Skip advert
Advertisement

JLR takes on the pothole with new road crater detection system

Jaguar Land Rover is developing new ‘Pothole Alert’ system to prevent damage and discomfort on UK's bad roads

JLR pothole detection

We’re often complaining about the large number of potholes in the UK and the damage they can do to our cars, but Jaguar Land Rover might soon have the answer. A research team at the brand is developing ingenious new tech that can find potholes, prepare the car for the impact and even share data on their location with the authorities.

Advertisement - Article continues below

The road-sensing camera system, co-developed with JLR’s research team and Coventry City Council, will be trialled in a Range Rover Evoque with the hope that, if it works correctly, it could make its debut across Jaguar and Land Rover ranges in the very near future.

• UK's pothole predicament explained in infographic 

The Evoque and the new Discovery Sport can already be specced with ‘Magneride’ adaptive dampers, which use sensors to create a profile of the surface passing underneath the car and constantly adjust suspension settings to compensate for rough tarmac. But JLR wants to upgrade this new system so it can prepare for potholes, large ridges and manhole covers before the car runs over them.

The idea is that it will work in stages, alerting the driver to take avoiding action, bracing the suspension for an impending jolt to lessen the effect and then sharing the data over The Cloud in real-time to alert road-repairers and even other road users of exactly where the pothole is.

One pothole for every mile of road in UK 

Coventry City public services councillor Rachel Lancaster claims the benefit isn’t just for drivers, as the data “could help us identify the cause of the problem, prioritise it and contact the owner of the manhole or drain to get it fixed more quickly”.

JLR states that the tech could eventually lead to a more autonomous system, which is able to physically divert the car around an obstacle or even halt it if the hole could potentially cause damage to the wheel or tyre.

What do you think of the pothole alert technology? Let us know in the comments section below...

Skip advert
Advertisement
Skip advert
Advertisement

Recommended

Land Rover Freelander on track for a comeback, but the UK will have to wait

Land Rover Freelander on track for a comeback, but the UK will have to wait

The Freelander name will be used for new range of electric cars, initially just sold in China but possibly coming here as well down the road
News
14 May 2025
Land Rover Defender drives JLR profits to a ten year high
Land Rover Defender 110 County - cornering

Land Rover Defender drives JLR profits to a ten year high

JLR prepares for a busy year ahead with the launch of the first electric Range Rover, and the next stages of Jaguar’s rebirth
News
14 May 2025
Classic Land Rovers get all-electric power thanks to Inverted
Inverted Land Rover - front

Classic Land Rovers get all-electric power thanks to Inverted

Inverted has expanded its operation to include Land Rover’s most iconic car
News
1 May 2025
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

Most Popular

Car Deal of the Day: Sacre bleu! The Renault 5 keeps getting cheaper
Renault 5 - front full width

Car Deal of the Day: Sacre bleu! The Renault 5 keeps getting cheaper

The modern-day Super Cinq comes with a super price. It’s our Deal of the Day for 14 May
News
14 May 2025
Kia is returning to its 'Keeping It Affordable' roots
Opinion - Kia

Kia is returning to its 'Keeping It Affordable' roots

Mike Rutherford thinks new cars are simply too expensive, but some manufacturers are starting to do something about it
Opinion
19 May 2025
Best electric cars 2025: the top 10 best EVs you can buy
Best electric cars header

Best electric cars 2025: the top 10 best EVs you can buy

Thinking about making the switch to an electric vehicle? Here are the EVs that should be on your shortlist, and why…
Best cars & vans
14 May 2025