According to a recent report, Jaguar is working on two new crossovers that could be based on a BMW-sourced platform.
Nothing is official, but Autocar says the models are in the early stages of development and could arrive in the middle of the next decade. However, that’s far from certain as the crossovers haven’t been green lighted yet.
Regardless, the publication says one of the vehicles would be a traditional crossover while the other would be a crossover coupe. They could potentially ride on BMW’s FAAR architecture which underpins the new 1-Series.
The report goes on to say the expanding partnership between BMW and Jaguar Land Rover could pave the way for a new entry-level Land Rover model. Little is known about it, but there’s speculation it could adopt the Freelander name.
If that wasn’t enough platform sharing, Autocar also claims the next-generation Range Rover Evoque and Land Rover Discovery Sport could be “sibling vehicles” to the next BMW X1 and MINI Countryman.
A lot remains to be seen, but Jaguar hinted at an entry-level crossover in July. At the time, it was reported that model would be “considerably less expensive” than the E-Pace and could be called the A- or B-Pace.
Also Read: Jaguar J-Pace Confirmed, Could Be Followed By An A- Or B-Pace
The decision to base so many models on a BMW-sourced platform might not sit well with some Jaguar Land Rover fans, but it could save the company a lot of money. As Autocar noted, the FAAR architecture is more modern than the JLR’s Premium Transverse Architecture and can accommodate conventional, hybrid and electric powertrains. It’s also flexible as it should be able to underpin models that are between 165 inches (4.2 meters) and 181 inches (4.6 meters) long.
If BMW and Jaguar Land Rover strike a deal, it could potentially save the latter from having to develop an all-new architecture to underpin its smaller models. Of course, that remains to be seen.
