Jaguar Land Rover introduces bespoke engineering division
Jaguar Land Rover (JLR) is showcasing at the 2012 Beijing Auto Show its new Engineering to Order (ETO) division, which, according to the company, "is responsible for extending the Jaguar and Land Rover brands with a series of special-edition models as well as a range of personalization options allowing owners to tailor their cars."
"The specialist ETO division is the next step in the evolution of JLR as a fully integrated premium automotive business," said Ralf Speth, chief executive of Jaguar Land Rover. "It is an extension to JLR's world-class engineering capability and further proof of JLR's passion to meet customers' demands."
For the show, ETO has put on display the Jaguar XJ Ultimate and the Range Rover Evoque Special Edition.
The Jaguar XJ Ultimate is based on the long-wheelbase XJ with its interior changes primarily focused on its rear accommodations, giving its most discerning global customers "a fully appointed luxury business-class experience."
Some of the features of the Jaguar XJ Ultimate are:
* Two individually tailored rear seats trimmed in semi-aniline premium natural leather with power adjustment and recline, lumbar support, massage function and climate controls;
* A rear business table, machined from solid aluminum with piano-black trim, that powers into position at the touch of a button;
* A pair of bespoke champagne flutes that reside in a dedicated storage area beneath the powered table;
* A champagne chiller between the rear seats which cools the bottle to the perfect temperature and automatically presents it when the cabinet is opened;
* A full-length, leather-trimmed center console with phosphor-blue accent lighting and stowage areas to extend the car's business usability;
* An iPad and keyboard, housed and charged in dedicated leather-trimmed docks in the rear of the front seats, for each rear-seat passenger; and
* Though the first 20 XJ Ultimate models will be finished in Celestial Black, customers can choose to have their car color-matched to any shade of their choice.
As for the Range Rover Evoque Special Edition, it is a collaboration between Land Rover and Victoria Beckham, with only 200 units of the hand-finished, bespoke vehicle--with its unique matte-finish paint, 20-inch gloss black alloy wheels and rose gold accents--to be sold globally.
Inside, the four seats are finished in a semi-aniline Vintage Tan leather, with a bold 'baseball' stitch detail chosen by Victoria herself. The same leather is also used to cover the door inserts, armrests and central storage box lid. A four-piece bespoke his-and-her luggage set also comes with the purchase of the vehicle. Lastly, the Range Rover Evoque Special Edition also comes with a stitched leather wallet signed by Victoria and which comes with rose gold detail containing a guide to the exclusive features of the car.
"We wanted to create a Special Edition that extends its character in a new direction through understated, restrained color and detail changes," said Land Rover design director Gerry McGovern. "Both Land Rover and Victoria Beckham are British luxury brands with credibility and global appeal. This dual 'Britishness' makes the collaboration even more exciting especially when considering the huge audience for bespoke products around the world, particularly in China, Russia and Brazil where Land Rover is growing."
