Tag: jaguar

Report: Jaguar turns down offers to join V8 Supercars, questions AMG, Volvo participation

Filed under: Motorsports, Sedan, Performance, Jaguar, Australia, Luxury, Racing

2014 Jaguar XFR-S

Rumors have swirled in recent weeks that Jaguar may be the next manufacturer to join the V8 Supercars racing series, made popular in Australia but now well-known in other parts of the world as well. Sadly, Jag’s participation is not to be. In fact, it would be “insane,” according to Jaguar Land Rover Asia Pacific Managing Director David Blackhall, for it to accept either of the two offers it has received to bring Jaguar into V8 Supercars.

Not only is Jaguar not interested in entering V8 Supercars, says Blackhall, it also fails to understand the recent entries from AMG and Volvo. “I don’t know what it does for AMG to get flogged by a V8 Commodore week after week, but it’s their brand, their issue. And the same thing will happen to Volvo to be honest.”

Judging by Blackhall’s statements to motoring.com.au, after not-so-serious consideration, the automaker decided the monetary commitment it would take to compete for wins would be more than any potential exposure would be worth, despite the fact that Jaguar has a 5.0-liter V8 to go along with what would seem to be a tailor-made rear-wheel-drive chassis. For what it’s worth, one offer would have had Jaguar putting its name across an engine made by someone else, an option that was flatly turned down.

In related news, don’t expect to see Jaguar make a return to Formula 1, either. “We’ve been there. And the fizzy drink that took over [Jaguar’s F1 team] is not doing too bad. But we wouldn’t go back again,” said Jag’s head honcho Adrian Hallmark.

Jaguar turns down offers to join V8 Supercars, questions AMG, Volvo participation originally appeared on Autoblog on Thu, 27 Jun 2013 08:44:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments

Continue reading “Report: Jaguar turns down offers to join V8 Supercars, questions AMG, Volvo participation”

Video: Never-was Jaguar C-X75 hybrid supercar driven by Autocar

Filed under: Concept Cars, Coupe, Performance, Videos, Jaguar, UK, Electric

Jaguar C-X75 - Autocar drive video screencap

There’s lucky, and then there’s “I got to drive the Jaguar C-X75.” The crew from Autocar is among the handful of souls who can honestly make the latter statement. Jaguar invited the publication down for a little time in both the passenger and driver seats around the automaker’s proving grounds. While there’s no end to the jealousy oozing from our pores, the good news is that there were a few cameras on hand to capture the experience. As you may recollect, the C-X75 Concept was a unique hybrid supercar concept built to duke it out with the likes of the Ferrari LaFerrari, Porsche 918 and the McLaren P1. The British automaker put it on track for production, but unfortunately stopped the project about six months ago.

With a twincharged 1.6-liter four-cylinder engine capable of revving to 10,000 rpm, the C-X75 concept yields 502 horsepower and gets partnered with four electric motors – one at each wheels. A 19kWh lithium-ion battery pack serves up 300kW of power, and combined, the motors and battery are capable of yielding an additional 194 horsepower and 295 pound-feet of torque. Combined, the driveline is good for more than 850 horsepower and 738 pound-feet of torque. Said another way, the C-X75 will do the 0-60 miles per hour dance in under three seconds.

And Autocar got to drive it. You can watch the video for yourself by scrolling below.

Continue reading Never-was Jaguar C-X75 hybrid supercar driven by Autocar

Never-was Jaguar C-X75 hybrid supercar driven by Autocar originally appeared on Autoblog on Mon, 24 Jun 2013 12:45:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments

Continue reading “Video: Never-was Jaguar C-X75 hybrid supercar driven by Autocar”

Rumormill: Jaguar working on 700-hp, 200-mph hybrid F-Type?

Filed under: Convertible, Coupe, Hybrid, Performance, Jaguar, Rumormill

2013 Jaguar F-Type - front three-quarter view

After first driving the 2014 Jaguar F-Type in Spain this spring, we came away mighty impressed. Of course, if you had to pin us down for a top three wish list of what improvements we’d like to see, we’d probably hit you with something like: 1) Less weight. 2) Less weight and 3) Less weight. Oh, and if we’re feeling presumptuous, maybe some additional transmission choices.

Despite leveraging aluminum for the body and chassis, this Jaguar is still a bit of a fat cat compared to its rival models from Porsche. We never felt like it was lacking for power in any of its three supercharged trims, least of them the 495-horsepower V8 S, which is a genuine madman. We knew the variants would come, though – a quick look at the rest of Jag’s lineup provides all the evidence you need of that. And so we’re not surprised to see word of a hyper-powered F-Type on the horizon, an R-S version. What is surprising, however, is a new report that put its motivation at over 700 horsepower and its top speed at 200+ mph. Us? We’re just hoping the latter figure comes at least partially as a result of a hardcore diet.

This F-Type R-S news comes according to the rumormongers at AutoExpress, who expect the high-power Brit to come in coupe form, at least initially. We still haven’t seen the debut of the fixed-head F, but plenty of spy shots suggest its arrival is imminent. Wildly, AE posits that Jag won’t look for more displacement to gain power, it will instead radically downsize by using a 1.6-liter turbo- and supercharged four-cylinder and an array of electric motors. If that sounds familiar, that’s because AE suggests the high-tech powertrain will be scavenged from the defunct C-X75 supercar program (interestingly, earlier reports suggested this combination would only deliver about 500 horsepower).

AutoExpress says we’re in for a bit of a wait before the F-Type R-S checks in, likely 2016 or later. Intriguing as it all sounds, we won’t exactly be holding our breath…

Jaguar working on 700-hp, 200-mph hybrid F-Type? originally appeared on Autoblog on Sat, 22 Jun 2013 17:02:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments

Continue reading “Rumormill: Jaguar working on 700-hp, 200-mph hybrid F-Type?”

Video: Jaguar F-Type squares off against Porsche 911, Aston V8 Vantage with Chris Harris

Filed under: Convertible, Videos, Aston Martin, Jaguar, Porsche

Chris Harris is back on the job, taking on really really difficult car questions like: Which enormously sexy and good-to-drive, high-performance convertible is the top of the heap? As one of the hottest cars in the luxury space right now, the Jaguar F-Type S is, of course, in on the action. Competition comes in the form of the Aston Martin V8 Vantage Roadster and the Porsche 911 Carrera S Cabriolet. Sun-loving CEOs who despise test-driving need look no further.

Scroll on below for a fully featured (with a running time of more than 20 minutes) comparison video. Harris does his best to entertain – in a typically nitpicky and made-up-British-words fashion – and the moving pictures are lovely to look at. Kick back, pour a pint and get your weekend started off right.

Continue reading Jaguar F-Type squares off against Porsche 911, Aston V8 Vantage with Chris Harris

Jaguar F-Type squares off against Porsche 911, Aston V8 Vantage with Chris Harris originally appeared on Autoblog on Fri, 21 Jun 2013 19:59:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments

Continue reading “Video: Jaguar F-Type squares off against Porsche 911, Aston V8 Vantage with Chris Harris”

Spy Shots: Jaguar F-Type Coupe proves sexy can’t be disguised

Filed under: Spy Photos, Coupe, Performance, Jaguar, Luxury

Jaguar F-Type Coupe spy shots

Jaguar’s new F-Type is a pretty potent little pouncer. And while we do love a good roadster, many of us at Autoblog are perhaps more excited about the upcoming hardtop version of Jag’s stylish new entry-level sports car. Why? Because even here in heavily camouflaged prototype form, the thing looks really, really good – the sleek roofline blending rather nicely into the F-Type’s shapely rump, allowing for better distinction of its pronounced hips over the rear wheel wells.

Mechanically speaking, the F-Type Coupe should be identical to its droptop sibling. That means the supercharged 3.0-liter V6 and 5.0-liter V8 engine lineup should carry over unchanged, though we’ve heard rumors about a four-cylinder application as well. There’s also talk of hotter R, R-S or R-S GT models coming down the pipeline, and based on what we’ve experienced in things like the XKR-S, we certainly can’t deny the allure of such a model.

It’s unclear exactly when Jaguar will show the production F-Type Coupe (at the Frankfurt Motor Show, perhaps?), but the car is expected to go on sale sometime in 2014. Check it out in our latest spy gallery, above.

Jaguar F-Type Coupe proves sexy can’t be disguised originally appeared on Autoblog on Wed, 19 Jun 2013 13:31:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments

Continue reading “Spy Shots: Jaguar F-Type Coupe proves sexy can’t be disguised”

Report: Jaguar to ditch current nameplates for alphanumeric badges?

Filed under: Jaguar

2012 Jaguar XJ

2012 Jaguar XJ – Click above for high-res image gallery

An automaker can’t make it in the fringe anymore. Everything’s going either upmarket or mainstream, and Jaguar has opted primarily for the latter. The company that not so long ago offered essentially one sedan and one two-door is rapidly expanding to a full lineup. So what’s the next step? According to the rumormeisters over at Autocar, it’s ditching its current model naming strategy.

According to the UK publication, Jaguar is preparing to jettison nameplates like XJ and XF in favor of a more conventional alphanumeric system like those employed by its German and Japanese rivals. The thinking is that while the faithful know Coventry’s naming system, it’s not immediately evident to newcomers and outsiders where one model sits in the line-up vis-a-vis the next. Besides, it won’t be the first time Jag has slapped alphanumeric badges like XJ8 on the flanks of its cars.

One model could possibly hold out, though, as the C-X75 heads down the road to production. Filling the shoes of the iconic XJ220, the company is reportedly toying with the idea of naming the new supercar XJ330. The original was named for the 220 mph top speed it was aimed to reach (but never did), and the new model is targeted to hit a more realistic 205 mph – or 330 km/h on the metric scale.

Jaguar to ditch current nameplates for alphanumeric badges? originally appeared on Autoblog on Wed, 01 Jun 2011 14:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments

Continue reading “Report: Jaguar to ditch current nameplates for alphanumeric badges?”

Jaguar Lightweight E-Type introduced to Southern California traffic

Filed under: Etc., Jaguar

jaguar lightweight e-type accident

A staple vehicle at Irvine, California’s Cars and Coffee, this Jaguar Lightweight E-Type was heading north on Interstate 5 when it was involved in an accident. Cited in the article as a “1968 Jaguar,” this car is either a Lightweight E-Type replica or the article has the year wrong. Regardless, it’s a beautiful machine, and you can see it in its pre-smashed state on The Car Lounge.

Witnesses report that the Jag lost a rear wheel, which led to a chain reaction accident involving a Honda Civic, Toyota Yaris and a semi-truck. Drivers and passengers in the Civic and Yaris were taken to UCI Medical Center, while the driver of the Jaguar and the big rig were unhurt. Well… the driver of this Jaguar wasn’t physically hurt.

Jaguar Lightweight E-Type introduced to Southern California traffic originally appeared on Autoblog on Fri, 20 May 2011 18:59:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments

Continue reading “Jaguar Lightweight E-Type introduced to Southern California traffic”

Where big cats are made: A photo tour of Jaguar’s Castle Bromwich plant

Filed under: Sedan, Plants/Manufacturing, Jaguar, UK, Luxury

Jaguar XJ at Castle Bromwich

A photo tour of Jaguar’s Castle Bromwich factory – Click above for high-res image gallery

All Jaguars, whether steel or aluminum, are fashioned in one place: Castle Bromwich in the West Midlands of England. The factory complex originally made RAF Spitfires and Lancaster bombers for World War II service, then was turned over to car production. In the way of Britain’s carmaking conglomerates, it produced bodies for brands from Riley to Austin to Morris – when our tour guide started working there in 1966 he was in charge of making Nash Metropolitans.

Jaguar has been the sole occupant since 1977, and consolidated all of its production there in 2005, when its Browns Lane plant was shut. We had a chance to tour the site’s C-Block and F-Block recently, where the XJ is assembled and finished. Along the way we came across bodyshells so light they could easily be picked up by one man, a bajillion rivets and miles of adhesive, Ford’s gift of reams of data sheets, the shiniest XJ we’ve ever seen and, of course, signs of Elvis. Have a look at the captioned gallery of high-res photos below to see what’s behind the camouflaged red brick walls of Castle Bromwich.

Where big cats are made: A photo tour of Jaguar’s Castle Bromwich plant originally appeared on Autoblog on Fri, 13 May 2011 19:25:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments

Continue reading “Where big cats are made: A photo tour of Jaguar’s Castle Bromwich plant”

Autoblog Podcast #229: Autoblog changes, Jaguar C-X75 and more

Filed under: Podcasts

Click above for the Autoblog Podcast in iTunes, RSS or listen now!

Editor in Chief John Neff kicks it old school with Chris Shunk and Dan Roth this week for Episode #229 of the Autoblog Podcast. The big changes afoot for Autoblog are but one topic of conversation, which ranges from the chatter about an Acura RSX successor, Jaguar’s C-X75 heading for production, the Opel Astra GTC coming to Buick, and Toyota’s commitment to plug-in hybrids for the 2014 Prius. Your feedback and questions finish it off, and we’ve re-posted the Q&A at the bottom of this post so you can play along at home, too. Thanks for listening, we’ll see you next week!

Autoblog Podcast #229: Autoblog changes, Acura RSX successor, Jaguar C-X75, Astra GTC for Buick, Plug-in Prius

  • Big changes for Autoblog.com
  • Acura RSX Successor coming?
  • Jaguar C-X75 headed for production
  • Astra GTC coming as a Buick
  • Prius going all plug in for 2014

In the Autoblog Garage:

2011 Jaguar XF Supercharged
2011 Hyundai Elantra Limited


Hosts: Dan Roth, Chris Shunk, John Neff
Runtime: 01:26:24

Get the podcast:
[iTunes] Subscribe to the Autoblog Podcast in iTunes
[RSS] Add the Autoblog Podcast feed to your RSS aggregator
[MP3] Download the MP3 directly

Feedback:
Email: Podcast at Autoblog dot com
Voicemail: 734-288-8POD (734-288-8763)

Review the show in iTunes and take our survey

Autoblog Podcast #229: Autoblog changes, Jaguar C-X75 and more originally appeared on Autoblog on Tue, 10 May 2011 16:50:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments

Continue reading “Autoblog Podcast #229: Autoblog changes, Jaguar C-X75 and more”

Hands-on with Jaguar’s next-gen mobile integration for Blackberry

Filed under: Technology, Jaguar

Jaguar Connect and View

Jaguar shows off next generation Blackberry interface – Click above to watch the video

Jaguar trotted out a modified version of its XJ to Blackberry World 2011, RIM’s international developer’s conference, with a prototype smartphone integration system developed in conduction with Denso, RealVNC and RIM.

The setup works much like Terminal Mode, porting the smartphone’s (in this case, a Blackberry Torch) UI directly into the eight-inch screen mounted on the dash. Rather than displaying a watered-down interface, the “Connect and View” system allows users to interact with the exact UI through the touchscreen, mirroring all the functionality of the Blackberry – from maps to apps to the music interface – along with softkeys to replace the device’s physical buttons. The system also allows Jaguar to block apps and functionality that could be distracting to the driver. The VNC protocol is transferred over USB and keeps the phone constantly charging, while audio is streamed over Bluetooth. Connect and View has been developed specifically for the Blackberry, but Jaguar claims the system is device-agnostic, so Android and Windows Phone 7 versions could be in the cards. But don’t hold your breath for iOS implementation.

Jaguar says the system could come to market as early as next year and our compatriots at Engadget got a hands-on with the system at the show. Check it out after the jump, along with more details on Connect and View and Jaguar’s latest iPhone app – “Driven Intelligence” – that’s available as a free download from the Apple App Store.

[Sources: Jaguar, Engadget]

Continue reading Hands-on with Jaguar’s next-gen mobile integration for Blackberry

Hands-on with Jaguar’s next-gen mobile integration for Blackberry originally appeared on Autoblog on Mon, 09 May 2011 16:57:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments

Continue reading “Hands-on with Jaguar’s next-gen mobile integration for Blackberry”