Archive for the ‘Jaguar’ Category

With Jaguar Land Rover is considering the possibility of starting car production in emerging markets – in countries such as Russia, China and Brazil. Such a decision can be taken in order to implement the plan to increase total production to 300 thousand cars per year and entry to markets with high tariffs. This, writes the magazine Autocar, the UK Conservative Party conference said the head of Jaguar Land Rover David Smith.
At the moment the British automaker has prepared a business plan for the development of the company. To implement it would require billions in investment that Jaguar Land Rover Read the rest of this entry »

This year, the legendary company Jaguar Land Rover is celebrating its 60 anniversary. In celebration of this event was decided to issue special modification of the legendary models – Defender SVX.

“Hero of the day” was released a limited edition – only 1000 copies. In Russia, sales were only 228 copies available, Read the rest of this entry »

Sensuously shaped sedans, Jaguar’s flagship XJ series in a new style for 2004, stand side by side on a ramp at the airport in Seville, Spain, where a jet deposits us following a flight from the Jaguar factory that assembles these new XJ cars in Birmingham, England.

With the ignition key already engaged and a powerful V8 engine purring, the XJ8 sedan we choose for a test drive — painted a high-gloss ebony with the leather-lined cabin trimmed in shades of sable and sand — is ready to roll. So we’re off in seconds, pausing only long enough to adjust contours of the luscious driver’s seat and set mirrors and the leather and wood steering wheel for a custom fit. Read the rest of this entry »

Rain coats a narrow road winding through Burgundy, the French region renowned for tart mustards and young wines, where on this route hillside vineyards gleam with the fresh green sprigs of spring.

The wet pavement retards local traffic as drivers try to maintain traction on slick asphalt, but not the vehicle used for our test because it simply refuses to slip.

A computerized mechanism applies the forceful power of a six-cylinder engine to all four wheels.

This device normally divides the engine’s torque with forty percent sent to front wheels and sixty percent to the rear ones, but in slippery conditions a viscous coupling automatically transfers more force to whichever set of wheels — front or rear — can hold a better traction bite.

Then factor into this physics equation the car’s weight distribution biased toward front wheels by sixty percent — which is a reverse of the torque split.

The result: There’s uncanny balance with the vehicle in motion, so much so that wet pavement and tight road curves fail to upset it. Read the rest of this entry »

It goes without saying, when you drive around town in a vehicle as refined and stunning as the 2001 Jaguar XKR, heads will turn. In fact, I haven’t figured out yet which is more fun; the attention this magnificent vehicle draws, or the incredibly fast driving it inspires.

Jaguar vehicles always bring out an emotional response, with a legacy steeped in tradition and elegance. The 2001 XKR takes this to new heights, especially when equipped with the optional R-Performance Package 2 our vehicle possessed, which adds a whopping $13,000.00 to the already stratospheric base price of $104,500.00.

If the visual appeal of the standard XKR weren?t enough to stir your soul to life, surely the 20? BBS alloy wheels, Pirelli PZ 255-35 ZR 20? front and 285-30 ZR 20? rear tires, along with the massive Brembo brakes will get your blood flowing. Read the rest of this entry »

Vanden Plas is a Belgian coach maker. Sold only in the U.S., the Vanden Plas suggests a richness in build quality and construction made possible through the fastidious efforts of hand assembly. Of course the Vanden Plas is built right along side its XJ siblings in Coventry, England and really represents a higher level of amenities, rather than hand-assembled craftsmanship. Despite the somewhat pretentious moniker, the XJ Vanden Plas is a fine example of the best luxury sedans available to the discerning (and amply monied) buyer.

What Goes Around, Comes Around

Most cars start to look tired and outdated after a certain amount of time. Not so the XJ. Its look can be traced back to the 1970s when it was first introduced. Since then, the vehicle has received only slight refreshenings, mostly to the front end. Interestingly, critics howled when the original round headlamps were replaced with square beacons. Read the rest of this entry »

The mere mention of the possibility we would have the 2001 Jaguar S-Type 4.0 available for our driving pleasure was enough to get me to break out my planner and pencil in as many sick days as possible. I should have used ink, pencil erases much too easily and I was left wanting for lack of time behind the steering wheel of this magnificent vehicle. Or should I say beast.

Beast you say? How could one of the most storied vehicles ever spun from the shores of jolly old England be considered a beast? Well it may have something to do with its carnivorous namesake, or it might be because of its significant history of racing success. But mostly I think the beastly association shows it is becoming of this Jaguar as you step on the accelerator and apply the monumental power of the 4.0 litre engine. It?s downright nasty!

Don?t think all this V8 power goes unnoticed by passersby. An elegant gentleman who stopped me at a local convenience store asked me how I was enjoying my S-Type 4.0? It seems he and his wife had considered the purchase of a new Jaguar and had driven the 3.0 litre sedan prior to the 8-cylinder models introduction. He was most curious of my opinion and listened intently to my rambling praise. Of course I didn?t admit it wasn?t my car, some things are better left unsaid. Read the rest of this entry »

The fact that they announce 5 years ahead is certainly not fortuitous. It will not accept the decision but to dilute the reaction time. Still, Tata Motors has just said it would close one of 2 plants that English has been the acquisition of Jaguar-Land Rover to Ford last year. The site will be closed by 2014.

Tata also said he would decide next year which falls on the 2 blade. Let us recall that the factory at Castle Bromwich factory in Jaguar and that of the Solihull Land Rover but the links between the 2 are quite close because employees are likely to move from one to another depending on production rates.

Read the rest of this entry »

We do not it strange that TATA Motors, owner of Jaguar and Land Rover has launched in its home market for British firms to compete in the higher segment of the market. So far sales are limited, but in the near future the share of luxury vehicles in India will grow significantly.

By now Jaguar is now selling the XF and XK, no further plans to launch the X-Type, with many years behind them. More likely it is the XJ, but presumably it will do in its next generation. For its part, has launched the Land Rover Discovery, Range Rover and Range Rover Sport. Defender and Freelander could come later, but the high price of imported vehicles that have limited their possibilities.

The group Jaguar Land Rover, owned by Tata, is suffering a lot in their accounts as a result of the combination of the crisis of industry sales with the huge investment being made to develop new models and mechanical (LRX, XJ, etc.). How much? For the not inconsiderable figure of 673.4 million pounds, about 775 million euros, according to Automotive News.

Now Tata is negotiating a short-term credit of about 6 or 12 months, worth 175 million pounds (200 million) with the British government, in order to ensure economy of everyday life of both brands, while launching new models and the supposed economic recovery help improve sales figures.