Tag Archives: Jaguar

Cars We've Driven, Exotic Supercars

Test Driven: 2014 Jaguar F-Type V6 S (9/10)

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2014 Jaguar F-Type V6 S
2014 Jaguar F-Type V6 S

Waves crash into the rocks of the shore. There is a thick wall of fog that lingers out over the water, but the sun beams down brightly at the coast. A sustained sea breeze rustles the branches of crooked Cyprus trees, and a ribbon of asphalt winds gracefully along the perimeter of the rocky cliffs that overlook the sea. There is no traffic to speak of, only me at the helm of this bright-orange Jaguar F-Type.

The wind plows through my hair, as I rush through the glamorous scenery, as if in some sort of hurry to leave this oasis of Heaven I’ve found on Earth. Loud barks and crackles emanate from the high-strung V6 engine, echoing back to my ears off of the trees as I fly by. The high-pitched whine of a supercharger joins in as the revs charge toward redline, and the speed piles on at an exhilarating rate. I touch the brakes for an upcoming bend, and turn in at what should be highway speed. The F-Type clings to the road as if with mighty claws, completely at home with the rapid pace I have set. Getting back on the gas, I shoot out of the corner with haste, now staring right into the face of the massive expanse of ocean and fog. It feels as if I am about to charge into the abyss when the road turns me back toward the sun and the trees. As I continue forth, I just can’t help thinking “what an unbelievable experience this is.”

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Cars We've Driven, Luxury Cars

Test Driven: 2014 Jaguar XJR (Grade: A)

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Jaguar is on a serious roll lately.  They have gone from a company that was on its back to a company that everyone is watching very closely in less than 6 years’ time, thanks to a few new models, a new parent company, and a large amount of development money that’s been spent effectively.  I’ve been waiting 2 years to drive another Jaguar XJ after taking a used one out for a spin in North Jersey.  While I was with Nick at the Pebble Beach Concours, that wait ended abruptly with the roar of the 550hp XJR.  I had to ask: Is this car worth its price and will it be on a new level of performance compared to the old XJR?  I took the wheel of this silver-grey 2014 model around the 17-Mile Drive to find out.
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Auto Idolatry, Car Shows, SHOWCASE

The Petersen Automotive Museum

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On June 30, I flew to California to meet with my brother, Matt.  He was kind enough, after a gut-busting BBQ lunch in Hollywood, to take me over to the Petersen Automotive Museum.  Here’s some highlights from the floor.  Some of the notable cars in the building include a selection of cars that have become legendary in their own right, including a Bugatti EB110, Steven McQueen’s Jaguar XK-SS, and many other unique and gorgeous cars.  Enjoy the gallery.

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Cars We've Driven, Dynamic Duels, Exotic Supercars

First Impression: Jaguar F-Type V6S and V8S

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Jaguar F-Type V8S

I recently had the opportunity to do a quick drive in Jaguar’s new F-Type. Jaguar held a driving event in Philadelphia where they set up an autocross course in the parking lot of the Phillies’ stadium. Though it was only a quick, but intense, experience, I did get to sample both the V6S and V8S models from the F-Type range.

Timing was down to the wire, as there was a massive thunderstorm bearing down on us, and by the time I did my runs, it had already begun to rain. This article will serve as a quick first impression take on the new F-Types, and hopefully I will get a chance to drive them for longer in the coming months.

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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

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 →

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 →

Cars We've Driven, Exotic Supercars

Test Driven: 2014 Jaguar XFR-S (9.5/10)

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French Blue Jaguar XFR-S
Jaguar XFR-S in French Blue

What is this, a bright blue…. Jaguar?! Everyone, meet the XFR-S, a different sort of Jag. One that throws away the high society manners in favor of a bottle of scotch, and a line of coke.

It was only around four months ago that Jaguar released the XFR-S at the 2012 Los Angeles Auto Show. However, during my recent trip to Amelia Island, they had them available for test drives. When I asked about video taping my drive the Jaguar representatives told me they couldn’t allow it because the press has not yet driven the XFR-S. After hearing this I made sure to keep my affiliation with this publication to myself, pretending just to be another young guy looking for a joy ride. I guess you could say that this is as much of a scoop as we have yet gotten, and my experience in the XFR-S, while fairly short, yielded some interesting impressions.

I was left feeling a little mediocre when I reviewed the standard Jaguar XFR a few months ago. It had many great qualities, but it sat in an awkward place in the market, priced a little below the BMW M5 and Mercedes E63, yet still far above the bargain Cadillac CTS-V. It was also a little sub par in terms of comparative power and performance.

The XFR-S seems to have changed things up, though. It now matches its competitors in outright performance, and seems to have turned everything that was good about the XFR up to eleven. Sure, at a base price of $99,000, its MSRP is a bit more than that of an M5 or E63, but it is also an extremely limited production vehicle, with a run that will amount to just 300 units total (100 for the US). The overall feeling I came away with was that by turning the XFR into the XFR-S, Jaguar has made a car that is truly worth spending your hard earned money on. In the past I had said that the R-S badge was a bit of a gimmick on the XKR-S, over the standard XKR, but it seems the story for the XF models is different. The XFR-S sits in the context of the super saloon segment, which is very different from where the XKs are placed in the grand touring segment. This change of context makes a big difference for the R-S badge.

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Cars We've Seen

Spotted! Jaguar E-Type Series 1, Woodward Ave, MI

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This absolutely pristine Jaguar E-Type was out for one of the cruise nights this summer in Detroit, MI. The E-type was deemed “the most beautiful car in the world” by many in its day, and you can really see why when looking at this car. I was also thrilled to have the chance to shoot it with the hood open. There is a mechanic elegance about how it sits with the hood up that is nothing short of seductive for a gear head. This is basically as close as cars get to pornography folks, any more than this and I would have to flag this post as NSFW. Enjoy the gallery of this Jag among Jaaags.

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Opinions

The Jaguar F-Type–Keeping Calm and Carrying On.

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Jaguar F-Type - Front Angle, 2014, 800x600, 5 of 39

Jaguar’s been one of the few companies in the past couple of years that hasn’t made a huge mistake with the models they sell. Yes, their product line isn’t as diverse as the competition, but what they have invested in is paying dividends, and the new F-Type is proof that their current focus is one I’m going to keep a close eye on in the near future. From the styling to the engine options revealed recently, I’m unashamed to say that I love this car even before I’ve seen it in the flesh.

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