Jaguar to develop dedicated BEV platform called Panthera

Jaguar has decided to develop its own electric platform as part of its plan to become an all-electric brand by 2025. The I-Pace will continue to be built despite the new models.

Thierry Bolloré, the CEO of Jaguar Land Rover told investors. The new platform will be called Panthera, added chief financial officer Adrian Mardell. Jaguar has been undecided until now whether to develop its own platform or rely on a third-party electric vehicle platform.

The reason is that for months, teams led by JLR design chief Gerry McGovern have been working on designs for the upcoming vehicles. In order to stand out in the market, these are to be independently designed, which is probably not possible with third-party platforms. “Concerning the new Jaguar, we’re making unique proportion a priority. That’s the reason why at the moment we do it by ourselves,” Bolloré said.

According to the JLR CEO, the new models should be “really modern luxury cars that are the copy of nothing in style or design, the top of technology and refinement, but not looking backwards”. At Jaguar, he says, they want to create “different cars with no overlap”.

For Jaguar, the design they are aiming for may be the reason for a separate platform, for Land Rover it is the necessary off-road capabilities, which the platforms of other manufacturers probably cannot offer. Bolloré pointed out that for the electric Land Rover models, the MLA-High platform (on which the current Range Rover is already based) and the EMA platform (Electrified Modular Architecture) for smaller Land Rovers are being pushed.

An open question with the announcement of the Panthera platform is whether the long-announced Jaguar XJ will be launched at all. This was supposed to be based on the MLA-Low platform, but its premiere was repeatedly postponed. Whether Jaguar can afford to run another platform alongside the Panthera is unclear. Especially since the MLA is a mixed platform that can accommodate internal combustion engines and PHEVs in addition to e-drives – which in turn restricts the freedom of design proportions.

The I-Pace, currently Jaguar’s only electric model, is expected to outlast Jaguar’s electric makeover, but will be considered separately from the new e-car family. All other current ranges will be phased out without replacement. Bolloré declined to comment on reports from June that Jaguar would no longer offer SUVs as a distinction from Land Rover – so probably only sedans, coupes and possibly convertibles.

Meanwhile, Jaguar is unveiling the new model year of the I-Pace, which will start as the I-Pace 400 S at prices starting at 76,815 euros and is available to order now. in the new 2023 model year, Amazon’s Alexa will be integrated into the vehicle as a voice assistant, among other things, and existing vehicles will receive Alexa via an OTA update. The electric drive of the I-Pace will not change for MY2023.

autocar.co.uk (platform), jaguar.com (I-Pace MY2023)