Mapua grad designs..for Jaguar, Land Rover

A Filipino mechanical engineer who is a product of the Mapua Institute of Technology in Manila is behind the design of a vital part of luxury car brands Jaguar and Land Rover, ABS-CBN Europe News Bureau reported.

Ronald Roque designed the engine harness or the electrical wiring of the Jaguar’s XKR and XJ models.

"Pinakamagandang [explanation] ng electrical is let’s say sa atin sa human being, ang electrical para siyang ugat ng kotse, kumbaga sa tao, ugat ng tao. Kung walang electrical, di mag-pa-function and kotse," explained Roque of Yazaki-Europe Limited.

>>>The best explanation of an electrical is let's say in a human being, the electrical is like the veins of a car, just like as it is for a human. Without this electrical, the car won't function, explained Roque of Yazaki-Europe Limited.<<<<

The XJ is sought-after by royalties, heads of state, pop stars and even rich car enthusiasts. The XKR, on the other hand, was awarded as the "European Car of the Year when launched in 2006. It is for sports car enthusiasts.

Roque is now based in Coventry, considered as the car manufacturing center in the United Kingdom.

His design project for Yazaki was the first program commissioend by Jaguar.

Roque started the project in 2003 for the XKR and XJ’s upgrade in 2007 and 2008.

He said car companies are very strict when it comes to new vehicle models.

"Very exclusive kasi ang Jaguar. Sa pagkakaintindi namin dati, may mailabas ka lang na konting information maaring mapag-aralan ng kalaban nila," he said.

>>>>Jaguar is very exclusive. From our understanding before, if you devulge even a little information, it might be learned by their competitors<<<

At first, Roque said he was not used to the new technology being used in car designs.

"Normally sanay ako sa Philippines na drawing by hand pero dito through computer. Minsan alam ko siya kung paano gawin pero di ko alam kung paano siya i-a-apply sa computer. So talagang nightmare," he said.

>>> In Philippines, normally I am used to drawing by hand but here, it's through computer. Sometimes, I know how to do it but I don't know how to apply it to computer. It was really nightmare, he said<<<<

Roque said he is also working with two other Filipinos who designed the electrical parts of an entire car from the dashboard to the tail lights.

Aside from the Jaguar, Roque also designed the Land Rover, Range Rover and Discovery 3 engine harnesses for the 2006 and 2007 models.

Roque is proud to say that Filipinos made important contributions to the Jaguar and and Land Rover vehicles.

"Although 'yung design namin di kita sa kotse alam mo yun masasabi mo na part ako ng naghirap dyan sa sasakyan na yan," he said.

>>>Although our design is not visible in the car, you know that you are a part of those who invest hardwork in this car, he said<<<<

http://www.abs-cbnnews.com/storypage.aspx?StoryId=127485