Tesla may have started an aluminum revolution with the Model S. We’ve noted that many auto manufacturers have looked to aluminum for a wide range of components — anything from the actual chassis to door frames or mechanical parts. Now British luxury car maker Jaguar is jumping in the fray. Jaguar’s XS series (due in 2014 as part of the 2015 fleet) is being developed as an immediate competitor to the BMW 3 series. While a lot of the specs are exciting, the part we like best is this:
Jaguar’s upcoming BMW 3 Series killer, which may be called Q-Type, will feature a weight-saving aluminum monocoque body structure…The 2015 Jaguar XS will be the least expensive Jaguar when it arrives in 2014. It will anchor the low end of the Jaguar range, a slot previously occupied by the long-defunct X-Type.
The new XS compact sedan will have a strong sporting bias, according to the U.K.’s Autocar magazine, which its lightweight, aluminum construction should usefully amplify.
There’s more news too. If you’re more into the rugged types of vehicles, Jaguar’s Land Rover brand also has you covered:
Beyond the XS, Jaguar Land Rover wants to expand the use of weight-saving, aluminum monocoque body structures across its entire range in the future, say insiders. That will include models cheaper than the F-Type sports car that is currently the least expensive aluminum monocoque model in the group’s range.
JLR’s new aluminum platform, which debuted on the latest Range Rover and is used on the just-launched Range Rover Sport, will also form the basis of the LR4 replacement, the next-generation XJ sedan, and the next XF.
What’s more exciting, an aluminum-based luxury car or an aluminum-based tough 4WD vehicle? Considering that Land Rovers were used to get around Jurassic Park, we’ll pick the later as a showcase of aluminum’s durability.