Autoblog

Jay Z vandalizing 2011 Jaguar XJ for 'On to the Next One' video?

Damon Lavrinc — Fri, 04 Dec 2009 10:29:00 EST

Filed under: LA Auto Show, Sedan, Etc., Marketing/Advertising, Jaguar, Celebrities, Luxury

On Wednesday night, as part of the run-up to the LA Auto Show, Jaguar held a sizable soiree at SoCal's Milk Studios to show off its latest wares to the public and press, with a heavy focus on its 2011 XJ flagship.

With the British automaker's latest model taking center stage, Mike O'Driscoll, Jaguar's managing director, discussed the finer points of the super saloon before announcing that rapper Jay Z will feature the XJ in his upcoming music video, "On to the Next One," a track from his new album The Blueprint 3. The 60-second trailer we saw didn't set our hearts on fire, but with Jaguar's renewed focus on "making Jaguar Jaguar again" and its push to appeal to a broader swath of the world's elite, the collaboration - although slightly awkward and mildly forced - could pay itself forward. It's just a shame about Jay Z's new logo being painted on the flanks of the luxury sedan.

Jay Z vandalizing 2011 Jaguar XJ for 'On to the Next One' video? originally appeared on Autoblog on Fri, 04 Dec 2009 10:29:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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REPORT: Tata Motors back in the black as Jaguar/Land Rover fortunes improve

Jonny Lieberman — Mon, 30 Nov 2009 19:00:00 EST

Filed under: Sedan, Performance, SUV, Jaguar, Land Rover, India, Tata, Luxury, Off-Road

While many confusing car-related things have happened in the upper strata of the Autoverse over the last few years (Aston Martin and Ferrari both being impart owned by Middle Eastern concerns, Aston Martin not being bankrupt) perhaps the most shocking and disconcerting was Ford's sale of Jaguar and Land Rover to India's Tata. To many, the scheme seemed doomed from the get go and after a couple cash-hemorrhaging quarters coupled to the recent recession, the naysayers appeared right.

Turns out, Tata can say nay to the naysayers as its two prestige/luxury brands just turned a profit. A combination of cost cuts and attractive new models (LR4, XF) have helped catapult the long time money losers into the black. And while the $4.7 million in consolidated net profits last quarter is certainly nothing to jump for joy over, that nearly five million bucks is a nice change of pace from the usual Jag/Landy blood red ink. JLR sales rose 23% over the previous quarter. Rule Britannia! Er, India.

[Source: Gasgoo | Photo: Christopher Furlong/Getty Images]

REPORT: Tata Motors back in the black as Jaguar/Land Rover fortunes improve originally appeared on Autoblog on Mon, 30 Nov 2009 19:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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VIDEO: Jeremy Clarkson drifts a Jaguar XKR Convertible... in flippers

Jonny Lieberman — Mon, 16 Nov 2009 14:58:00 EST

Filed under: Convertible, Performance, Etc., Videos, Jaguar, Luxury

Jeremy Clarkson, flippers and a Jaguar XKR Convertible - Click above to watch the video

We missed the first part of this skit, as the video you're about to watch isn't from Top Gear, but rather from JC's newest DVD ~~Dual~~ Duel. Still, it does feature the Stig. And some ridiculous-yet-somehow-jealousy-inducing car-antics. Apparently, Jezza bragged that the Jag is such an easy to handle drifter all-star, that he could smash an apple... while wearing flippers.

But he's not the only one wearing ridiculous shoes while hammering a big powerful car around a track. The Stig attempts to smash apples in a pair of wellingtons. The results, while absurd, juvenile and predictable (guess who has the easier time making applesauce), are still must-watch gearhead television. So without further ado, make the jump and watch the video.

[Source: YouTube via Axis of Oversteer]

Continue reading VIDEO: Jeremy Clarkson drifts a Jaguar XKR Convertible... in flippers

VIDEO: Jeremy Clarkson drifts a Jaguar XKR Convertible... in flippers originally appeared on Autoblog on Mon, 16 Nov 2009 14:58:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Jaguar trains gentleman racers at its R Performance Academy

Jonathon Ramsey — Wed, 11 Nov 2009 08:58:00 EST

Filed under: Jaguar

The surfeit of driving academies means that behind-the-wheel instruction is no longer only about being a better driver; it's about learning to vigorously drive the car you want to drive. Now it is Jaguar's turn to leap through the flaming driving school ring with the launch of its R Performance Academy.

In this case, though, your wish to learn how to flog a Jaguar will only be granted if you have actually bought one: for now, the academy is open to those who have purchased an XFR or XKR. If that's you, the Performance Academy site is accepting registrations now, and dates are available through next Spring at three tracks around the country. You can check out the press release after the jump for more info. Nothing is indicated about them teaching you to the proper inflection for "Rather!" and "Good show, old chap!" but we're sure it'll be part of your training. Burnouts, however... not so much...

[Source: Jaguar]

Continue reading Jaguar trains gentleman racers at its R Performance Academy

Jaguar trains gentleman racers at its R Performance Academy originally appeared on Autoblog on Wed, 11 Nov 2009 08:58:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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REPORT: Ex-Opel chief Carl-Peter Forster may take over at Jaguar-Land Rover

Sam Abuelsamid — Mon, 09 Nov 2009 10:30:00 EST

Filed under: Hirings/Firings/Layoffs, Jaguar, Land Rover, Opel, Rumormill

It appears that outgoing Opel chief Carl-Peter Forster may have already lined up a new gig for himself. According to The Times of London, Forster will become an employee of Tata Motors and take the top job at Jaguar-Land Rover. If this appointment comes through, it will be something of a homecoming for Forster who was born and raised in London. Additionally, Forster also ran production at BMW when it owned the late Rover Group.

Forster left General Motors Europe after publicly disagreeing with the way the company handled the aborted sale of Opel and Vauxhall to Magna International. Forster is not the only one that was not pleased with the results - most news accounts suggest that British and German governments are increasingly unlikely to help GM with its European restructuring. Tata has not publicly commented on the Forster appointment, but it could happen as soon as this week.

[Source: Times of London]

REPORT: Ex-Opel chief Carl-Peter Forster may take over at Jaguar-Land Rover originally appeared on Autoblog on Mon, 09 Nov 2009 10:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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AW: Jaguar to hatch R-D6 inspired sports fastback for 2014

Jeremy Korzeniewski — Wed, 28 Oct 2009 10:58:00 EST

Filed under: Sedan, Performance, Hatchback, Jaguar, Rumormill, Luxury

The on-again, off-again five-door "coupe" from Jaguar is reportedly, well, on again. According to AutoWeek, the British-born and Indian-owned automaker plans to release the sporty hatchback in 2014 with an estimated price of around $60,000. Jaguar first dipped a toe in the five-door coupe waters back in 2003 at the Frankfurt Motor Show, though the R-D6 concept was quickly forgotten after its initial round of the show circuit.

Now, an unnamed source at Jaguar tells AW, "There's a growing feeling with the R-D6 that we really had something very innovative, fresh and different. Maybe we missed something back then, but the idea is even more applicable now." Might that newfound interest have anything to do with the BMW 5 Series Grand Turismo and Audi Sportback models?

The new car would reportedly be one size smaller than the current XF and would share its aluminum chassis architecture with the next XK and planned XE sportscars. After the five-door hits the market, there's a reasonable chance a sportier three-door could shortly follow. Power will reportedly come from a new line of V6 engines that will feature forced induction and share ancestry with Jag's latest 5.0-liter V8 engine.

Gallery: 2003 Jaguar R-D6 Concept

[Source: AutoWeek]

AW: Jaguar to hatch R-D6 inspired sports fastback for 2014 originally appeared on Autoblog on Wed, 28 Oct 2009 10:58:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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50-0 in 4:04 - Neiman Marcus sells out special-edition Jaguar XJ

Noah Joseph — Tue, 20 Oct 2009 17:32:00 EST

Filed under: Sedan, Jaguar, Luxury

Jaguar XJL Supercharged Neiman Marcus Edition - Click above for high-res image gallery

What would you consider "fast" for a supercharged luxury sedan? 160 miles per hour? Five seconds to sixty? How about four hours? That's how long it took Neiman Marcus to sell out its limited run of special edition Jaguar XJ's featured in this year's Christmas catalog.

By itself, there's not that much that sets the Neiman Marcus edition apart from a stock 2010 XJL Supercharged. It's got a special paint job and a numbered plaque. But more importantly, like the luxury department store did last year with the new BMW 7 Series, this year's luxo barge of choice hit the Neiman Marcus catalog before it becomes available to the public. Which could go a long way towards explaining how, within four hours and four minutes of the car's availability, all fifty of the $105,000 specials were gone. Details in the press release after the jump.

Gallery: Jaguar XJL Supercharged Neiman Marcus Edition

[Source: Jaguar]

Continue reading 50-0 in 4:04 - Neiman Marcus sells out special-edition Jaguar XJ

50-0 in 4:04 - Neiman Marcus sells out special-edition Jaguar XJ originally appeared on Autoblog on Tue, 20 Oct 2009 17:32:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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200 mph supercars featured at the 2nd Annual Caruso Concours

Frank Filipponio — Thu, 15 Oct 2009 15:58:00 EST

Filed under: Performance, Audi, Bugatti, Dodge, Ford, Jaguar, Lamborghini, Maserati, Mercedes-Benz, Nissan, Misc. Auto Shows, Ferrari

2nd Annual Caruso Concours - Click above for our high-res image gallery courtesy Greg Grudt

The 2nd Annual Caruso Concours was held this past weekend at The Americana at Brand shopping center in Glendale, California. Put off a bit by threatening skies, we didn't make it out there ourselves, but luckily, Autoblog friend and shutterbug Greg Grudt was there to capture all of the excitement for us. This sophomore outing was once again put on by The Petersen Automotive Museum, and as was the case last year, a brace of incredible vehicles showed up to this fitting but unorthodox locale. Showgoers could peruse the cars for a bit and then pick up a Tiffany necklace on their way out.

This year's gathering focused on supercars - in particular, supercars capable of 200 mph. Not meant to be an exhaustive showing of double-century barrier breakers, it nonetheless attracted an impressive array of cars capable of close to, if not over, the magic mark. The fun part was just seeing them all together in one place. Judging by Grudt's images, it looks like the Americana also happens to be hosting a few of those Toyota solar sunflowers, which made for an interesting juxtaposition.

Supercars right off the showroom floor mingled with old-timers from as far back as the Eighties. For instance, the display included not just the Bugatti Veyron, but also its forebearer, the EB110. The list of cars in attendance read like a roster of World's Fastest Cars contenders. Ferrari was represented by an Enzo, F50, F40, 288GTO, 16M, and a SuperAmerica. The Lamborghini cluster was comprised of an LP670-SV, LP640-4, LP560-4 and even a Countach. There was also a Mercedes-McLaren SLR, CLK DTM, Ford GT, Dodge Viper, Cizeta V16t, Maserati MC12, Nissan GT-R, Audi R8, and even a Jaguar XJ220, which complemented the long flowing bodywork of the adjacent Maser quite nicely. They even dragged out the AREX Concept which was supposed to be good for 214 mph.

All-in, it appears to have been a great way to bring exotics to the people. Be sure to check out Greg's pics in the gallery, and check out a larger gallery by clicking here.

Gallery: 2nd Annual Caruso Concours

Photos copyright (C)2009 Greg Grudt/Weblogs, Inc.

[Source: socalspeedzone.com]

200 mph supercars featured at the 2nd Annual Caruso Concours originally appeared on Autoblog on Thu, 15 Oct 2009 15:58:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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AB stops at the 27th Concours d'Elegance at the St. Regis Monarch Beach Resort

Frank Filipponio — Wed, 07 Oct 2009 09:31:00 EST

Filed under: Classics, Performance, Aston Martin, Bentley, Bugatti, Cadillac, Chrysler, Ford, Jaguar, Lamborghini, Lincoln, Maybach, Mercedes-Benz, Porsche, Rolls-Royce, Misc. Auto Shows, Ferrari, Specialty, Luxury

27th Concours d'Elegance at the St. Regis, Dana Point - Click above for high-res image gallery

For its 27th iteration, Orange County's most prestigious classic car show returned to the St. Regis Monarch Beach Resort in Dana Point, and finally dropped the "Newport Beach" from its name. No longer would it be known as the Newport Beach Concours d'Elegance, instead adopting the Concours d'Elegance at the St. Regis moniker. The title may have changed, but the quality of the entrants hasn't. Still benefiting the Mary & Dick Allen Diabetes Center at Hoag Hospital and the CSP Assessment and Treatment Services Center, the field of classic cars at this concours was once again stunning.

This year's featured marque was Mercedes-Benz, and the automaker was represented by some truly spectacular models, aided in no small part by the show's proximity to the Mercedes Classic Car Center, the factory-backed restoration shop for vintage Mercedes vehicles. Besides the beautiful Benzes, the roughly 3,000 attendees got to see about 300 other classic and exotic vehicles spread out around the St. Regis Monarch Beach Resort and the adjacent Dana Point Sea Terrace Park. Read on to learn what else we found during our day in Dana Point and don't forget to check out the huge gallery below.

Gallery: 27th Annual Concours d'Elegance at The St. Regis Monarch Beach Resort

Continue reading AB stops at the 27th Concours d'Elegance at the St. Regis Monarch Beach Resort

AB stops at the 27th Concours d'Elegance at the St. Regis Monarch Beach Resort originally appeared on Autoblog on Wed, 07 Oct 2009 09:31:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Happy Xmas: Jaguar XJL Supercharged Neiman Marcus Edition

John Neff — Tue, 06 Oct 2009 16:01:00 EST

Filed under: Car Buying, Sedan, Jaguar, Luxury

Jaguar XJL Supercharged Neiman Marcus Edition - Click above for high-res image gallery

What with the advent of the world wide web, few of us do our Christmas shopping in catalogs anymore. That probably won't stop Neiman Marcus from selling out of all 50 examples of the limited edition 2010 Jaguar XJL Supercharged Neiman Marcus Edition that will appear in its Christmas Book this season. Neiman Marcus offers a limited edition vehicle in its Christmas Book every year, and this will be third time a Jaguar has been offered.

This special version of the new XJ will feature an exclusive Celestial Black paint job with 20-inch double-10 spoke wheels. Other than a special nameplate inscribed with "Neiman Marcus 1 of 50", the yuletide Jag will be just like any other XJ with a supercharged version of the brand's new 5.0-liter V8 producing 470 horsepower. The XJ itself, meanwhile, goes on sale the normal way in the U.S. in early 2010. If you've got a hankering for one of the first, call 1-866-524-6963 on Friday, October 16 at noon EST to place your order. Gift wrapping not included.

Gallery: Jaguar XJL Supercharged Neiman Marcus Edition

[Source: Jaguar]

Happy Xmas: Jaguar XJL Supercharged Neiman Marcus Edition originally appeared on Autoblog on Tue, 06 Oct 2009 16:01:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Real Estate? Jaguar XF wagon reportedly back on for 2012

Dan Roth — Fri, 02 Oct 2009 09:00:00 EST

Filed under: Wagon, Jaguar, UK, Rumormill

As if the X-Type experiment didn't go poorly enough, the Leaper may be heading back to the wagon trough, with four-cylinder engines, no less. Yet it's not as lame as it sounds. According to Autocar, the idea of an XF wagon is on the plate for when the model gets its refresh in 2012. Jaguar wants to beat back its Audi and BMW estate car rivals, and were it to have a five-door XF, the car's sales would stand a good chance of being on top, instead of in third place in UK sales.

The four-cylinder talk centers around a diesel engine that is rumored to be a revised 2.2-liter borrowed from Ford by way of Land Rover. While the XF's current V8 has taken some flak for being an underachiever, it at least provides a delightful soundtrack. The bray of a four, even a diesel, may be acceptable to UK buyers who already snap up such powertrains in competitors wagons, but we'd want our family-style XF to kick it with big V8 brawn. Here's hoping we get the chance.

[Source: Autocar]

Real Estate? Jaguar XF wagon reportedly back on for 2012 originally appeared on Autoblog on Fri, 02 Oct 2009 09:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Rendered speculation: Jaguar XE roadster

Sam Abuelsamid — Thu, 01 Oct 2009 10:01:00 EST

Filed under: Spy Photos, Convertible, Performance, Jaguar

It's no secret Jaguar is working on a small roadster dubbed the XE, and according to AutoCar, the design staff at Jaguar are struggling to finalize the look of the BMW Z4-sized drop-top.

Apparently, the original plan was to give the XE an oval shaped grille handed down from the old D- and E-types. Now they're leaning toward a shape more like the XF and new XJ. The roadster is planned to be a front engine, rear drive car possibly based on the aluminum chassis of the XK, but part of the problem with finalizing the XE is the future direction of the XK. Some at Jaguar favor growing the XK to compete with the likes of the Maserati Gran Turismo to make room for the XE.

However, if the XK stays the same size, it could be problematic to make room for the XE and make it different. We vote for keeping the XK the same size and creating a smaller XE roadster.

[Source: AutoCar]

Rendered speculation: Jaguar XE roadster originally appeared on Autoblog on Thu, 01 Oct 2009 10:01:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Rumormill: Jaguar working on all-new five-door "coupe"

Frank Filipponio — Wed, 30 Sep 2009 16:20:00 EST

Filed under: Coupe, Performance, Hatchback, Jaguar, Rumormill, Luxury

2003 Jaguar R-D6 Concept

We're not exactly sure when this trend will end, but it now looks like Jaguar is preparing to join the five-door coupe club. Inside Line is reporting that a compact hatch, similar to Audi's new A5 Sportback, is in the works. An evolution of the R-D6 concept first shown back way in 2003, it is being called the RD7, and will feature rear suicide doors and an E-Type aping side-hinged rear hatch. Now that's one heritage element that would definitely look cool, but might not be too practical - we'll have to reserve judgment until we see the final product.

As Jaguar's X-Type is finally being phased out overseas, the logic is that the Gaydon firm needs an entry-level model to compete in the compact premium segment. Apparently Jag is considering both a three-door and a five-door version of this X-Type replacement, which would most likely be built on a slimmed down XF platform. Power is rumored to come from a 2.7-liter diesel V6.

Whatever the final form of the RD7, we'll have to wait a while to see it in showrooms. Next up for Jaguar is the spiritual successor to the XK-E, which is expected some time in 2011, the 50th anniversary of the original E-Type. Cash coming in from the popular XF and the recently revealed full-size XJ might help speed things up a bit, too.

[Source: Inside Line]

Rumormill: Jaguar working on all-new five-door "coupe" originally appeared on Autoblog on Wed, 30 Sep 2009 16:20:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Tata confirms closing of Jaguar or Land Rover plant

Dan Roth — Thu, 24 Sep 2009 17:33:00 EST

Filed under: Hirings/Firings/Layoffs, Plants/Manufacturing, Jaguar, Land Rover, Earnings/Financials, UK, Tata

When the economy gets dinged, luxury vehicles gets massive dents. Jaguar and Land Rover haven't been the most profitable aut for a while, and parent company Tata is studying which of two plants it would shut to try and stem some of the losses; Solihull or Castle Bromwich.

It sounds drastic, but the pain of closing a plant and shedding underutilized capacity - about 40 percent of JLR's production overhead is going unused - could head off outright failure. Production has been pulled back already, while jobs have been cut and wages frozen, so word of the closing is just more bad news, but Jaguar Land Rover CEO David Smith is committed to taking "decisive actions" to see the storied marques through. The union, of course, is unhappy, and a meeting will be going forward between the company and GMB officials to determine what actions might be taken on both sides.

[Source: Automotive News - Sub. Req. | Image Source: Paul Ellis/AFP/Getty]

Tata confirms closing of Jaguar or Land Rover plant originally appeared on Autoblog on Thu, 24 Sep 2009 17:33:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Jaguar XKR GT2 will debut this week at Petit Le Mans

Sam Abuelsamid — Thu, 24 Sep 2009 13:32:00 EST

Filed under: Motorsports, Jaguar

Jaguar XKR GT2 - Click above for high-res image gallery

After announcing earlier this year that it would enter the American Le Mans Series with a new GT2 class XKR, Jaguar has remained silent on when the car would actually appear. That silence is now over as the car is roaring to life at Road Atlanta today in practice for Saturday's Petit Le Mans.

The new racer has been prepared by long-time Jaguar racing collaborator Paul Gentilozzi and his RSR team. RSR is the successor to Rocketsports racing with which Gentilozzi campaigned XKRs in the Trans Am series. Like the new GT2 C6.R Corvette, the XKR started its life as a production aluminum body-in-white that was then transformed into a racer. Most of the aerodynamic development of the body was handled by the engineers at Jaguar before being fabricated in carbon fiber by RSR and a local Michigan-based supplier. RSR is mainly using this weekend's debut race as an extended track test session to prove-out the new car before participating in the entire 2010 season. We'll let you know how it does.

Gallery: RSR Jaguar XKR GT2 racer

[Source: Jaguar]

Continue reading Jaguar XKR GT2 will debut this week at Petit Le Mans

Jaguar XKR GT2 will debut this week at Petit Le Mans originally appeared on Autoblog on Thu, 24 Sep 2009 13:32:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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X-Type Redux? Jaguar reportedly considering entry-level coupe

Jeremy Korzeniewski — Thu, 17 Sep 2009 13:58:00 EST

Filed under: Coupe, Jaguar

To put it mildly, sales of the Jaguar X-Type have never quite lived up to worldwide expectations, and that's especially true in the American market where the car did way more damage to the automaker's reputation that its middling sales numbers were ever worth. Jaguar is hoping that its upcoming XJ restores some of the leaping cat's lost luster, and if that happens, exciting prospects may very well open up for the classic British automaker.

Not surprisingly, there are no plans to replace the X-Type in Jaguar's line, but there are a number of options that the automaker could explore for future automobiles - not the least of which is the rumored XE compact sportscar. Engineering chief Mick Mohan tells Autocar that another possibility would be an entry-level coupe that could sport a sticker price several thousand dollars under that of the XF:

Personally, I'd love to make a compact coupe - an Audi A5 or BMW 3 Series coupe rival. There's plenty of profit to be made on those cars, and our aluminum platform technology gives us the opportunity to make one. I think we'd make a really good one too.

One more interesting tidbit from Mohan is that Jaguar has absolutely no intention of following Audi, BMW and Mercedes-Benz into the crossover market. "Utility will never be what we're about", he says, and somehow, we're thankful for that.

[Source: Autocar]

X-Type Redux? Jaguar reportedly considering entry-level coupe originally appeared on Autoblog on Thu, 17 Sep 2009 13:58:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Sneak peek at Jaguar's 'Limo-Green' series hybrid concept

Sam Abuelsamid — Fri, 11 Sep 2009 13:58:00 EST

Filed under: Sedan, Jaguar, Lotus, Electric

For the past year, Jaguar, Lotus, Caparo Vehicle technologies and the MIRA proving ground have been working on a UK government-funded project dubbed Limo-Green. The goal of the project was to develop and build a series hybrid luxury sedan. Earlier this week, Jaguar showed off the car for the first time. Most of the powertrain development work was done using a last generation XJ, but recently all the hardware was moved into the just launched 2010 Jaguar XJ.

Like the Chevy Volt and Fisker Karma, the Limo-Green uses an electric motor for propulsion, in this case a 145 kW, 295 lb-ft unit. A lithium battery pack moves the car for 30 miles on a charge and then the Lotus-developed 1.2-liter range extender takes over for the remainder of the 600-mile range. We've contacted Jaguar for more information, but we're still waiting to hear back. In the meantime, AutoCar is reporting that the big Jag gets 47 mpg (US) on the EU combined cycle with CO2 emissions under 120 g/km.

[Source: AutoCar]

Sneak peek at Jaguar's 'Limo-Green' series hybrid concept originally appeared on Autoblog on Fri, 11 Sep 2009 13:58:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Monterey 2009: 2010 Jaguar XJ has North American debut at Pebble

Frank Filipponio — Sun, 23 Aug 2009 10:14:00 EST

Filed under: Sedan, Jaguar, Luxury

2010 Jaguar XJ - Click above for high-res image gallery

The XJ was, for the longest time, the model most commonly associated with the Jaguar brand. Like Porsche's iconic 911, the XJ's basic shape had soldiered on for decades with significant platform changes hidden behind an all-too-familiar face. When Jaguar switched things up by introducing the forward-looking midsize XF a couple of years ago, people started to take notice that it wasn't going to be business-as-usual anymore in Coventry - or Mumbai for that matter. Heritage and tradition were one thing, but Jaguar needed something radical to reclaim its place at the top of the luxury sedan class. Enter the 2010 XJ, an all-new vehicle with an all-new look that should help Jaguar capture some all-new customers.

Borrowing heavily from the XF playbook, the new ultra sedan offers tastefully modern styling with a dash of traditional elegance and a healthy dose of British class. Sure, the tail lamps might look like they were borrowed from a Citroen, but in person this car has genuine presence. It is a large vehicle compared to the previous XJ, but not as big as, say, an S-Class Benz. The proportions remind us of the BMW 7 Series and the new Porsche Panamera.

As we've told you from our first encounter with the car a month ago, the new 2010 Jaguar XJ will be available in regular or extended wheelbase form, with one of three variations of the company's direct-injected 5.0 liter V8 underhood. The base models get a 385-horsepower normally-aspirated version; the XJ Supercharged gets boosted to 470 hp; and the top-of-the-line Supersport gets the XFR's 510-hp mill. Prices will range from a base of $72,500 to $115,000, making this one dear kitty. No matter the price, it's one striking sedan, and we can't wait to get some seat time soon. Until then, check out our high-res gallery from Pebble Beach below.

Gallery: 2010 Jaguar XJ Live

Gallery: 2010 Jaguar XJ

Monterey 2009: 2010 Jaguar XJ has North American debut at Pebble originally appeared on Autoblog on Sun, 23 Aug 2009 10:14:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Monterey 2009: RM Auctions sells 1952 Jaguar C-Type for record $2,530,000

Drew Phillips — Wed, 19 Aug 2009 18:41:00 EST

Filed under: Auctions, Jaguar

RM Sports & Classic of Monterey Auction - Click above for high-res image gallery

After selling off the Nick Alexander Woodie collection on Thursday, RM continued with their Sports & Classics of Monterey auction this past weekend. The sale was highlighted by a 1952 Jaguar C-Type that was originally owned and raced by the late Phil Hill. The legendary driver's son, Derek Hill, drove the car up on stage where bidding immediately passed $1,000,000 on its way to a $2,530,000 final selling price.

Despite the downward trend of the collector car market, RM managed to sell 85% of the 239 cars it offered last weekend. In addition to the C-Type, several other notable cars found new homes, including a 1955 Aston Martin DB3S that sold for $1,980,000 and a Duesenberg Model SJ Disappearing Top Convertible Coupe with a final sale price of $1,430,000. Some of the no-sales included a 2006 Bugatti Veyron 16.4 with a top bid of $900,000, a 1938 Talbot Lago T120 that went unsold at $950,000, and a 1953 Ferrari 166MM Spider Scaglietti that didn't meet its reserve despite being bid to $1,100,000. You can read more about the auction in RM's press release after the jump.

Gallery: 2009 RM Sports & Classics of Monterey Auction

Continue reading Monterey 2009: RM Auctions sells 1952 Jaguar C-Type for record $2,530,000

Monterey 2009: RM Auctions sells 1952 Jaguar C-Type for record $2,530,000 originally appeared on Autoblog on Wed, 19 Aug 2009 18:41:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Time Waster of the Day: New Jaguar XJ Online Configurator

Noah Joseph — Fri, 14 Aug 2009 19:31:00 EST

Filed under: Sedan, Jaguar, Luxury

We may still be a ways off before customers - on this side of the Atlantic especially - can begin placing orders for a new Jaguar XJ, but that hasn't stopped Coventry from launching its online configurator post haste.

Visitors to the Jaguar website can spec out their dream Jag and find out already just how much they should be putting aside. The configurator lets you choose between the three levels of specification (standard, Supercharged or Supersport) and wheelbase (standard or extended) before going on to choose from a palette of 14 exterior paint colors, six unique wheels, six interior leather trims and six veneers, as well as no-cost options like deleted badging, an ashtray and lighter, leather steering wheel and a whole mess of optional accessories from floor mats to chromed rims. So sit back, cancel your plans for the evening and take the leap.

Gallery: 2010 Jaguar XJ

[Source: Jaguar]

Time Waster of the Day: New Jaguar XJ Online Configurator originally appeared on Autoblog on Fri, 14 Aug 2009 19:31:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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