In recent years, it seems as though every major auto manufacturer has developed or tested autonomous driving technologies that, it’s hoped, will lead to cars that are capable of driving themselves. Each company’s approach to the tech is different, but few are quite as different as the approach taken recently by Jaguar. 

Jaguar was late to the SUV and crossover craze, but when the Jaguar F-PACE debuted this year it proved that sometimes it’s worthwhile to take time to get it right instead of getting there first. A similar ethic seems to underpin the company’s approach to autonomous vehicles; Jaguar Land Rover is developing and testing technology at their Graydon, Warwickshire facility that will take self-driving vehicles off-road.

The technology is based around ultrasonic sensors that scan the terrain 16 feet in front of the vehicle. The information picked up during that scan includes data on the type of terrain (mud, sand, gravel, soil or water) and makes adjustments to handling and power accordingly. That would allow the Jaguar F-PACE to adapt seamlessly among several types of terrain.

Even if a self-driving Jaguar F-PACE or F-TYPE Jaguar is many years in the future, the uses of the technology are apparent even now. Handling could be improved in bad weather, and handling improved on nearly any kind of surface. The fact that several vehicles can be linked through the system to share information, it also has the potential to revolutionize the way groups of vehicles travel.

Jaguar is, and has always been, a driver’s car. In some ways, a Jaguar that drives itself rather seems to defeat the purpose. But the research and development that’s gone into that technology is already at the core of several safety features, and that’s likely to be the case here as well. We invite you to come to the Jaguar Peabody showroom at 247 Newbury St in Peabody, MA to experience Jaguar as it should be experienced, from the driver’s seat.