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The Blockbuster Issue

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The BLOCKBUSTER Issue

66 j THE BLOCKBUSTER

66 j THE BLOCKBUSTER ISSUE

JAGUAR LAND ROVER ICE TEST Some 60 JLR engineers visit a small Lapland town every year, but they aren’t searching for Santa… “Car engineers double the population of Arjeplog during the winter test season,” says Phil Talboys, manager of the Jaguar Land Rover Winter Test Centre. “We’ve been coming here since the early 80s. In the beginning, we had a very small office and one-ramp workshop and we’ve developed into today’s hi-tech facility.” Arjeplog, Sweden is a long way from anywhere. Sitting in almost the centre of Lapland, it’s nearer the Russian port of Murmansk than the Swedish capital Stockholm. Surrounded by lakes and forests, it’s an outdoor playground under the midnight sun, but in winter the region is locked under snow and ice and the tourists disappear. “The coldest I’ve ever seen here is -42°C,” says Phil. This makes it the perfect place to test a vehicle’s robustness. There’s an off-road area, handling tracks for the stability control team, straights to check grip levels for ABS system calibration, testing hills at 17% and 28% inclines and different surfaces to evaluate traction systems. Some parts have even been made to look like famous race tracks. Can you recognise the one pictured? (Hint: It’s not gold but...) “We also run durability testing,” adds Phil, “driving thousands of kilometres in these extremely cold Arctic conditions.” With Jaguar and Land Rover customers in every corner of the globe, from China and Russia to the US, such testing is necessary. It is a breadth of capability that is also reflected in the hot weather testing centre in Dubai where Jaguars and Land Rovers are tested to over 50°C. At peak season, Jaguar Land Rover has up to 60 vehicles and 60 engineers in Arjeplog at any one time and the season doesn’t end until late March. It may not be hospitable, but at least you’re guaranteed snow – if not Santa – at Christmas. WORDS: Nathanial Handy PICTURE: John Wycherley THE BLOCKBUSTER ISSUE j 67

 

JAGUAR MAGAZINE

 

Jaguar Magazine celebrates creativity in all its forms, with exclusive features that inspire sensory excitement, from beautiful design to cutting-edge technology.

In this issue, we explore the art of creativity from the Brazilian masters who devised the graceful art of Capoeira, to the Irish artists mixing new culture with old. You will also discover the creative line that links Victorian wallpaper to the iPhone. While the multi-talented actor and performer, Riz Ahmed, explains why it is the right time to reveal his true self to the world.

© JAGUAR LAND ROVER LIMITED 2020

Registered Office: Abbey Road, Whitley, Coventry CV3 4LF
Registered in England No: 1672070


The fuel consumption figures provided are as a result of official manufacturer's tests in accordance with EU legislation.
A vehicle's actual fuel consumption may differ from that achieved in such tests and these figures are for comparative purposes only.