Now that Jaguar and Land Rover are on their own without support from Ford, the two automakers are reportedly planning to combine efforts for one basic structure in two models that, on the surface, share nothing but upscale positioning.
Platform-sharing has long been a major money saver for automakers, but few would expect that Jaguar XJ and Land Rover Range Rover to work well together on the same platform. But that’s not the case, according to a report from Autocar, which says that only relatively minor modifications will be necessary to accommodate taller front and rear bulkheads for the larger Range Rover.
The Range Rover will also receive taller front strut towers for more ground clearance and to fit larger wheels, but the vehicle will continue to rely heavily on a height-adjustable suspension.
It’s all part of a well-known Jaguar Land Rover plan to cut down to just two platforms for all of the company’s models; one large platform for vehicles like the XJ, Range Rover and likely the XK, and one smaller platform for pretty much everything else.
It’s hard to say just when the platform will formally debut; the just-introduced XJ rides on a modified version of the existing all-aluminum underpinnings, but the Range Rover’s basic structure dates back to 2002 and was designed during BMW’s ownership of the brand.
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