FRANKFURT MOTOR SHOW: Jaguar Land Rover shows its goods

Jaguar Land Rover reveals new brand logo and three standout show concepts at Frankfurt
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The Frankfurt show crowd was still milling about the Jaguar Land Rover stand for several hours after the reveal of its three concept cars. With reason... The offroad brand displayed two standout Defender concept cars, and the "production concept" Jaguar C-X16 is the first two-seater Jaguar since the idolised E-Type.

While not prepared to confirm production or naming for the coupe, the Brit sportscar company says the new concept is a sign of its future design and technological intent. Indeed, Jaguar executives admit they had much cause for consideration with the C-X16 -- generally deemed as the long-awaited follow-up to the E-Type. The concept shares some design cues with the classic, such as the ovoid rear windscreen but elements like the E-Type's super-slim taillights simply wouldn't be road legal today so designers chose long, wrapping versions which recall the original style.

JLR spokesmen also admitted they were still deciding on a name for the model if it goes to production -- that possibility yet to be confirmed. Word is they don't want to call it E-Type.

"It's almost taboo," according to Adrian Hallmark, Jaguar's global brand director. "We have more imagination than that."

It's a case of off with the old and on with the new at both Jaguar and Land Rover these days: the former keen to set a new stage with its sports car offerings and the latter committed to bringing the aged Defender into the new millennium.

The C-X16's profile resembles the E-Type but has more tail and less of that long, distinctive bonnet. Rather than focus on its influences from the past, the rear-drive "one-plus-one" seater concept is a showcase of Jaguar's aim to produce "sustainable sportscars" for the future which will include full-hybrid technology and/or start-stop function.

Next door at its offroad partner's stand, Land Rover stole the show with two concepts marking the Defender's much anticipated evolution.

Internally referred to as 'the Tool and the Cool', the DC100 and DC100 Sport reinterpret what we've learned over 60-odd years to recognise as a Defender. One is as serious and blocky as the original, complete with hose-out interior and a winch, while the Sport is aimed to please the likes of "serious surfers in California".

And it's not all show. Head of the team assigned to the concept cars' driver interface, Phil Higgs, told motoring.com.au that features like 3D imagery of landscape obstacles including descent grades and sonar detection of water depth demonstrated in the Frankfurt cars were do-able, and could be offered -- at least in part -- in the all-new Defender offerings come 2015.

Meanwhile, Defender fans can look forward to the 2012 model year update which introduces EU5-compliant powertrain options with the application of a new diesel particulate filter. The MY2012 Defenders can be identified by their bulged bonnet design.

The new JLR logo was also revealed at Frankfurt. The Jaguar Land Rover association is now stamped by stylised letters in red: it's wishy washy in our eyes but company spokesmen hope this latest identification of the outfits will prevent "misquoting and confusion" of the products.

Read all the latest news and reveals from the Frankfurt Motor Show here.


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