Autoblog

Whenever there's auto industry-related lobbying going on in Washington D.C., the Alliance of Automobile Manufacturers is there. Consisting of eleven automakers representing 77 percent of all vehicle sales in the United States, the Auto Alliance has a "role in shaping meaningful public policy on the federal, state and even global levels," according to President and CEO Dave McCurdy. The newest member of the Alliance is Jaguar Land Rover, representing the two brands that were recently sold by Ford Motor Company to Tata Motors.

With the addition of the Indian-owned, British-based automaker, the membership now consists of BMW Group, Chrysler, Ford Motor Company, General Motors, Jaguar Land Rover, Mazda, Mercedes-Benz, Mitsubishi Motors, Porsche, Toyota and Volkswagen.

[Source: Alliance of Automobile Manufacturers]

Jaguar quietly trotted out its hottest XK to date, the XKR-S. Packing a 420-hp 4.2-liter V8 and sending power to the rear wheels through a six-speed automatic gearbox equipped with Jaguar's Sequential Shift system, the XKR-S can run to 60 in 5.2 seconds and on to a top speed of 174 mph, making it the fastest Jag since the XJ220 supercar.

But it's not all about motivation. The revised suspension features new springs, dampers, a larger rear anti-roll bar and a recalibrated CATS (Computer Active Technology Suspension), while an active exhaust, revised aerodynamic aids (including one funky but functional spoiler) and massive, 400mm (front) and 350mm (rear) Alcon R Performance brakes balance out the package.

The Jaguar XKR-S will be limited to only 200 cars in both left- and right-hand-drive, but those of us in the States will never get a taste – it's a Euro-only affair.

The current-generation of the Jaguar XJ sedan is a perfectly capable car, if a bit boring on the eyes. Jaguar's design language had always been daring and beautiful, but until the current XF appeared, had lately been stuck in a rut and seemed to be producing endless copies of itself. No longer, as the brand, now under new Indian management, looks to move its flagship XJ upmarket to take on the likes of Bentley according to David Blackhall, the managing director of Jaguar Land Rover in Australia. If the XF is akin to a BMW in Jag's current line, the next XJ will distance itself as it moves up to cater to the fickle and always fashion-conscious upper crust. Considering how much we like the new direction Jaguar is heading with the XF, we look forward to seeing what the company is capable of with its range-topper, which should debut in the next 12-18 months. So, will it wear a Daimler badge?

[Source: GoAuto]

Auto sales are tough around the globe and production cuts are occurring on a regular basis. Jaguar is planning to slow production at its Castle Bromwich plant by the end of the month in response to slow global sales. The XJ and XK output will be slashed due to a lack of demand. The production cut comes a month after Jaguar's Tata-owned stablemate, Land Rover, cut its Soilhill facility to a four-day work-week in response to slow sales. One bright spot for Jaguar is that UK sales are up a substantial 12%, due mostly to the hot-selling XF sedan. Although Tata has seen some success with the XF, the Indian automaker's reign over the British luxury marquees so far has been less than spectacular. Ford, on the other hand, has two less problem brands on its hands.

[Source: Autocar]

Speculation is still big buiness at Jaguar: the leaper could be going upscale with a Daimler revival, going potentially diesel with the XK, and there's the never-ending rumor of something like an F-Type. Now, finally, a few pieces of fruit have fallen from the guesswork tree: Jaguar has filed trademark papers for the terms C-XE and C-XJ.

The concept XJ is expected -- the development car has been spotted here, there, and everywhere. Based on the production car's 2011 due date, the C-XJ will probably take the stage some time late next year or in early 2010. The only thing that remains is to find out how many design influences Ian Callum has settled on for the car.

The C-XE remains a conundrum. We know that Jag's new parents want a sports car in the litter, but where would it slot? In order not to step all over the XK, an E-Type would be a much harder sports car proposition, but would it bare its claws at the Porsche 911 or be a Boxster fighter? It has been rumored to share parts with the XF and XJ, and power is ostensibly coming from the 3.0-liter V6 Duratec. With a 2012 production date leave, the dynamic details probably haven't been settled. Regardless, it's good to see the cat getting ready to roar.

[Source: Autoblog.it (no relation)]

Click above to view more of the rejected Bond Jag

Here's your chance to own a piece of history. Sorta. This unique car was created for an unnamed Bond movie in the late 1970's but was ultimately rejected before filming. It's based on a modified 1972 Jaguar XKE, outfitted with custom bodywork and a Cobra 289-cubic-inch V8. Part of the...um, unique bodywork includes a trunk lid that can be swapped out for an alternate, apparently crafted so that Bond could escape a chasing vehicle without being noticed. Hard to understand why they didn't use this one. Who knows, maybe it could have replaced the Aston DBS in the upcoming Quantum of Solace. But since it didn't, bidding starts at $13,000.

[Source: eBay via Carscoop]

Fans of our monthly By the Numbers posts may have noticed the conspicuous absence of sales data for both Jaguar and Land Rover over the past few months. The reason we haven't included their sales figures is because we haven't been able to find them since Ford handed over ownership of the two British brands to Tata. The automaker from India says that it will no longer report U.S. sales data for its two newest assets because of what it calls a strategy that "stresses quality over quantity." A spokeswoman for Jaguar tells Ward's Auto that the brands were forced to report their numbers when owned by Ford and now, since they're privately owned by Tata, they don't have to. She also notes that the sales figures could create a "distorted and potentially harmful commentary." Yeah, we suppose that happens when you sell a fraction of what your competition does. Still, Jaguar is missing out on an opportunity to revel in the relative success of its new XF, which we know has bumped up the brand's pitiful sales performance in the U.S. Regardless, By the Numbers will no longer include spots for Jaguar and Land Rover unless someone wants to go out and count their sales by hand. Thanks for the tip, Joaquin!

[Source: Ward's Auto]

Ford Motor Company sent Jaguar packing this year when it sold the storied English automaker, along with Land Rover, to Indian mega corp. Tata. On its way out the door, Jaguar took something special: the XF sedan. Its entire development process having been carried out under the stewardship of Ford, the XF is easily the most tasty fruit born of the cross pollination between the Blue Oval and Leaping Cat since they were first joined back in 1989. Read on to find out how the 2009 Jaguar XF Supercharge fared in the Autoblog Garage.


All photos Copyright ©2008 John Neff / Weblogs, Inc.

Click above for high-res gallery of the 2009 Jaguar XF

If you have a 2009 Jaguar XF, you should hop down to your dealer to have the rear safety belt assembly looked at. Jaguar is recalling 7,900 of the '09 cars because in an accident the rear occupants might not be properly restrained. To find out more you can call Jaguar at 1-800-452-4827, or make an appointment at your local Jaguar dealer.


[Source: Carscoop]

Since you can't even really call it a car anymore if it hasn't been blasted around the 'Ring in development, Jaguar has taken the mechanicals of the next XJ sedan to everyone's favorite playground. Those internals wear the ill-fitting sheetmetal of the current XJ, with the addition of serious wheel arches and a fire-breathing nose.

The real thing to take away from the story is this: the car has been described as "the XF's features... draped over an Aston Martin Rapide." Frankly, we were happy when the XJ's design was moved away from mimicking the Mercedes CLS. And we have come to appreciate the design of the XF. But this equation: XF + Rapide = XJ is the kind of thing that could go wrong. Mr. Callum, however, has earned the benefit of the doubt, so we will wait for the feast for our eyes to decide.

[Source: Autocar]