Novelis China is supplying aluminum solutions for the all-new, aluminum-intensive Jaguar XFL, the first Jaguar model from Chery Jaguar Land Rover Automotive Co., Ltd. The XFL launched in China on August 29 and features a body-in-white made of 75% aluminum, the highest aluminum content achieved by an automaker in the Chinese automotive marketplace to date.
The Jaguar XFL was developed exclusively for the Chinese market and is the first local Jaguar model. The advanced design builds upon the successful launch of the Jaguar XE and XF models in Europe, which also featured Novelis aluminum and applies the same premium alloys, Novelis Advanz™, throughout the majority of the body-in-white. Patented PT3 (pretreatment 3rd generation) technology, co-owned by Jaguar Land Rover and Novelis, has also been applied specially for the XFL model, which has also adopted AC300 T61 high-strength aluminum alloy crush structure has the advantages of high strength and high energy absorption.
The application of innovative aluminum solutions makes the mid-sized luxury sedan 28% stiffer than the first generation model. The light, stiff and strong aluminum-intensive body benefits the vehicle with greater flexibility to incorporate complex technology, compared with conventional body platforms. In terms of driving dynamics and handling, aluminum alloy can also bring more wiggle room to car designers to optimize weight distribution and give the body more space for complex technology. Comparing with conventional body platform, intelligent aluminum architecture has the advantage of modular design that can brings a greater flexibility into product.
“Novelis has been working with Jaguar Land Rover to develop advanced automotive aluminum solutions for years, and we are honored to be involved with the first Jaguar model of Chery Jaguar Land Rover,” said James Liu, managing director of Novelis China, and Vice President, Automotive, Novelis Asia. “With nearly 40 years of expertise in the global automotive industry and local production capabilities in China, Novelis is looking forward to deepening collaborations with Chery Jaguar Land Rover and further boosting automotive aluminum lightweighting applications within the Chinese market.”
New Aluminum Body Shop
Chery Jaguar Land Rover started up production at its Changzhu Plant China’s first purpose-built aluminum body shop, where the Jaguar XFL will be assembled. The Jaguar XFL luxury sedan is a part of the company’s portfolio, which will include both an SUV and sedan that will hit the market at the second half of this year. Most of the aluminum alloys for the Changzhu body shop will be supplied by the Novelis sheet finishing and heat-treatment plant located in Changzhu, China, with the remainder to be sourced from Novelis’ Sierre plant in Switzerland.
The 100% automated Changshu Plant covers an area of 48,384 sq m and possesses world leading self-pierce riveting and adhesive joining technologies and equipment. Chery Jaguar Land Rover announced that the most dynamic business sedan, the Jaguar XFL will be the first local Jaguar model. The plant employs 232 robots for self-piercing riveting of aluminum material. By adopting self-pierce riveting and adhesive joining technology, body connection strength in the XFL will be 2-3 times stronger than simple riveting. The application of this technology accounts for 72% in the aluminum body connecting process at Chery Jaguar Land Rover, the highest in the industry in China.
“Jaguar Land Rover is the global leader in lightweight aluminum technology and Jaguar is one of the biggest automobile brands of aluminum bodies in the world,” said Murray Dietsch, President of Chery Jaguar Land Rover. “As the leading automaker in China in aluminum body production, Chery Jaguar Land Rover has introduced the most leading, intelligent, green, and premium aluminum technology into China, making a great contribution to the development of lightweight technology of China’s automobile industry.”