MOTORING NEWS AND VIDEO  - The Oxford English Dictionary (OED) and Oxford Dictionaries (OxfordDictionaries.com) have been asked to change their official definitions of the word "car".

Jaguar is spearheading the campaign as they believe their I-PACE - an all-electric, zero-emission SUV - is currently not defined as a car. The I-PACE is the 2019 World Car of the Year.

The OED, the principal historical dictionary of the English language, defines a car in its online dictionary as: "a road vehicle powered by a motor (usually an internal combustion engine) designed to carry a driver and a small number of passengers, and usually having two front and two rear wheels, esp. for private, commercial, or leisure use".

The definition of "car" on OxfordDictionaries.com, a collection of dictionary websites produced by Oxford University Press (OUP), the publishing house of the University of Oxford, is: "A road vehicle, typically with four wheels, powered by an internal combustion engine and able to carry a small number of people".

To remedy the situation, Jaguar has submitted a formal application to the OED and OxfordDictionaries.com to have the definitions updated to include additional powertrains, including electric vehicles (EV).

David Browne, head of Jaguar Land Rover's naming committee, said, "A lot of time and thought is put into the name of any new vehicle or technology to ensure it is consumer friendly, and the definition of the car is outdated. We are therefore inviting the Oxford English Dictionary and the Oxford Dictionaries to update its online classification to reflect the shift from traditional internal combustion engines (ICE) towards more sustainable powertrains."

The OED is widely regarded as the accepted authority on the English language. It is an unsurpassed guide to the meaning, history, and pronunciation of 600 000 words from across the English-speaking world.

Watch a video below

Putting "car" through it's paces

A while ago, at the Jaguar Simola Hillclimb, Wessel van Heerden had a super fast-PACEd experience in the Jaguar I-PACE. His first hand experience of the pull and G-force the vehicle creates when going from 0-100km/h in less than 5 seconds, left him at a loss for words. According to Van Heerden the ride was deliciously exhilarating.

"It is plain crazy to be exposed to such a pull-away and speed in almost absolute silence. Electric vehicles are the future. It could well be that the definition of "car" as it currently stands, will one day completely disappear as combustion engines make way for electric power."

Jaguar unveiled the I-PACE, its first all-electric vehicle to deliver sustainable sports car performance, next-generation artificial intelligence (AI) technology and five-seat SUV practicality, last year.

Featuring a state-of-the-art 90kWh lithium-ion battery, two Jaguar-designed motors and a bespoke aluminium structure, the I-PACE is capable of 0-100km/h in 4,8 seconds and a range of up to 470 kilometres (WLTP).

While both the OED and Oxford Dictionaries review the application, Jaguar is encouraging people to get behind the campaign by asking how the word "car" should be defined. Contact Jaguar on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram using #RedefineTheCar to share your thoughts.

See a video of Van Heerden's I-PACE experience at the Hillclimb at www.georgeherald.com.

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