Skip advert
Advertisement

New Jaguar Land Rover Project Vector showcases autonomous future

The new JLR Project Vector autonomous pod sits on a new platform and is scheduled for on-road trials before the end of 2021

This is Project Vector, a new concept from Jaguar Land Rover designed to showcase a new vehicle platform developed for the British manufacturer. And the company is already promising to put the futuristic pod into on-road trials within the next 18 months.

Developed at the National Automotive Innovation Centre in Coventry, Project Vector sits on a new chassis that Jaguar Land Rover is calling ‘autonomy ready’ - but the concept shown in the initial images is equipped with a steering wheel. It’s just over four metres long and has a battery size ranging from 60kWh up to 90kWh - enough for a range of between 155 miles and 186 miles.

Advertisement - Article continues below

• JLR Virtual Eyes autonomous pod

All of the vehicle’s battery and electric drivetrain parts are packaged into a flat floor, allowing a wide range of cabin layouts that could suit private use, public transport or even commercial services such last-mile deliveries. The platform could be expanded by up to an extra metre, it is believed - although its packaging means than in its current, supermini-length configuration it is capable of carrying six adults.

JLR says it plans to collaborate with Coventry City Council and the West Midlands authorities to create a mobility service based on Project Zero, starting in late 2021. It says the scheme will act as “a living laboratory for future mobility on the streets of Coventry”. But in its initial phase, the Project Vector vehicles will be driven by a human being instead of operating autonomously, because this will allow them to run in normal traffic without changes to legislation or infrastructure such as bespoke lanes.

Skip advert
Advertisement
Skip advert
Advertisement - Article continues below

The project’s director, Dr Tim Leverton, told us that around 20 Project Vector transit vehicles are likely to be made for the first phase, with routes based in and around Warwick University. “We’ve identified a few areas that look suitable,” he said. “Not just on campus but also potentially to help with bringing students and staff into that area. If we look at somewhere like the Tile Hill area [of Coventry], there are around 2,000 people there who make a journey in and out of the university every day.”

The National Automobile Innovation Centre at Warwick Uni has been chosen as a base for Project Vector to help encourage rapid, agile working and to attract additional input from academic and commercial partners beyond JLR’s usual sources.

Leverton said, “The megatrends of urbanisation and digitalisation make connected urban mobility systems necessary and inevitable. Shared and private vehicles will share spaces with, and be connected to, public transit networks, so you can travel on demand and autonomously. That is a complex task, best achieved by working together with partners across the spectrum of vehicles, infrastructure and the digital world.

“With the technology and engineering power of Jaguar Land Rover, we can provide a unique opportunity for innovators to develop highly-functional urban mobility services, seamlessly integrated into everyday life.”

Project Vector was unveiled at the opening of the National Automotive Innovation Centre, a £150m joint venture between JLR, Tata Motors and the University of Warwick.

Click here to find out more about autonomous cars...

Skip advert
Advertisement
Editor-at-large

John started journalism reporting on motorsport – specifically rallying, which he had followed avidly since he was a boy. After a stint as editor of weekly motorsport bible Autosport, he moved across to testing road cars. He’s now been reviewing cars and writing news stories about them for almost 20 years.

Find a car with the experts

Skip advert
Advertisement

Recommended

Best new cars coming soon: all the big new car launches due in 2025, 2026 and beyond
Best new cars coming soon - header image

Best new cars coming soon: all the big new car launches due in 2025, 2026 and beyond

These are the most important new cars headed our way, from brands including Audi, BMW, Dacia, Ferrari, Ford, Skoda and more
Best cars & vans
8 Apr 2025
Jaguar Land Rover stops car exports to the US in wake of Trump Tariffs
Range Rover Evoque

Jaguar Land Rover stops car exports to the US in wake of Trump Tariffs

JLR announced a four-week pause on shipments of all its cars to the US as it comes to terms with 25% tariffs.
News
5 Apr 2025
New Jaguar Type 00 stirs up more hype by shutting down the streets of Paris
Jaguar Type 00 blue - front 3/4

New Jaguar Type 00 stirs up more hype by shutting down the streets of Paris

The Type 00 concept was unveiled in December 2024, previewing a bold new direction for Jaguar
News
11 Mar 2025
Jaguar boss: we didn’t mean to alienate our owners
Jaguar advert

Jaguar boss: we didn’t mean to alienate our owners

Here’s the inside story of how an auto company broke the internet – and the car that’s coming next
News
5 Mar 2025

Most Popular

New Kia PV5 Passenger MPV undercuts the VW ID.Buzz by a huge £25k
Kia PV5 Passenger - show front

New Kia PV5 Passenger MPV undercuts the VW ID.Buzz by a huge £25k

New entry into the electric people carrier market undercuts the VW ID. Buzz by a significant margin
News
29 Apr 2025
New 2025 Kia PV5 van starts from a tempting £22,645
Kia PV5 Cargo on display at Commercial Vehicle Show - front 3/4

New 2025 Kia PV5 van starts from a tempting £22,645

All-new entry into the van market promises competitive pricing and comes with a range of up to 247 miles
News
30 Apr 2025
Ford Fiesta to return? Icon could be reborn as re-nosed Volkswagen ID.2
Ford Fiesta facelift - front cornering

Ford Fiesta to return? Icon could be reborn as re-nosed Volkswagen ID.2

VW’s sales and marketing boss considers Ford tech share “very successful” – and won’t rule out future projects
News
30 Apr 2025