Jaguar XJR News

There are exciting new releases planned across the board; from budget hatches to practical SUVs, to exotic supercars. We’ve broken them down into segments and likely price categories to help you. We've based our price estimations on the current market, but some estimations could change in the future, and some model ranges span across price categories, so be sure to check our other stories...New cars for 2014 | less than $20,000New cars for 2014 | $20,000-$40,000New cars for 2014 | $40,000-$59,000New cars for 2014 | $59,000-$100,000LUXURY CARSAudi A8: Audi will refresh its A8 flagship sedan lineup by mid-2014, with subtle styling tweaks and interior details, along with shuffled drivetrain options. (Approximately $188,000-$249,000)Audi RS7 Sportback: Essentially a five-door hatch version of the existing RS6 Avant, the RS7 will arrive in February with sleeker Sportback styling than the wagon, and the same 412kW/700Nm 4.0-litre twin-turbo V8. 0-100km/h is the same 3.9 seconds too. (Approximately $240,000)Bentley Continental GT S: While Bentley prepares its first SUV model, there’s not much else in store for 2014 from the legendary Brit aside from powered-up new S models added to the V8 Continental GT lineup. (Approximately $380,000)Jaguar XJR: Jaguar will add the new XJR to its XJ big sedan lineup in the first quarter, with the 5.0-litre supercharged V8 performance flagship to sit above the existing Supersport range-topper. (Approximately $350,000)Lexus RC: Lexus’ new RC coupe should arrive before the end of 2014 to take on the BMW 4 Series and Audi A5, with a choice of petrol V6 and hybrid drivetrains likely to expand to include a high-performance 5.0-litre V8 RC-F soon after. (Approximately $70,000-$130,000)Maserati Quattroporte and Ghibli: 2014 is set to be a big year for Maserati, with the new Quattroporte (Approximately from $250,000) arriving in V6 form in January, and V8 form in February, with the return of the smaller Ghibli sedan ( Approximately from $150,000) in March.Mercedes-Benz S-Class: Mercedes will cap its local S-Class sedan lineup in January, with the arrival of the $385,000 S63 AMG high performance model. The 430kW/900Nm twin-turbo V8 S63 will sit above the existing S350 and S500 models, and be joined by the diesel-electric S350 BlueTec hybrid and twin-turbo V6 S400 variants by June. (Approximately $250,000-$385,000)Mercedes-Benz S-Class Coupe: Mercedes’ upcoming S-Class Coupe is expected down under before the year’s end, with the yet to be officially revealed new model replacing the existing CL coupe models. A drop-top version is also planned, and a V8 and V12 petrol-only lineup is expected with an entry price north of $300,000 likely.Porsche Panamera E-Hybrid: The plug-in Panamera E-Hybrid is also due early in the year, with a supercharged 3.0-litre V6 and 70kW electric motor to enable 3.1L/100km fuel use with 0-100km/h acceleration in 5.5 seconds. (Approximately $296,900)SUV/4WDLand Rover Range Rover: Before mid-year, Land Rover will add a range-topping lineup (Approximately $250,000) with new hybrid versions of it and the Sport expected before the end of the year. (Approximately $102,000-$182,000)Porsche Macan: Porsche will add the new sub-Cayenne Macan SUV to its Australian lineup from June, with the cheapest diesel model forming a new entry point to Porsche ownership at $84,900. Twin-turbo 3.0 and 3.6-litre V6s will sit further up the price scale, with the 294kW top-spec capable of 0-100km/h in 4.6 seconds. (Approximately $84,900-$122,900)SPORTS/PERFORMANCEAston Martin V12 Vantage S: Aston will add its fastest model this side of the ultra-exclusive One-77 in the first quarter of this year, in the form of the track-ready V12 Vantage S coupe. (Approximately $450,000)BMW M3 and M4: BMW’s new M3 and M4 mid-size performance heroes are set to arrive after mid-year, with the move to twin-turbo six power resulting in the fastest M3 to date, and matched by the renamed M4 coupe. (Approximately $124,000-$180,000)BMW i8: The i8 plug-in hybrid sports car is expected to arrive before the year’s end, blending grand tourer luxury with 4.4 second 0-100km/h acceleration and 2.5L/100km fuel economy. (Approximately $200,000)Ferrari 458 Speciale: The first of 60 Australian examples of Ferrari’s hardcore 458 Speciale are set to arrive before mid-year, with the lighter, more powerful track-focused special able to lap Fiorano 1.5 seconds faster than the old Enzo flagship. (Approximately $550,000)Jaguar F-Type Coupe: Jaguar will add the recently unveiled Coupe version of its stunning F-Type in the third quarter, with the 20kg lighter V6, V6 S and V8 S variants also expected to slightly undercut their soft-top counterparts on price. The Coupe-only F-Type R will sit at the top of the hardtop range, with the 404kW/680Nm spec V8 promising 0-100km/h acceleration in the order of 4.2 seconds. (Approximately $125,000-$200,000)Lamborghini Huracan: With the Gallardo now officially out of production, Lamborghini is keen to follow with its Huracan replacement to sit beneath the V12 Aventador models before June. The V10 Huracan is set to challenge Ferrari’s 458 with an uprated version of the Gallardo’s 5.2-litre V10 and seven-speed dual-clutch transmission. From $428,000Nissan GT-R: Nissan will bring its latest incarnation of the GT-R performance coupe down under from March, with cosmetic upgrades the key changes for 2014. New LED headlights and taillights are changed for the first time since 2007, and mesh wheels keep Nissan’s giant-killer a fresh opponent for Porsche’s new 911 Turbo models. (Approximately from $170,000)Porsche 911 Turbo and GT3: Porsche will launch several key hi-po versions of the 991 911 to its Australian lineup in the first half of 2014, with the $359,800 Turbo and $441,300 Turbo S arriving first in coupe and convertible ($29,000 premium) guises, with the $294,000 track-oriented and now PDK-only GT3 soon after.Porsche 911 Targa: The new semi-convertible unveiled in Detroit will touch down in Australia before mis-year, with a new folding roof mechanism and all-wheel drive 4 and 4S versions. Both manual and PDK auto will be available, and prices will sit $2,300-$3,300 over existing Cabriolet models. (Approximately $247,900-$291,050)CONVERTIBLESAston Martin Vanquish Volante: For those who prefer their V12 Astons roofless and with a back seat, Aston will bring the Vanquish Volante to Australia in the first quarter of 2014. (Approximately $510,000)Bentley Continental GTC S: Like the hardtop GT, the soft top Continental GTC is set to score a powered up S model in 2014. (Approximately $420,000)BMW 4 Series convertible: The folding hardtop version of BMW’s 4-Series coupe is expected by March, and echo its hardtop sibling with 420d, 428i, and 435i drivetrains. (Approximately $85,000-$120,000)   

Have we become so lazy that we need amplifiers in cars to ensure clear passenger conversation? Jaguar thinks so. Its “Conversation Assist” consists of microphones above each seat to amp up the occupant's voice. Embedded in the optional Meridian Reference Audio System in the latest XJ, it “makes it much easier for occupants to be heard clearly by the other occupants in the vehicle above any cabin noise” says Jaguar.Which could be a damning indictment of the legendary quietness of a Jaguar saloon. Conversation Assist is one of the upgrades in the mid-life makeover XJ that also enhances its long wheelbase model with two rear airline-style seats. These seats include cushion and squab adjustment, three massage programs - wave/rolling, lumbar and shoulder - and lumbar adjustment.Rear seat passengers have 13mm more headroom than the outgoing model and can recline the seats by 11 degrees and move the cushion over 103mm. They can even control the front passenger seat from the rear.The XJ has optional front-seat massage functions for each seat with five levels of intensity, allowing occupants to personalise their massage settings to their preference.Options stretch as long as the wheelbase with an entertainment package of two 10.2-inch high-resolution screens mounted on the back of the front seat headrests. These display inputs from sources including the DVD player, digital TV tuner or an external media player. Audio can be transmitted through the wireless headphones, allowing each passenger to watch separate entertainment sources.Rear passengers also have a wireless controller to alter individual climate zones and seat heating and cooling functions. The XJ long wheelbase also has optional leather-surfaced business tables which fold out of the seatbacks of the front seats, rear window blinds and electric side window blinds.Options also extend to a 1300-Watt Meridian Reference Audio System with 26 speakers that include a set of two 80mm standard and one 25mm tweeter in the rear of each of the front seats. All XJ models in the latest iteration have soft-closing door technology and changes to the rear suspension to improve the ride suppleness. The XJR, to be launched later this year, expands on the 2014 XJ range by adding bespoke chassis and aerodynamic developments.It has a 404kW/680Nm 5-litre supercharged V8 engine capable of a 0-100km/h time of 4.6 seconds and will be available only in standard wheelbase for $298,000. This is the first time an R badge has been applied to the latest generation of the XJ range. Prices for the long wheelbase models are unchanged – and parallel pricing for the standard wheelbase versions. The long bi-turbo diesel V6 Premium Luxury is $198,800 and the supercharged petrol V6 is $198,445.The writer is on Twitter: @cg_dowling

Anyone who thinks Jaguar is limiting the sporting appeal of the brand to the F-Type can think again. The XJ sedan debuting at the New York motor show is the latest model to bring back the R to its name. Utilising the outputs of a 404kW/680Nm five-litre supercharged V8 -- also seen in the F-Type (in a lower level of tune) and the XFR-S -- the XJR is being described by the brand as the "the most focused, agile and responsive Jaguar XJ ever." The performance flagship of the breed will be easily distinguished from the mainstream XJ range by a subtle aerodynamic package when it first appears in Australia late this year. Jaguar global brand director Adrian Hallmark says it delivers supercar performance and assertive looks with the highest levels of luxury. "The new XJR epitomises the three pillars of technology, performance and contemporary design which the Jaguar brand stands for in the twenty-first century, while delivering new levels of dynamic ability in a luxury saloon," he says. Jaguar Australia brand manager Mark Eedle says the new sports models will remind car buyers of the performance side of the marque. "We've got the F-Type on its way, the XFR-S with the increase in power and the XJR with the same engine, some big performance credentials being staked at the moment which is wonderful to see because it's a core pillar of the Jaguar brand," he says. While the F-Type shares the same supercharged V8 as the two new super-sedans, there's no official word on an F-Type R with 404kW on offer. The brand also let its XFR-S - which claims a 4.4 second sprint to 100km/h - loose in front of the public in its homeland at the 2012 Goodwood Festival of Speed, demonstrating just what 404kW and 680Nm can do to a set of rear tyres. Painted in what the British brand calls Italian racing red and driven by 1988 Le Mans 24hr race winner Andy Wallace, the XFR-S showed its performance potential on the famous hillclimb. Eedle says the company has been through its product-led recovery phase and it was revisiting the performance side of its heritage.  "We are known for dynamics, so you get an amazing amount of power and the dynamics and the technology to harness, so you get a proper dynamic drive instead of just blasting in a straight line, we're good on corners," he says. The XFR-S will precede the August arrival of the F-Type and it's expected to go close to the pre-price-cut $210,000 asking price of the XFR. "We just repositioned the pricing, what that's done is allow the XFR-S at pricing not too far off where we were before," Eedle says without elaboration. Interest in the F-Type sportscar has been strong and Jaguar already has 16 orders, evenly split between the supercharged V6 and V8 pair.  

They built five for the 24 Hours of Le Mans that went on to win in 1988.With a carbon fiber chassis, seven-liter V12 engine, it was the state of the art car at the time.

But a new 3.5-litre V8 has been added to the fleet in an attempt to bolster sales.Jaguar Australia marketing communications manager Tim Krieger confirmed the 3-litre V6 was “uncompetitive in the segment”.“The key player in this segment is the 7 Series (BMW) and to be taken seriously you clearly need a V8 in the petrol derivatives,” he said.“With the size of the vehicle it really needs a V8 and that's the thinking in putting in the 3.5-litre.”The new V8 engine produces 190kW power and 335 Nm of torque.The 2.7-litre twin-turbo diesel remains the only six-cylinder engine in the XJ range.“The diesel is going fine and is very competitive, but in the petrol segment for that size vehicle we need a V8,” Krieger said.The 3-litre XJ6 started at $149,900, so with it gone, the new entry level is the XJ6 diesel at $154,900.The XJ8 3.5-litre V8 comes in at $159,900, joining the short-wheelbase 4.2-litre XJ8 at $174,900 and the long-wheelbase XJ8 at $179,900, the XJR at $219,900 and the short- and long-wheelbase Super V8s ($229,900 and $234,900) completing the range.The 2008 model XJ also gets some exterior styling updates around the front, side power vents, rear spoiler and full-width chrome signature blade and new rear bumper. They now sit on 19-inch Polaris alloy wheels.The XJR and Super V8s get 20-inch alloys.XJR also now comes with aluminium-finish power vents and black painted brake calipers.Inside, there are new seats, increased rear leg and foot room thanks to redesigned front seat backs and the latest Bluetooth connectivity which allows up to five approved phones to be paired to the in-car telephone system.Krieger said Jaguar sales were “on track” for this year's budget.But the October figures show Jaguar has sold 763 cars this year, which is down 153 or 18.5 per cent on last year, while the whole market is up 8.6 per cent.The biggest loser is the S-Type, which is down 22 per cent but is in run-out mode to make way for the new XK, arriving in May.Krieger said they would be out of S-Type stock by early next year and that they already had about 80 orders for the XF.“That's doing a little bit better than where we thought we'd be at this stage,” he said.Four different XF models will be available: 2.7-litre V6 turbodiesel, 3-litre petrol V6, 4.2-litre petrol V8 and 4.2-litre supercharged petrol V8 (SV8).Meanwhile, Ford Motor Company is believed to have attracted six offers to buy Jaguar and Land Rover which they are keen to sell in an effort to bolster a faltering bottom line.Leading bidder is said to be India's largest car manufacturer, Tata Motors.