch plug-in hybrid versions of its vehicles in coming months, including the Land Rover Defender sport-utility vehicle (SUV), JLR India's Rohit Suri said.
"Earlier on Thursday JLR launched the new Defender SUV in India, widening its portfolio as demand recovers gradually in the face of the coronavirus crisis. The launch also comes ahead of major festivals, such as Diwali in November, during which Indians often make large purchases.
"We are cautiously optimistic that the product line-up will accentuate the recovery we are witnessing," Suri said, adding that the I-PACE launch is planned to take place in the first three months of next year."
You can read the full Hindustan Times report here.
