Tag Archives: British Cars

Opinions

Jaguar C-X75 by Autocar

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Just listen to this thing, it’s epic. We all saw this car in concept form, but now there are actual prototypes that Jaguar is letting the media sample. While everyone seems to maintain that the “C-X75 will never be built”, one has to wonder why Jaguar has continued its development of the car if they really aren’t going to make it. In business, you don’t spend valuable money developing a project that you aren’t going to see through. I see this as a sure sign that the C-X75 is coming to production, and will be meeting the LaFerrari, Mclaren P1 and Porsche 918 in battle. Be excited.

-Nick

Auto Idolatry, SHOWCASE

Chris Harris on the Jaguar F-Type

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This is by far the best F-Type review I’ve yet seen. Drive’s Chris Harris pits the new Jaguar F-Type V8S against its two most direct rivals, the Porsche 911 Carrera S Cabriolet and the Aston Martin V8 Vantage Volante. The video is a bit long, but it’s really worth the watch. Fantastic cinematography, great sounds, and epic driving… of course. Enjoy.

-Nick

Car Shows

The 2013 Greenwich Concours d’ Elegance

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James Glickenhaus in his 1947 Ferrari 159S Spyder Corsa
James Glickenhaus taking “Best in In Show” in his 1947 Ferrari 159S Spyder Corsa…. believed to be the oldest Ferrari automobile in existence.

We were in attendance for the 2013 Greenwich Concours d’ Elegance this past weekend in Connecticut. It was a fantastic event, and we saw, and drove, many awesome cars. Like most Concours events we go to, we have come back with months of material that we will be sharing with you over time, but this is a highlight reel to wet your appetite. Enjoy.

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Auto Idolatry, SHOWCASE

A Morgan 3 Wheeler and a Caterham Seven

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Drive’s Chris Harris drives a Morgan 3 Wheeler and a Caterham Seven with the goal of getting back to the roots of driving. Enjoy.

-Nick

Car Shows

Amelia Island Concours d’ Elegance: Jaguar XJR-15

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Jaguar XJR-15

The XJR-15 is one of the rarest Jaguars in existence, and I was fortunate to see it for the first time at the 2013 Amelia Island Concours d’ Elegance. Jaguar won the 1988 24hrs of LeMans with their XJ-9 Group C racing car, and decided to produce the XJR-15 as a limited production supercar to commemorate the victory. Tom Walkinshaw Racing (TWR), a racing subsidiary of Jaguar, developed the road-legal XJR-15 directly from the XJR-9 racing car. Around 50 XJR-15s were sold from 1990-1992, before it was succeeded by the legendary XJ-220, at a price of $960,000. Power came from a 6.0L V12 making 450hp. That may not sound like a lot these days, but back then it was a ton because the XJR-15 weighed in at just 2300lbs.

It was intended to be a racing car for the road, like many of the supercars of its time, but that may have hindered the car’s appeal. While the XJR-15 obviously had awesome performance, it was a notorious handful to drive and not very comfortable for use on public roads. It was also succeeded by the mighty XJ-220, which broke the production car speed record and was much better tailored for road use. That said, the XJR-15 is a much rarer find these days, and for me occupies a sort of “unicorn” segment of low number hypercars built in the 80s and 90s. As I said before, this is the first and only XJR-15 I have seen in person, and it was quite a thrill when I came upon it in the Jaguar tent. Enjoy. Continue reading Amelia Island Concours d’ Elegance: Jaguar XJR-15 →

Car Shows

Lewes British Motorcar Show: Caterham Lotus Seven

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Caterham Lotus Seven

 

The Lotus Seven has proved a popular sports car platform over the better half of the last century. Lotus designed and produced the Seven from 1957 to 1972, but since then companies like Caterham have been producing their own take on the classic sports car. Caterham has kept the basic formula of their Seven the same as the original Lotus, lightweight and simple, but offers a wider variety of engines, with power figures ranging from 140-300hp (not sure what is in the car here). Sevens offer a very pure driving experience with fantastic performance, and that is why Colin Chapman’s original design has endured over the years. Enjoy the photos.

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Car Shows

Lewes British Motorcar Show: Lotus Europa S2

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Lotus Europa S2

This beautiful Lotus Europa S2 caught my eye at the recent British Motorcar show in Lewes, DE. There were other Europas around it, but this S2’s tri-tone color scheme really set it apart from the crowd. I just love looking at Lotuses because they’re purpose of lightness and handling is clearly evident in their design. Just look at that rear camber…. o yea. Enjoy the pics.

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Car Shows

Lewes British Motorcar Show: 1934 Rolls Royce Phantom II

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1934 Rolls Royce Phantom II

I saw this exquisite 1934 Rolls Royce Phantom II at the British Motorcar Show in Lewes, DE. Like the Triumph I featured last week, this Rolls had been retired from judging because it had won so many times. I really wish the new Rolls Royces had as much class as this one does. Now days everything is just about tastelessly showing off. Back in the pre war era things were far more interesting. Just look at that side lantern on the 5th picture down…. awesome detail. Enjoy the gallery.

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Car Shows

Lewes British Motorcar Show: 1948 Triumph 2000 Roadster

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1948 Triumph 2000 Roadster

I ran into this beautiful 1948 Triumph 2000 Roadster at the British Motorcar Show in Lewes, DE this past weekend. The car itself was immaculate, but it was the hood ornament, a naked woman posing that really drew me in. I am a major fan of elaborate hood ornaments, and this is one of the finest I’ve seen. Being built in the aftermath of World War II, this Triumph is part of the generation of cars that picked up where the 1930s left off, and began to move things into the coming automotive boom. Around 2500 of these Triumph Roadsters were built with the 2000 being the top spec model. This was a stunning example, so much so that it had been retired from judging at the Lewes event because it has won so many times. Enjoy the photos.

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Car Shows

Scarsdale Concours d’ Elegance: Aston Martin DB AR1 Zagato

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Aston Martin DB AR1 Zagato

I am generally a fan of anything with the Zagato name on it, but I have a special love for the Aston Martin DB AR1. It is probably my favorite modern Aston because it has such depth to its appeal. Obviously the stunning, absolutely gorgeous Zagato bodywork counts for a lot, but that is just the beginning. The DB AR1 is also a barchetta style roadster, with no roof at all. That means that you have to drive it the way it was meant to be experienced, with the wind in your hair and the thunder of that 6.0L V12 bouncing back to your ears off the trees. Speaking of its V12, which certainly makes a proper sound for an Aston Martin, it sends 435hp to the rear wheels through a manual gearbox. That may not sound like much by modern standards, but remember that Astons are about the total experience, not all out performance. 435hp is still quite a lot to play with, and the fact that the DB AR1 is a modern Aston with a clutch pedal means that it will offer the optimum amount of fun on those sunny occasions when you take it for a spin.

Now factor in the rarity. Just 99 DB AR1s were built, all for the US market. What you wind up with, in my opinion, is one of the most desirable modern Aston Martins yet made. It is a car that offers a profound experience, and that is really what you’re paying for in a car like this. I was blessed with the chance to shoot this DB AR1 this past Fall at the Scarsdale Concours d’ Elegance in New York. I took a quick look online and found two DB AR1s currently for sale, both with delivery miles in the range of $170-200k. That begs the question, would you buy a newer DB9, DBS, or Vantage, or would you have one of these? I’d go with the DB AR1 for sure.

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Secondhand Saints, SHOWCASE

Secondhand Saint: 1992-1996 Jaguar XJS

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Jaguar has quite a storied history with regard to sporting automobiles.  The E-Type is still remembered and revered as one of the most beautiful cars ever made (even Enzo Ferrari admitted to this at one point).  But, this story isn’t about the E-Type, or the XJ6, or the modern Jags that people lust after.  This is about what I see as a potential diamond in the rough–the last generation of the venerable Jaguar XJS, a car that I think is a bit overlooked. Continue reading Secondhand Saint: 1992-1996 Jaguar XJS →

Opinions

Impressions from the 2013 New York International Auto Show

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Lexus LFA Nurburgring Edition
Lexus LFA Nurburgring Edition

There were many new cars revealed at this year’s New York International Auto Show. I was in attendance for the Preview Night last Thursday, where I had access to many new cars, both those revealed at the show and those from recent shows. Like every event I go to, I covered what caught my eye. As many of you may know, I don’t do news in the proper sense because I like to be a little more authentic. What follows are my impressions of the cars as I saw and experienced them at the show, and my opinions of them overall. Enjoy, and please let me know your thoughts on any of them in the comments.

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