Jaguar Land Rover announces significant sales improvements for the UK in September.

Jaguar Land Rover UK is celebrating record September sales with retail figures up 13 per cent year-to-date over the same period last year.

Land Rover had its best ever September month of sales with 10,769 vehicles registered; up 11 per cent on the same month last year and 13 per cent up year-to-date. The bookends of the brand drove the impressive figures with a record September for the Land Rover Defender (up 30 per cent compared to the same period last year) and continued strong sales of Land Rover's flagship vehicle, the all new Range Rover (up 24 per cent compared to the same period last year).

The Range Rover Evoque continues to be successful (up 35 per cent September 2013 versus September 2012) and the new Range Rover Sport has made a strong start with sales of 1,309 vehicles during what is only the second month of customer deliveries. Monthly retail figures for Land Rover's newest model are set to increase in line with production ramp-up and will see the UK fulfil its healthy order bank over the coming months.

The Land Rover Discovery's popularity remains with outstanding residual values and class-leading versatility keeping sales stable. The Land Rover Freelander continues to have an excellent 2013 with retails up 13 per cent in September and 35 per cent year-to-date.

Jaguar is celebrating a 19 per cent increase in car sales year-to-date, with a year on year increase across its model range of seven per cent. The successful launch of the stunning new F-TYPE convertible sports car, of which more than 1,000 are now with UK customers, is one highlight in a year which has seen a surge in sales of the popular Jaguar XF executive car and XJ luxury saloon. In 2013 sales of the XF are up 12 per cent and XJ 6 per cent; a result of the introduction of new, efficient and high performance derivatives of each model.

Jeremy Hicks, Jaguar Land Rover UK Managing Director, said “The September sales figures tangibly demonstrate that both Jaguar and Land Rover continue to focus on relevant and highly-desirable product line-ups.

“With the recent introduction of the all-new Range Rover Sport and F-TYPE coupled with the continued success of our well established models, we have seen more new customers than ever purchasing Jaguar Land Rover award-winning products. Indeed, our new 2014 model year offerings across both brands will be hitting showrooms shortly and will see us build on the successes of the 2013 range."

Jaguar land Rover seek partner to assist in Hybrid tech to lower Corporate CO2 figures

Jaguar Land Rover is talking with other automakers about a partnership on hybrid vehicles as the UK luxury car manufacturer battles to meet CO2 emissions targets in Europe.

"Some discussions have taken place with other manufacturers," Wolfgang Epple, JLR's research and technology head, told Automotive News Europe. He declined to identify which companies JLR has spoken with.

Epple has previous experience in collaborating with other automakers on hybrids. As vice president of hybrid technology at BMW he worked with General Motors and DaimlerChrysler on the development of a transmission in the United States to channel both gasoline and electric power.

Epple said the cost-saving cooperation, which started in 2005, was successful. "Subsequently each of the manufacturers has built its own car and we have all used the same components," he said.

JLR will start selling diesel-hybrid versions of the Range Rover and Range Rover Sport early next year. According to the company, these models will reduce CO2 by 26 percent compared with the standard V-6 diesels on which they are based. The two SUVs will not be sold in the United States.

Jaguar Land Rover has to make the biggest improvements of any automaker to reach the European Union's CO2 target for 2015, according to a report by analyst Bernstein Research.

"Arguably the single biggest challenge for JLR is hitting future fuel economy/CO2 emissions," report author Max Warburton wrote. "It will need to fit hybrid to a greater proportion of its vehicles than almost any other manufacturer in order to hit CO2 targets."

According to the Bernstein report, JLR must cut average CO2 emissions to 164 grams per kilometer by 2015 to meet European regulations. According to JLR, the company's average CO2 figure in 2011 was 206g/km, down from 223g/km in 2010.

The 164g/km target, which is higher than the overall industry goal of 130g/km, reflects the higher average weight of Land Rover and Jaguar vehicles, the company said.

Earlier this month JLR said it would produce three electric concepts based on the Range Rover Evoque compact SUV in a development study partly funded by the UK government's Technology Strategy Board. Partners in the project to develop a mild hybrid, a plug-in hybrid and a full-electric vehicle will include British drivetrain specialist GKN, the engineering arm of the Williams F1 team and British battery vehicle maker Zytek.

JLR is also investing in a new advanced research center in the UK. Hybrids will be a key area of focus when the center opens in 2016.

REPORT HERE