IAN HOBAN

Vehicle line director, Jaguar Land Rover

IT’S been a stellar 12 months for Ian Hoban, thanks to the successful launch of Jag’s first pure-electric car, the I-pace. Hoban has been a JLR man since he was an apprentice, and he’s worked on a number of key projects, notably the Jaguar F-type and the XJ.

But his profile rocketed earlier this year as Jaguar pitched him out to media, alongside design director Ian Callum, as the ‘face’ of its Tesla rival’s technical project. Hoban delivered, establishing himself with clear, concise explanations of the challenges and opportunities of developing a bespoke pure EV.

The I-pace’s driving dynamics will have won him the most plaudits. They’re likely to have cemented his place in the higher echelons of JLR’S engineering team, making him a key component as it prepares to expand its range of powertrains and models. The I-pace is just the start – but Hoban has shown the rest of the team what can be achieved.