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Jaguar XJ75 Platinum shows off customisation potential

August 16, 2010 at 11:50 am By Danny Tan Filed Under Cars, International News, Jaguar

Jaguar is 75 this year, and as part of a year long anniversary celebration, Jaguar’s design team has created this XJ75 Platinum Concept, a one-off that was displayed at the Pebble Beach Concours D’Elegance Concept Car Lawn over the weekend. It may look a bit overdone to some, but that’s because the XJ75 serves as a demonstration of the customisation potential of the new XJ limo.

Wearing a striking white and black contrast theme, the XJ75 Platinum is a 470 hp/575 Nm Supercharged XJ with new front, rear and side sills. Painted in Satin Matte Pearlescent White, standard chrome elements have been changed to either dark chrome or gloss black. The unique 22-inch wheels are in black and use a brushed contrast finish.

The contrast theme continues inside with gloss pearlescent white air vents, veneers and diamond stitch suede inserts to the seats and headliner, set against the backdrop of a full “Jet Softgrain” leather interior. Suede and leather accents are sprinkled throughout the interior.

Notice that the centre console houses a bespoke clock by Bremont. An independent British company, Bremont creates mechanical watches that are hand assembled in Switzerland. Entertainment is provided by a 1,200-watt Bowers & Wilkins sound system with 20 speakers via 15 channels.

“From a pure design perspective, the XJ75 is foremost about emphasising the striking proportion and presence of the new XJ, with a distilled black and white theme, which conjures up the sense of precious platinum. At the same time, the pure sporting character of XJ is brought to the fore by keeping the car’s clean graphic approach and further lowering its stance,” said Jaguar XJ Chief Designer Giles Taylor.

More pics after the jump.
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Tata reaps rewards from profitable Jaguar-Land Rover, Indian Land Rover assembly starts next year

August 11, 2010 at 1:20 pm By Jacob Alexander Filed Under Cars, International News, Jaguar, Land Rover, Tata


Shares of Jaguar-Land Rover’s parent company, Tata Motors, rose to their highest level in almost 19 years after the company posted first quarter profits on strong demand for luxury SUVs and sedans. Tata made 19.9 billion rupees ($430 million) in the three months ending June, compared to a 3.3 billion ($71.26 million) lost last year. Tata Motors attributed the good news to the rebound in luxury vehicle sales.

Preparing for rising sales, chairman Ratan Tata, who is set to retire in 2012, wants to open Land Rover factories in India and China to pacify demand. This was confirmed by JLR CEO Carl-Peter Forster who said that Land Rovers will be assembled in India starting next year. Talks on producing Land Rover and Jaguar models on a JV basis with a partner in China is ongoing.

Jaguar-Land Rover is back into the black with a net income of 221 million GBP ($348 million) in the most recent quarter, a stark contrast to the same time last year, when it lost 64 million GBP ($101.6 million). In the period, JLR sold 57,153 vehicles, more than the 35,947 in 2009. Future plans for the leaping cat include the introduction of an XF estate (see Theophilus Chin’s version here) and a new entry level roadster.

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Jaguar looking to bring out 3-Series rivalling sedan

July 14, 2010 at 11:59 pm By Jacob Alexander Filed Under Cars, International News, Jaguar, Land Rover

Jaguar XF Estate

Tata owned Jaguar Land Rover will be breaking into new market segments with the introduction of new models within the coming years, according to Tata Motor’s CEO Carl-Peter Forster who told Automobilwoche that to effectively compete with other luxury makes; they would have to bring out smaller sedans for the global market.

In that respect, we could be seeing a sedan model that will sit below the XF in the next few years, which could feature similar technologies seen in the new XF and XJ. This would be the successor to the Jaguar X-Type. Apart from that, there has also been reports that Jaguar has OK’d the production of the XE which is a XK based competitor of entry level sports cars like Porsche’s Boxster.

Apart from a sports car and a 3-Series competitor, Forster confirmed that it will also be releasing a long wheelbase version of the XF for the Chinese market and a wagon version of the XF (see artist’s impression). Tata are clearly trying to compete with certain German luxury brands that have a large chunk of the market share.

There are even rumours that JLR and Tata Motors may work together on the development of engines. One Tata source confirmed that they are looking into all options which include this one, to cut costs by synergising both company’s development processes.

“It is an exercise, a co-operation to be undertaken, we don’t know a date to announce – it is an exercise to explore Jaguar development of engines. [There are] no particular models so far,” said a Tata spokesmen about the matter. Tata bought JLR from Ford two years ago for $2.3 billion and if the deal goes through, it will be the first time the two have joined hands in a development process of any kind.

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Limited edition XKR 75 to mark Jaguar’s 75th birthday

June 28, 2010 at 3:17 pm By Jacob Alexander Filed Under Cars, International News, Jaguar

Jaguar will be releasing the limited edition XKR 75 in commemoration of the brand’s 75th anniversary at the 2010 Goodwood Festival of Speed next month. The car packs in both aesthetic and underskin changes.

Jaguar has increased power output to 523 hp while torque is now at 655 Nm, an increase of 20 hp and 30 Nm from the standard XKR 5.0-litre supercharged V8. Top speed is electronically limited to 280 km/h, while acceleration to the century mark is now done in 4.4 seconds, 0.2 seconds faster than stock. The extra twist warranted an upgraded torque converter for the six-speed auto gearbox.

To go along with the added speed, the XKR 75 gets an aerodynamic body pack with a front splitter, side sill extensions, a rear diffuser, larger rear spoiler and a new sports exhaust. The XKR’s computerised Active Differential Control reduces steering sensitivity at “very high speeds” for better stability and driver control.

This is complemented by an upgraded suspension package which features stiffer spring and damper rates (by 28% front, 32% rear), new fully-machined aluminium uprights for increased camber stiffness, retuned Adaptive Dynamics damper control software and reduced ride height (15 mm up front, 10 mm at the rear). This Jag sits on 20-inch Vortex forged lightweight alloys in a dark grey finish.

Moving on inside, the interior has a “driver-focussed performance environment” thanks to charcoal upholstery with ivory stitching, piano black trim and a “Jet suede” cloth headlining.

Fittingly, only 75 units of the XKR 75 will be made available in UK, Germany, France, Italy, Belgium and Holland with a price tag of £85,500. This is bound to be a collectors gem.

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Jaguar returns to Le Mans with XKR GT2 race car

June 6, 2010 at 3:27 am By Jacob Alexander Filed Under Cars, International News, Jaguar, Motorsports

Jaguar is returning to the starting grid at Le Mans on the 12th of June with their XKR GT2 race car. This comes as the British brand celebrates its 75th anniversary of building and racing cars. Jaguar has sweet memories of Le Mans with a total of seven wins between 1951 and 1990. It is the most successful British car maker in the history of the race.

The XKR GT2 is being run by JaguarRSR, and shares many of the basic components and technologies with the road-going car. Jointly developed by Jaguar and the RSR team, the racer features the road car’s lightweight aluminium body structure but with a lower drag coefficient and extensive downforce. The monocoque structure is further reinforced with RSR steel safety structures. It’s powered by a tuned version of the 5.0-litre supercharged AJ133 V8 engine developing in excess of 500 horsepower.

Power is translated to the road by a 6-speed Hewland CST transverse sequential transaxle gearbox while the car sits on BBS 18″ race wheels. The whole car weighs in at about 1245kg thus power to weight ratio would be somewhere in the region of 285 bhp per tonne. The XKR GT2 also gets Ohlins DR4 suspensions and Brembo brakes (6-piston front calipers on 380mm discs, 4-piston rear calipers on 350mm discs).

The men charged to drive the car at Le Mans event are Marc Goossens (Belgium), Ryan Dalziel (Scotland) and American Paul Gentilozzi. The latter, who has a long standing relationship with Jaguar, is the founder of RSR and will be appearing for the third time in the GT2 category in Le Mans.

Jaguar’s Le Mans history include winning in 1951 with the C-type, which went on to win the 1953 race as well. The D-type on the other hand won the famous race in 1955, 1956 and 1957. In 1988 Jaguar won the event again with the V12-powered XJR-9LM Group C car and again in 1990 with the XJR-12 featuring drivers like Johnny Dumfries and now F1 presenter Martin Brundle.

Gallery after the jump.
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Hybrid Jaguars leaping out in two years time, XJ is first

May 18, 2010 at 3:11 pm By Jacob Alexander Filed Under Cars, Hybrids and Alternative Fuel, International News, Jaguar

Jaguar plans to introduce hybrid variants of the XJ, XF and the XK, expected to hit the market by 2013-2014. This comes after sister company Land Rover announced similar plans starting with the hybrid Range Rover Sport in 2013.

Apparently, the XJ limo will be the first cat to house the new hybrid system as big cars reap more hybrid benefits and can more easily swallow the premium, which is said to be about £10,000.

About 100 engineers in the 18-month old hybrid powertrain division of Tata owned Jaguar-Land Rover (JLR) are working on the first prototype of the drivetrain, which consists of a 3.0-litre V6 turbodiesel working in tandem with a 35kW electric motor and a new ZF eight-speed automatic transmission. The transmission can be fitted to any JLR model with a north-south (longitudinal) layout.

The first JLR hybrids will be diesel-electric, but petrols (which are less complicated to engineer) will follow. JLR is also researching Chevy Volt style range-extending hybrids, where a combustion engine functions to charge the battery.

Source

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Jaguar Land Rover consortium developing ‘micro jet turbine’ series hybrid drive

March 4, 2010 at 3:30 pm By Paul Tan Filed Under Cars, Hybrids and Alternative Fuel, International News, Jaguar

Jaguar Land Rover, Bladon Jets and SR Drives are in a joint venture consortium to develop a new ‘micro jet turbine’ for use in range extender hybrid drives. By now all of you should know what a range extender series hybrid system is, since once was featured in the Proton EMAS Concept.

The aim here is to replace the piston combustion engine in the range extender with a very compact jet turbine that is capable of burning a wide range of fuels. The turbine would be hooked up to a high-speed switched-reluctance generator to produce electricity to either recharge the batteries or power the electric motor that drives the series hybrid. The consortium has been awarded a juicy £1.1 million grant by the UK government’s Technology Strategy Board for the research and development. The total project cost is £2.2 million.

According to the consortium, replacing a petrol-powered piston engine with an axial flow micro jet turbine can save up to 15% of overall vehicle weight. Some of the weight savings will be from the engine’s supporting parts such as the lack of needing water cooling, oil or catalytic converters. You can also reduce emissions by burning cleaner fuels other then regular petrol.

But more importantly, Bladon Jets says the actual physical size taken up by the micro turbine is much much smaller, and could potentially only take up 5% size, weight and parts count of a typical piston engine. A prototype christened the BJ-300-P measures only 4 inch in diameter and 12 inches in length. Also, with a turbine there is only one moving part.

Production versions of the ‘Ultra Lightweight Range Extender’ as it is called could take between 5 to 15 years though – hopefully by then it will still be relevant to the motorist, as it definitely sounds like a cool idea.

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Neiman Marcus Jaguar sold out in 4 hours

October 21, 2009 at 12:13 am By Paul Tan Filed Under Cars, International News, Jaguar

Jaguar XJL Supercharged Neiman Marcus

Recession? What recession? The special 50 unit limited run Neiman Marcus edition Jaguar XJL Supercharged listed in their Christmas book for US$10,000 more than its regular price of US$90,500 were all sold out in just 4 hours and 4 minutes once phone lines opened for booking. Beyond the 50 bookings, Jaguar continued taking bookings and putting them on a waiting list in case a phone booking did not translate into a sale.

The Neiman Marcus XJL comes in an exclusive Celestial Black metallic paint exterior and a custom butter-soft navy and ivory leather interior. It is also equipped with 20-inch double-10 spoke polished alloy wheels, illuminated tread plates and trunk finisher as well as the nameplate inside that reads: “Neiman Marcus 1 of 50.”

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Neiman Marcus XJ for 2009′s Christmas Book

October 8, 2009 at 12:03 am By Paul Tan Filed Under Cars, International News, Jaguar

Jaguar XJL Neiman Marcus Edition
Click for enlarged image

I thought BMW was the only car company that has special Neiman Marcus Edition cars for sale in their Christmas Book. Last year’s Christmas Book featured the very first F02 BMW 7-Series to be sold in the US – only 31 units of a Neiman Marcus Limited-Edition 2009 BMW Individual 7 Series sedans based on the 750Li sold for $160,000. Previously we’ve also seen a special 50 unit run of a Neiman Marcus M6. All 50 units priced at US$139,000 each were snapped up within 1 minute and 32 seconds of launching.

Jaguar XJL Neiman Marcus Edition
Click for enlarged image

This year, rich wives in the US will be able to choose from 50 units of a special Neiman Marcus Editiong long wheelbase Jaguar XJL based on the Supercharged version for their rich husbands. Or vice-versa. One will set you back US$105,000 (a regular XJL Supercharged is priced at US$90,500) and will come in an exclusive Celestial Black metallic paint exterior and a custom butter-soft navy and ivory leather interior with Zebrano matte wood accents. You also get 20-inch double-10 spoke polished alloy wheels, illuminated tread plates and trunk finisher as well as the nameplate inside that reads: “Neiman Marcus 1 of 50.”

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Photoshopped: a Jaguar XF Estate?

September 9, 2009 at 9:30 pm By Paul Tan Filed Under Cars, Concept Cars, Jaguar

Jaguar XF Estate
Click for enlarged image

Jaguar’s last wagon was the Jaguar X-Type wagon – remember that Mondeo-based car that was initially offered only in all-wheel drive to distance itself from its front wheel drive plebian heritage? Since then the company has only made sleek sedans.

Yes, the E-Class and 5-Series have wagon versions but Jaguar refuses to be lumped in the same category as those cars, even to the point that they’ve resisted making small-engined versions of the new XF. There will be no E200K or 523i competitor for the XF (for now)… the range starts at the 3.0 litre.

Jaguar XF Estate
Click for enlarged image

But still, people can dream, and when Theophilus Chin’s imagination runs wild what you get are the two chops you see above, an XF Estate.

Do you think there’s room in the world for a new catwagon?

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