Jaguar News

Jaguar Land Rover is creating a £100m ($170m) ‘brains trust’ campus at a UK university to pioneer development of future ‘green’ and hi-tech sports and luxury cars. The campus will bring academics from the UK’s leading universities together with researchers and engineers from Jaguar Land Rover and their suppliers in a single state-of-the-art research facility, the carmaker said.Construction of the 2787sqm National Automotive Innovation Campus (NAIC) at Warwick University will begin in September next year. Around 1000 academics, researchers, technologists and engineers will work in the building, which will feature engineering workshops and laboratories, advanced powertrain facilities and the latest advanced design, visualisation and rapid prototyping technologies.In addition, the carmaker will more than double the size of its advanced research team to 500 by the time it opens in 2016. JLR, which is owned by India’s Tata and led by chief executive Ralf Speth, said the move would bring academics from the UK’s leading universities together with researchers and engineers from Jaguar Land Rover and its supply chain.JLR is the lead partner in the project investing £50m ($85m), along with Tata Motors’ European Technical Centre, the Warwick Manufacturing Group and the UK Government’s Higher Education Funding Council England.Dr Wolfgang Epple, Jaguar Land Rover’s director of research and technology, said: "Investing in collaboration, innovation, research and education is vital if we want to be on a par with our international competitors."

The British brand launched the new platform, codenamed iQ[Al], with the C-X17 soft roader concept at the Frankfurt Motor Show.

The Jaguar F-Type starts from just under $140,000, so we were sceptical when we heard  that one was being given away. However, it turns out to be true -- with a catch: it comes with a house you have to buy first. While it might be the most expensive Jaguar F-Type ever, this deal from Surface Developments also includes a shiny designer home on Melrose. That's Melrose Avenue in Ottawa, Canada, not the Melrose Place in California (or your sweat-soaked college flashbacks). The house itself is stunning, but Surface Developments doesn't list the price on its site. And if you have to ask, well, you know the drill... The offer of a free F-Type with purchase of the home is a limited-time deal (though it's not clear how limited), so if you're interested in some swanky Canadian digs with a ride to match, you'd better act quickly. www.motorauthority.com

The show stealer of Frankfurt 2013 is also its biggest decoy. Jaguar's gibber inducing C-X17 SUV concept is essentially window dressing for a far more dramatic announcement by Jaguar's global brand manager Adrian Hallmark.“We will have a rival for the BMW 3 Series, Audi A4 and Mercedes-Benz C-Class sedans in 2015,” he tells Carsguide. “It will be built in the UK at a new factory on new lightweight architecture. It's a world first aluminium monocoque.“Jaguar would like to change the vocabulary of prestige motoring from the ‘German Three’ to the European Four. We don't want to pick on anybody or nick their lunch. We want to attract people by the intelligence of our offer."Hallmark says the new sedan will run purpose built engines that will, in their various forms,  use less than four litres of fuel per 100km or reach 300km/h. Asked if coupes, cabrio and wagons would follow - in keeping with the Germans - Hallmark simply says the news sedan is the “start”.How will this model, the first ever purely Jaguar compact sedan, be known? “Well, possibly X-something, but not with the word 'Type',” he laughs referring to the ill-regarded rebodied Mondeo from the brand's Ford-owned years.Hallmark says the compact sedan could be expected to sell by itself a volume greater than the annual total of Jaguar's combined ranges. So what's with the C-X17 then? Hallmark refuses to confirm its production, although the new lightweight architecture would clearly fit this car, if not bigger, heavier Jaguars.“We,” he says, as in Jaguar/LandRover combined, “already have six SUVs. We haven't built this for fun. The reason for throwing this out there is that it adds colour, literally, to the saloon architecture story. And we want to test the idea of Jaguar SUV on people. We want to test the design, test the reaction to a shift in direction. We'd love to build it, but I won't confirm it.” 

Innovation, many hybrids and all-electrics, some high-powered models and a couple of striking retro-inspired coupes are the highlights of this year's Frankfurt motor show. Throw in some staged antics and the world's biggest car show becomes even better.Volvo set the pace with an unveiling of its Concept Coupe, a technologically advanced number of exceptional grace reminiscent of its iconic P1800 of the 1960s. It embodies what Volvo calls its 'human centric experience' and apart from a host of safety electronics, has the new 2.0-litre four-cylinder motor that will soon replace the brand's five and six-cylinder engines.The engine has turbo and supercharging plus a plug-in electric motor, resulting in V8-like performance, but with minicar fuel consumption. However, the classy coupe is not scheduled for production in the near future. Instead, it marks the capability of Volvo's new architecture and elements of its design will feature on all future models, starting with the new XC90 in about a year.Frankfurt was also used to display a growing trend towards compact premium SUVs. Mercedes-Benz showed its cute new GLA-class SUV with new generation 4matic all-wheel drive, and Infiniti unveiled its Q30 concept, which it said was in a unique class, being a blend of coupe, hatch and crossover. A surprise was the appearance of F1 racing camp Sebastien Vettel, who said he helped sort the Q30's handling.Minutes later, Lexus trumped that by having a couple of giant animated creatures, seemingly from outer space, whip the covers of its new LF-NX, another smallish Crossover concept. It, too, had a hybrid powertrain and despite an enthusiastic description of how it's brushed metal finish made it look as if carved from a single billet of solid metal, it was just plain ugly.Then there were the glam cars: Ferrari, Maserati, Jaguar, BMW, Aston-Martin and lots of specially-bodied creations from Brabus and similar outfits, scores of Fiats and Smarts, Hyundais and Kias and about 50 more brands. Spread through about a dozen vast halls, they added up to sore feet and bewildered looks as people did their best to absorb the techno and visual overdose of tomorrow's dream machines. 

Yesterday, photos of the Jaguar C-X17 crossover concept leaked onto the web. Now we're just back from the concept's reveal on the eve of the 2013 Frankfurt Auto Show, and have photos and more details of this new and radically different kind of Jaguar -- which previews a production vehicle coming in the next couple of years.It's the first to be built on the company's new aluminium monocoque structure for smaller cars, which carries the codename “iQ” and will also spawn a small sedan meant to compete head to head with the BMW 3-Series and erase forever the memories of the less-than-stellar X-Type sedan that failed at the same goal a decade ago.We’ve already spied this small sedan, which Jaguar tells us will be launched in 2015. The production version of the C-X17 will follow soon after.Watch video here.What the vehicles will be called is still up in the air, though we know Jaguar has registered “XQ” and “Q-Type” with the European Union's trademark agency. Given the automaker’s naming cadence, the new sedan is likely to be called the XQ while the crossover should get the Q-Type moniker.The key to both models will be the iQ platform. Derived from the Premium Lightweight Architecture that underpins the larger Range Rover SUV, the iQ is a scalable vehicle platform designed not only to be light but also extremely stiff. It has also been designed to incorporate innovative efficiency technologies such as diesel, plug-in hybrid and even battery-powered electric powertrains.Furthermore, Jaguar is developing new four-cylinder gas and diesel engines for its iQ platform, while performance fans will be happy to hear that the automaker’s supercharged V-6 engine from the F-Type sports car will also fit. Jaguar hasn’t mentioned V-8 applications, which makes sense since the automaker is turning away from big engines.Both rear- and all-wheel drive is also compatible with iQ. Jaguar’s latest all-wheel-drive system continuously monitors grip levels and driver inputs and uses feed-forward torque distribution to both pre-empt and react to wheel-slip. And to further aid handling, Jaguar engineers have also installed a brake-based torque vectoring system.Now that we know what’s inside the C-X17, it’s time to focus on its stunning exterior. The lines were penned by Jaguar Land Rover design chief Ian Callum, the man responsible for other stunners like the original Aston Martin Vanquish and contemporary Jaguars like the F-Type sports car.Design elements borrowed from the F-Type are obvious, such as the front fender detailing, muscular rear shoulder line and horizontal tail-light design. The rear diffuser and twin exhaust pipes of the C-X17 also look like they’ve been lifted straight from the F-Type’s V-8 variant.Inside, you’ll find a mix of high-tech and traditionally crafted elements. The cabin is also quite spacious but has been designed with four individual seats. Expect any production version to offer seating for five. The seating position is relatively low for a crossover, giving the occupants a feeling of sitting deep within the cabin.As a special touch, the trunk has two fold-out seats that can be used when the vehicle is parked. There is also a unique panoramic roof, made up of a series of sculpted vanes sitting under a big glass panel. They are contoured on the lower side to generate extra headroom, and shaped to create a ring of space that enables a whole-roof view of the sky above, adding to the sense of openness.Some high-tech goodies include an Interactive Surface Console that runs the length of the car’s centre tunnel. It’s made up of a series of interconnecting touch screens encased in transparent acrylic glass, which all control a common interface wirelessly. There is also a Meridian sound system, a configurable digital gauge cluster, a rotary dial gear selector and a head-up display. Jaguar says many of the features will be incorporated in its future models.www.motorauthority.com  

Rumblings about a Jaguar SUV or crossover date back several years but never really made the headlines until a few weeks ago when it was revealed the British carmaker was planning a landmark announcement at the upcoming 2013 Frankfurt Auto Show.There’s little doubt as to what Jaguar is planning to announce anymore, as the carmaker has confirmed plans to reveal a new crossover concept at Tuesday's show, and now we have several photos of it thanks to a leak on the internet.We won’t have to wait too long to see the covers come off -- officially -- as the new concept, labelled the C-X17, will be revealed online within hours. These initial images give us an idea of what to expect: a muscular crossover with a tail-light design similar to that found on Jaguar’s F-Type sports car.But the C-X17 hints at more than just Jaguar’s future model plans. Underpinning the vehicle is a modular platform composed of lightweight aluminium. This platform is believed to be a variation of Jaguar Land Rover’s Premium Lightweight Architecture (PLA) that debuted in the latest Range Rover SUV and should also feature in a new Jaguar sedan aimed at the BMW 3-Series as well as the next XF.While Jaguar has been quiet on production plans, we’ve already seen a test mule for the 3-Series rival and similar test mules for Jaguar’s crossover have also been spotted in the U.K. recently.What the vehicles will be called is still up in the air, though we know Jaguar has registered "XQ" and "Q-Type" with the European Union's trademark agency. Given the carmaker’s naming cadence, the new sedan is likely to be called the XQ while the crossover should get the Q-Type moniker.www.motorauthority.com 

Rumblings about a Jaguar SUV or crossover date back several years but never really made the headlines until a few weeks ago when it was revealed the British automaker was planning a landmark announcement at the upcoming 2013 Frankfurt Auto Show. There’s little doubt as to what Jaguar is planning to announce anymore, as the automaker has confirmed plans to reveal a new crossover concept at the German show, which commences September 10.We won’t have to wait that long to see the covers come off, however, as the new concept, officially labelled the C-X17, will be revealed online the night before. This teaser image gives us an idea of what to expect: a muscular crossover with a tail-light design similar to that found on Jaguar’s F-Type sports car.But the C-X17 hints at more than just Jaguar’s future model plans. Underpinning the vehicle is a modular platform composed of lightweight aluminium. This platform is believed to be a variation of Jaguar Land Rover’s Premium Lightweight Architecture (PLA) that debuted in the latest Range Rover SUV and should also feature in a new Jaguar sedan aimed at the BMW 3-Series as well as the next XF.While Jaguar has been quiet on production plans, we’ve already seen a test mule for the 3-Series rival and similar test mules for Jaguar’s crossover have also been spotted in the U.K. recently. What the vehicles will be called is still up in the air, though we know Jaguar has registered “XQ” and “Q-Type” with the European Union's trademark agency. Given the automaker’s naming cadence, the new sedan is likely to be called the XQ while the crossover should get the Q-Type moniker.www.motorauthority.com 

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

The guys from Tax The Rich are back, this time with a video of a Jaguar XJ220 taken for a joyride on a farm. Rather than drive along a scenic road or head to a track for some high-speed action, the mysterious driver of this Jaguar XJ220 heads to a farm and at one point drives at speed through a field of trees.DON'T MISS: Watch A Pair Of Ferrari F50s Throw Dirt, Then Play Tug Of War: VideoAt this point you must be wondering why. It’s because Tax The Rich is a Youtube group whose mission is to bring you footage of supercars being used in the most unlikely manner. Previously, they’ve brought us video of a pair of Ferrari F50s in a game of tug of war, a Ferrari Enzo driven through the mud like a rally car, and a Rolls-Royce Phantom being flung through muddy grass fields.Last year saw the Jaguar XJ220 turn 20, which is quite amazing considering the car still looks modern and its performance not far off the pace of the latest breed of supercars. Power came from a twin-turbocharged 3.5-litre V-6 rated at 400kW and 644Nm of torque, and all of this was channelled to the rear wheels via a five-speed gearbox. The end result was a 0-100km/h time of less than four seconds, and an unofficial top speed of 350 km/h, or 220mph -- hence the name “XJ220”.Watch the video here.www.motorauthority.com