Just in: 2012 Land Rover Range Rover Evoque

Some of my colleagues were musing recently about the name of this vehicle. Must we wear out our keyboard-calloused fingers typing “Land Rover Range Rover Evoque?” It seems that the shortest vehicle in the company’s line-up has the longest name, such as the previous champ Land Rover Range Rover Sport. But, we must, as we have just added this upscale SUV to our fleet.

It’s a cliché, but perhaps the new Evoque is Land Rover’s attempt at putting the “sport” back into “sport utility.” For example, it’s much lighter than the rest of the line—a bragging right no doubt helped by the standard 240-hp, 2.0-liter turbocharged four-cylinder engine. Neither a big six-cylinder nor V8 engine are offered. So not only does the Evoque suggest a much less truck-like driving experience, it may also be much more fuel efficient than some of the brand’s behemoths. In fact, Land Rover estimates the stylish SUV will get 28 mpg on the highway.

Rather than being aimed at the landed gentry who need off-road capability to check on their back forty, the Evoque goes for a more metropolitan crowd. Think jacked-up Volkswagen GTI or an even more expensive Mini Cooper Countryman. The concept-car styling, giant on-road tires, and full glass roof all create a very different experience than an LR4 or “proper” Range Rover. While the Evoque has off-road modes for its all-wheel-drive system, the lack of a low-range or other hardcore off-road gear suggest this is more a soft-roader than an off-roader.

Our four-door model is equipped with the “Pure Plus Package” (the bottom trim level), which includes power leather seats, a backup camera (especially helpful given the tiny rear window), and the aforementioned panoramic roof. It also has the “Climate Comfort Pack,” which includes heating elements for the front seats, steering wheel, washer jets and windshield. Interestingly, the $750 Sirius satellite and HD radio option doesn’t come with complimentary satellite service.

Our lightly-optioned Evoque stickered at $45,745. That strikes most of us as being semi-precious, especially since our tested Audi Q5, BMW X3, Mercedes-Benz GLK, and Volvo XC60 all cost thousands less. And those cars aren’t exactly bargains themselves.

Read More: http://news.consumerreports.org/cars/2011/12/just-in-2012-land-rover-range-rover-evoque.html

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2012 Jaguar XJL Supersport

From previous experience, I know the Jaguar XJ to be dynamically astounding, but unfortunately I wasn't able to fully enjoy its performance prowess due to the buckets of rain that fell during my time with the car. These conditions, however, did not prevent me from appreciating the big Jag's lovely interior and abundance of luxury features.

However, I was very frustrated to discover that it's quite hard to get a child seat to plug into the lower anchors in the rear seats, so tight are the rear seatback and cushion fitted together (I ended up having to invert the clips on the kid seats themselves). It seems that the bigger and more expensive the car, the harder it is to install baby seats -- the BMW 7-series is also a giant pain in this regard. Surely that is why parents prefer minivans and crossovers to six-figure European sport sedans ...

Still, it's hard not to fall for a long-wheelbase, high-zoot XJ and all its horsepower and loveliness. I particularly love the small, sporty steering wheel, which helps diminish the perceived size of the car and further enhances the sporty driving experience.

Read more: http://www.automobilemag.com/reviews/editors_notebook/1111_2012_jaguar_xjl_supersport/viewall.html#ixzz1gS3LtNMg

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Green Car Reports: Jaguar XF Clean Diesel Sets Off On U.S. Tour

In an effort to meet future fuel economy requirements, more manufacturers than ever are considering selling diesel models in North America.

The next carmaker considering diesel sales could well be British sports and luxury car maker Jaguar.

According to Motor Authority, a British-registered, right-hand drive Jaguar XF 2.2 Diesel departed New York City yesterday, marking the start of a seven-day, 2,800 mile tour across the country to Los Angeles.

The cross-country tour will be the second long-distance run from British brothers David and Alexander Madgwick, who've previously taken the same car over 816 miles across Europe on a single tank of diesel.

Equipped with a four-cylinder turbocharged diesel engine and 8-speed automatic gearbox, the XF 2.2 diesel achieves 52.3 miles per imperial gallon on the combined European cycle, or 43.5 mpg in U.S. gallons. As ever, it's worth noting that European figures can be between 10-20 percent higher than EPA figures, model-for-model.

Despite being the base-model XF it still offers reasonable performance too, with 60 mph arriving in 8 seconds and a 140 mph top speed.

Jaguar says the journey will help them test the capabilities of the XF, though it's sure to create a promotional whirlwind too, perhaps preceding a U.S. launch further down the line.

You can follow the Jaguar duo's progress via the company's Twitter and Facebook accounts.

Read More: http://www.greencarreports.com/news/1068359_jaguar-xf-clean-diesel-sets-off-on-u-s-tour

2011 Land Rover Range Rover HSE

I'd never been in a Range Rover before I had the chance to drive ours. I've heard nothing but praise when it comes to this car, so I had high expectations. Rightfully so for a car that has a base price of almost $80,000. Luckily, the luxury SUV met, even exceeded, all of my expectations.

Outside, the Range Rover is elegant and muscular at the same time. It's styling is much tamer than competitors like the BMW X5 and Porsche Cayenne, but it's still an attention-grabber. Exterior looks are only trumped by interior design and quality.

The navy piping on our parchment leather seats was perfect, the cherry wood trim on the dash was warm and inviting, and the overall feel inside is wonderful. Some luxury cars take embellishment too far, putting suede-this and aluminum-that everywhere, but not the Range Rover. Nothing inside immediately pops out at you, nothing seems out of place. That, to me, is how you define a car's perfect cabin.

If I were to buy a Range Rover HSE tomorrow, I wouldn't add a single option on, not even upgrade to a different trim level for the supercharged 5.0-liter V-8. It's absolutely flawless as a base model. I can't wait until we get another one in, or for the day I have $79,685 to spend on one.

Read more: http://www.automobilemag.com/reviews/editors_notebook/1110_2011_land_rover_range_rover_hse/viewall.html#ixzz1ckguJ3aJ

Land Rover Illinois

2011 Jaguar XKR Convertible

I really love the way Jaguar products drive. I really hate the touch-screen infotainment system and pretty much any other electrical item on the car. The problem is with so much traffic clogging up the roads I'm forced to drive most days, I end up spending more time fiddling with the stereo than I do really driving. So I walk away less than thrilled.
The massively powerful 5.0-liter supercharged V-8 in the XKR is one that I would be happy to experience in any vehicle at any time. There's gobs of torque, a nearly perfect exhaust note, and it revs quickly. The six-speed automatic does a nice job of sorting out the power delivery for a grand touring car like the XK.

The weak link in this car is the chassis, which shows its age over bumps if more than half of the engine's power is being delivered. Jaguar is previewing the new XK at the Frankfurt Motor Show, so this is likely one of my last encounters with this generation XK. Hopefully the next XK will be much more reliable, have an easier-to-use infotainment system, and will retain all of this car's fun-to-drive characteristics. It just needs a bit more structural rigidity to handle the engine's power and it would be perfect for the class.

Phil Floraday, Senior Web Editor
Read more: http://www.automobilemag.com/reviews/editors_notebook/1110_2011_jaguar_xkr_convertible/viewall.html#ixzz1c621gGjA

FEATURES: By Design: Range Rover Evoque

The three most striking British cars of the past sixty years were the original Alec Issigonis-designed Morris Mini-Minor/Austin Seven twins, the Jaguar E-type, and the 1970 Range Rover. In many ways, the Range Rover was the best of the three: it was the most original and the most influential, in that it helped touch off the worldwide SUV boom by making a rugged, all-wheel-drive utility vehicle socially acceptable everywhere. The Mini was important, but it was Fiat's Autobianchi Primula, not the Mini, that ultimately turned almost every family car in the world -- including today's BMW Mini -- into a transverse-engine, front-wheel-drive derivative of the offset-engine, in-line-gearbox layout developed by Dante Giacosa. The XK-E remains a fabulous design icon, attracting as much attention today as it did fifty years ago, but it really did not inspire other manufacturers to explore radical structural solutions or to make equally inexpensive high-performance cars.

The original two-door Range Rover, on the other hand, did far more than give British farmers a nice ride into town after they'd finished (metaphorically) plowing the fields with their handsome all-purpose luxury car. It quickly became a status symbol in its domestic market and caused nearly every carmaker in the world to propose something similar -- including, in a certain sense, Ferrari with the new FF. SUVs from Maserati, Jaguar, and Alfa Romeo are constantly postulated, and BMW, Cadillac, Mercedes-Benz, and Porsche have already succumbed to the lure of a big-buck big box. And they sell them in huge numbers at high prices, just like the original.

I'd seen the Evoque in auto shows and thought it a nice piece of work, but it was seeing the production version rushing up the hill at the Goodwood Festival of Speed this year that really brought home the sense of what a good design it is. It is close in concept and execution to the first Range Rover, thereby justifying its name, and it really does evoke memories of Spencer King, Gordon Bashford, and David Bache's brilliant original. The two-door body is part of it, but above all it is the short overhang, the high ramp angle in front, and the uncluttered body form that complete the effect.

They're not really similar-looking, given the solid rectangularity of the original Range Rover and the swooping wedge shapes of the Evoque, but a similarity of purpose comes through clearly. The Evoque is surprisingly aerodynamic, as befits this carbon-conscious era, and its chopped-top, tapering side glazing is the antithesis of the tall, open upper of the Bache design, but there is a discernible purity of purpose in both designs. They're family -- essentially the sort of thing one can see in looking at pictures of an old man's younger self and then those of his great-grandson. Not the same but indissolubly linked. It's a very good bloodline. There are details to discuss and disagree about, perhaps, but altogether this is a superior design for a compact, agreeable SUV.

Read more: http://www.automobilemag.com/features/by_design/1110_by_design_range_rover_evoque/index.html#ixzz1bKl0fuNp

Redesigned Range Rover Reportedly Set to Launch in Late 2012

The latest version of Land Rover’s flagship vehicle, the Range Rover, will go on sale in the fall of 2012. However, don’t be embarrassed if you mistake it for the new Evoque when you first see it. The fourth-generation luxury SUV is expected to be stretched out just ever so slightly compared to the current model. However, despite the miniscule growth, the new Range Rover is expected to drop nearly 990 pounds, courtesy of aluminum (and lots of it) used during assembly.
Interior room especially benefits from the overall growth, with increased rear-seat legroom and longer rear doors equaling easier rear-seat access. It’s blatantly obvious the next-gen Range Rover bites off more than a little bit of exterior styling from the new Evoque. The windshield and roof line are sloped even more than those of past models and the squared-off body sheds right angles for broad curves. Inside, Autocar reports that Land Rover is using Bentley as its standard for interior quality.

The latest Range Rover will share a chassis and electrical system with the next-generation Jaguar XJ but the suspension will be its own. The next generation Range Rover Sport will also utilize the same chassis once it’s released. Under the hood, Autocar reports that new V-6 and supercharged V-6 gasoline engines could join the supercharged V-8 and turbocharged diesel V-6 and V-8 engines currently available in the Range Rover. It also appears Land Rover has been bitten by the hybrid bug, and while chances of it actually coming to fruition are slim, a plug-in hybrid drivetrain is being explored.  The hybrid drivetrain would run on either diesel or gasoline and was shown off earlier this year on the Range_e concept at the Geneva Motor Show.

What do you think of Range Rover’s latest design? Is it headed in the right direction or is it too much like the new Range Rover Evoque? Tell us what you think in the comment section below.

Read more: http://blogs.automotive.com/redesigned-range-rover-reportedly-set-to-launch-in-late-2012-59797.html#ixzz1a7deFK00

Jaguar Land Rover to open engine plant in England, report says

LONDON (Reuters) -- Jaguar Land Rover is set to open a new engine plant in England, a newspaper report said.

The factory would be built in Wolverhampton, central England, and create some 2,000 jobs, according to the Sunday Telegraph.

JLR's engines are currently supplied by Ford Motor Co., which sold the brands to India's Tata Motors in 2008. JLR has three assembly plants in central England.

The company could make an announcement as early as Monday in conjunction with British business secretary Vince Cable, the paper said on Sunday, citing a source with knowledge of the company's plans.

The plant would cost 400 million pounds ($632 million) to open and Britain's coalition government has offered around 10 million pounds of support, the paper said.

Read more: http://www.autonews.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20110918/COPY01/309189997/1283#ixzz1ZMJs5Z60

Jaguar C-X16 Concept Official Photos and Info - Auto Shows

In the rankings of prolonged automotive rumors, Jaguar’s introduction of an entry-level sports car is bested only by Alfa Romeo’s alleged return to the U.S.. With the C-X16 concept debuting at the Frankfurt auto show, though, the British company is signaling that yes, a relatively affordable sports car is coming. In real life. Our spy shooters have caught prototypes of what we believe will be called the XE, but what we couldn’t see is beneath the skin. The two-seat concept shows off a new V-6, a hybrid system, and cutting-edge OLED displays—important tech that Jaguar needs if it’s going to redefine its stuffy, cigar-room image.

Power and Styling by AC/DC

When AC/DC’s 16th album, Black Ice, launched in 2009, singer Brian Johnson was quoted as saying “Someone said to Angus the other day, ‘Hey, you've made the same album 15 times.’ Angus said, ‘No, man, we've made the same album 16 times!’” The same enthusiasm for repeating success might be ascribed to Jaguar’s designer, Ian Callum, who could lovingly be accused of designing the same car a few times. Like the Aston Martin Vanquish and DB9 and the Jaguar XK, the C-X16 is designed around classic grand-tourer proportions, with a long hood and short rear deck. The cockpit is low slung, while swept-back headlights sit atop a gaping grille up front, and curvaceous rear haunches lead to gun-slit taillights. The fenders even have horizontal vents, as does the face-lifted XF. (When Jaguar was under the Ford umbrella, this particular Callum styling element was reserved exclusively for Aston Martin.) Suffice it to say, the C-X16 breaks little new ground stylistically. And we’re fine with that.

Read More: http://www.caranddriver.com/news/car/11q3/jaguar_c-x16_concept_official_photos_and_info-auto_shows

Land Rover Opts to Bring Back Defender; Unveil Set For Frankfurt

It went deep into the eleventh hour but Land Rover and its fans can collectively breathe a sigh of relief. The iconic Defender, on sale since 1947, will make its return at the Frankfurt Auto Show next month but first images will start trickling in this week.

We expect to see a completely revamped version of the Defender both inside and out that includes satellite navigation and communication systems, features that the last generation lacked. However officials at Land Rover know they’re walking a fine line when it comes to updating the Defender.

“If we get it wrong we are messing up one of the industry’s biggest icons,” said UK Managing Director Colin Green in a recent interview with Auto Express. “And in that sense it’s a tremendous responsibility.”

The Defender almost never saw the light of day again as Land Rover mulled the idea of ditching the SUV altogether. Land Rover added it could even “abandon that section of the market” for greener pastures. However the Defender was brought back along with a new plan to introduce a car that sits on the same heavy-duty platform as the Discovery 3.

The proposed new Defender by Land Rover would feature an enhanced Terrain Response System similar to the one found on the LR3 and Discovery models. The TRS alters the engine, suspension, and gearbox settings to fit the surface being traveled on and would enable the car to have unseen off-road capabilities. A few four-cylinder engines will also be developed in house and run on either gasoline or diesel.

Read more: http://blogs.automotive.com/land-rover-opts-to-bring-back-defender-unveil-set-for-frankfurt-52775.html#ixzz1WY6op2yN

Jaguar C-X16 Concept - Auto Shows

A two-seat sports car from Jaguar won’t look back at the E-type.

The long-held hope that Jaguar would build a proper successor to the E-type becomes tangible with the announcement that it will bring what it is calling the “C-X16 production concept” to this year’s Frankfurt auto show. Along with the announcement, Jaguar released a sketch of the C-X16 in profile, and its proportions closely resemble those of the small Jag prototypes we previously spied, which were based upon chopped and shortened XKs.

Don’t Hate Me Because I’m Beautiful 

Jaguar may be calling its concept the C-X16, but we believe the production car will be named XE—C-X__ seems to be Jaguar’s concept-naming strategy of late, with last year’s turbine-hybrid hypercar C-X75 concept using the nomenclature. Whatever it is called, Jaguar director of design Ian Callum promises the production version of the C-X16 will be “beautiful, innovative, and [look] firmly to the future.” The sketch provided by the company certainly doesn’t look retro, and anyone eagerly awaiting a hot-dog-esque E-type redux will be sorely disappointed with the C-X16’s 7/8-scale Aston Martin DBS look. We have few problems with the way any Aston Martin looks, and the details in the sketch—the XKR-S-like lower front intakes and XF-style taillights—appear to be all Jaguar.

A few key aspects of the C-X16’s design are worth noting. The fender vent is horizontal, a style Jaguar has recently adopted in place of the vertical gills its products previously shared with Land Rovers. The concept also seems to wear a new front grille that sits further forward than the headlights and bumper (it can be seen as a pointy protrusion that pokes out ahead of the lower front intakes). Finally, the clipped front and rear overhangs, short wheelbase, and fastback proportions are noticeably more athletic than the XK’s looser grand touring style. The C-X16 clearly is a two-seater.

Look Out, Luxo-Sport-Coupe Segment

While we know few specifics about the C-X16/XE, we do know that its smaller size and more focused dynamics will come at a lower price than that of the XK—although just barely. Rumors of a price around $50,000 are likely inaccurate; figure on something between $70,000 and $80,000, only slightly less than the current XK’s $85,375 price of entry. The littler Jag will utilize a smaller version of the XK’s aluminum structure and will be available as a coupe and a convertible. Both body styles will be powered by a supercharged V-6 engine. No V-8 will be offered, but we know a hybrid version will be part of the mix. Jaguar will release more information when the C-X16 is unveiled in Frankfurt, and expect a production car to hit the road sometime in late 2012 as a 2013 model.

Read More: http://www.caranddriver.com/news/car/11q3/jaguar_c-x16_concept-auto_shows?

2012 Land Rover Range Rover Evoque - First Drive Review

Can style rule in a utilitarian realm?

That’s the $43,995 question riding the broad shoulders of the smallest-ever Range Rover, the Evoque. To be accurate, it’s the $43,995 to $53,895 question, if we include all the trim levels. That lofty base-price range makes the thesis issue—the preeminence of style as a purchase motivator for SUVs—critical to this Range Rover newbie. A matter of life and death, even.

The product planners and marketing troops would probably want to protest at this point that their new vehicle delivers something its competitors—primarily the Audi Q5, BMW X3, and Mercedes-Benz GLK—do not: serious off-road capability.

After our first Evoque experience, which included substantial episodes of bouncing around in wild Welsh terrain that ranged from rocky trails to deeply rutted mud tracks—all in persistent rain—we readily concede that this small-scale Range Rover would leave its German rivals either mired down or high-centered on some lonely moor. However, the Range Rover people also recognize that most Evoque owners probably won’t venture farther from pavement than a dirt road or pea-gravel parking lot.

Competitive Checklist

So if superior off-road credentials don’t count for much with urbanites who have no off-road aspirations, where’s the competitive edge? It’s not price; the Evoque’s least expensive get-in—for the basic Pure Plus five-door model—is higher than upscale versions of the Q5, X3, and GLK.

Read More: http://www.caranddriver.com/reviews/car/11q3/2012_land_rover_range_rover_evoque-first_drive_review

REVIEWS: 2011 Jaguar XFR

This is one special kitty. The moment you take a seat behind the wheel, it is obvious that the old-world charm and attention to detail of classic Jaguars is still alive and well in 2011. The starter button glows red, pulsating like a heartbeat, and the interior comes to life in tandem with the growl of the 5.0-liter V-8 -- vents rotating, gauge needles sweeping, and rotary shift knob rising in a perfectly choreographed ballet. Twist the knob to "D" and pull away reveling in the delicious burble that the four-pipe exhaust emits. Hit the turn signal, and the blinker sounds similar to a finely-crafted English clock, ticking the time until you can make the turn and listen again to the sonorous V-8. All of the lighting coordinates together: the crisp blue-white of the xenon headlamps complements the ice-blue interior LEDs, the same blue used as an accent color on the multifunction touch screen. The XFR bathes its passengers in luxury and in the finesse found only in something very special; it is a precious item you never want to let go.

Read More: http://www.automobilemag.com/reviews/editors_notebook/1107_2011_jaguar_xfr/index.html

Tata Motors may develop engine with Jaguar Land Rover

Tata Motors Ltd. will consider a joint engine-development program with its Jaguar Land Rover unit, according to a company report released today.

"To optimize the synergistic strengths between JLR and Tata Motors in India, an examination is also under way on a joint engine development program which would have manufacturing facilities both in the U.K. and India," Ratan Tata said in a statement released in the company's annual report for the 2010-11 fiscal year, which ended on March 31.

Currently, Tata, India's leading automaker by sales, obtains engines for Jaguar and Land Rover models from the brands' previous owner, Ford Motor Co.

Joint engine manufacturing would be another step closer to establishing the brands' independence from Ford. Tata bought Jaguar and Land Rover from Ford in 2008.

Tata Motors said its Pune, India, plant, which began manufacturing the Land Rover Freelander in late May, could assemble other products and variants from the brands, according to The Wall Street Journal. A report from the Birmingham Post claims that Wolverhampton, England, plant has been chosen for Jaguar and Land Rover engine manufacturing.

Globally, Tata Motors sold 62,090 Jaguar and Land Rover vehicles for the fiscal year, up 9 percent from the previous year, the company said.

Jaguar Land Rover N.A. sold 23,702 vehicles in the United States in the first six months of 2011, a 13.9 percent increase over the first six months of 2010.

Read more: http://www.autonews.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20110718/OEM01/307189867/1131#ixzz1TW5UCRZ4

Consumer Report - Test complete video: 2011 Jaguar XJ review

There’s no denying that the redesigned 2011 Jaguar XJ has a great body. Even by moving away from the traditional Jaguar sedan styling, the big cat still gets lots of looks.

But the Jaguar is not just form over function. Instead, the XJ has become a thoroughly modern luxury sedan that manages to be both sporty and relaxing. The 385-hp, 5.0-liter V8 delivers excellent performance and emits a muted, muscular rumble. The XJ also handles with agility and grace while delivering a smooth, supple, and well-controlled ride.

Inside, the driver and passengers are treated to an exceptionally plush cabin, with details and luxury features that truly fit the quiet, tasteful interior. The front seats are firm-some testers even called them hard-and narrower and more tailored than some people might expect from a luxury sedan. One neat feature: The front seats have a massage function that kneads the lumbar and bottom cushion. Only four adults fit comfortably in the XJ, though, and head room is a little stingy, making the cabin feel snug for larger people.

Some controls are confusing and not particularly well arranged, and the trunk is quite small for a large car.

Still, the XJ makes for a great date-night car.

Check out our video below, giving a further review of the Jaguar XJ. And continue on to see our complete road test and Full Track Report.

—Mike Quincy

Read More: http://news.consumerreports.org/cars/2011/07/test-complete-video-2011-jaguar-xj-review.html

Shopping Tools * Advertisement 2013 Land Rover Range Rover Spy Photos - Future Cars

Even for a vehicle with such historically long lifecycles, the Land Rover Range Rover is overdue for a full updating. You may remember that the current truck was designed under BMW ownership, updated by Ford, and recently got new engines and an interior under Tata rule. One generation, three parent companies. Three consecutive British prime ministers have no doubt ridden in them, too. Fortunately, as these spy photos—and those we previously captured—suggest, an all-new Rover family is just around the bend.

Given Land Rover’s convoluted full-size lineup—LR4, only-slightly-larger Range Rover, and LR4-based Range Rover Sport, which is smaller than either—we’re not entirely certain which model this is. In general proportion and in details such as the door handles tucked into the body line, it bears strong resemblance to the big-dog Range Rover. But the cut line of the rear door and the greenhouse, which tightens toward the back of the truck, make the body of this mule look very much like a hacked-up current-gen Range Rover Sport.

It’s also tough to tell what’s happening at the rear corners, thanks to a pair of blinders that have been slapped on, but the rear glass looks to have a slightly sharper slope to it and more streamlined trim at the edges. Overall, regardless of which model this is, it seems like the goal will be refining the current shape for better aerodynamics and lower wind noise, without losing the classic Range Rover silhouette.

Old-School but High-Tech

Technology will no doubt play a large role in the next Rover’s launch, and the most obvious bits peeking out in these photos are the LED clusters in the headlights. Behind them, expect a new hybrid powertrain to brighten the stately SUV’s eco image. Land Rover previewed this powertrain with the Range_e concept earlier this year. That vehicle used a diesel V-6 paired up with a plug-in hybrid system, but if the company intends to sell a Range Rover hybrid to U.S. customers, it’ll most likely have to use a gas engine.

As for the traditionally motivated models, we expect Land Rover to get a few more years out of its selection of 5.0-liter V-8s, both naturally aspirated and supercharged. Minor updates may eke out some gain in efficiency, but a larger increase likely will come from a jump from six- to eight-speed automatic transmissions, the new industry standard. As usual, Europeans will benefit from a range of turbo-diesels while we will not. A concept might preview a production model in the next year, but don’t expect production to start until the end of 2012 at the earliest.

Read More: http://www.caranddriver.com/news/spied/11q2/2013_land_rover_range_rover_spy_photos-future_cars

Chicago Land Rover

2013 Jaguar XE Roadster Spy Photos - Future Cars

As we left this year’s Geneva auto show, at which Jaguar kicked off the iconic E-type’s 50th birthday party, we were disappointed. After the music had stopped, the champagne flutes sat dry, and the confetti lay lifeless on the floor, we still had no E-type successor or tribute. Today, though, our spirits are lifted, as our crafty spy shooters have caught Jaguar testing a mule of what will become the modern version of the E-type, likely called XE.

Whether or not the future two-seater will be able to pick up the torch of the famed E-type, it’ll fill that car’s role within the Jag showroom. At first glance, this mule appears to be just a rough-bodied version of the XK, complete with its updated headlights, but upon further study we can clearly see that the wheelbase—and consequently, the sheetmetal—have been shortened. Note how the surface between the leading edge of the front of the rear fender and the door seam is smaller than it is on the XK, which is why the body lines no longer match. Additionally, the rear overhang has been compressed on this mule, displacing the fuel door. The tacked on fender flares could indicate a wider rear track than the XK has.

It shouldn’t take much Sherlock Holmes–ing to determine what lies under the hood. As this car will be based on the XK platform, we fully expect it to receive either a naturally aspirated or supercharged version of Jag’s spectacular 5.0-liter V-8. Additionally, we know Jaguar is working on a new V-6 for the XF sedan and a forthcoming BMW 3-series–size sedan, and anticipate that’ll find its way into a base model of the XE.

The XE will eventually be offered as both a coupe and a convertible. The ragtop should be the first to market, possibly entering production as early as 2012. Its primary targets will be the Porsche Boxster, Audi TT, BMW Z4, and Mercedes-Benz SLK. Figure on the XE being priced toward the pricier end of that segment, or around $60,000. Stay tuned for more details as the E-type’s party really gets rockin’.

Read More: http://www.caranddriver.com/news/spied/11q2/2013_jaguar_xe_roadster_spy_photos-future_cars

Jaguar Illinois

2014 Range Rover Mule has Jaguar Dial Shifter—and Possible Diesel-Electric Hybrid Powertrain

With us since the 2006 model year, Land Rover’s current Range Rover flagship is palatial and iconic and capable. But we expect its replacement within a couple of years, likely with simple evolutionary styling changes covering a slew of new technologies—including some intended to help it slurp less fuel. This particular Range Rover–bodied mule, snapped at a facility of a technology partner, contains at least a few of those technologies, the most obvious of which is the dial-type electronic shifter like that used by its sister brand, Jaguar. It certainly isn’t the sportiest shift device in the world, but it is rather in keeping with the Range Rover’s wafty personality.

It’s clear that much more has changed beneath that current-gen Range Rover body, and there are a few possibilities as to what this vehicle might actually be. Among them is a new, super-high-performance version of the Range Rover, a swan-song model with a unique front clip for, say, the 2013 model year. More likely is that this is a powertrain/chassis mule for the next-gen Range Rover, due for 2014, with the fender flares hinting at increases in front and rear track width. Though we can’t see any of it here, a more aerodynamic body likely will need to be adopted if Land Rover hopes to raise fuel economy from “atrocious” to “just plain awful.” Also telling are the twin outboard bumper intakes, which show off what appear to be grilles for twin intercoolers, suggesting that a turbocharged engine—likely a diesel-powered V-6 or V-8— sits up front.

A close look at a mysterious box located between the mufflers suggests one further exposition: that this mule is testing Land Rover’s new “Range_e” plug-in diesel-electric hybrid system announced at this year’s Geneva auto show, with the box presumably containing some of the battery components. Intended for Land Rover’s larger vehicles, Range_e was shown installed in the Range Rover Sport and combines electric power with a 3.0-liter diesel V-6 and an eight-speed automatic. It surely will work in the larger Range Rover, too, although we shudder to think of the curb weight of a Rangie with a heavy diesel engine and a battery pack containing enough energy capacity to propel it 20 miles on a single charge.


Land Rover has said in the past that a diesel hybrid will be ready by 2012 and on sale by calendar-year 2013—just in time to debut in the 2014 Range Rover.

Read More: http://blog.caranddriver.com/2014-range-rover-mule-has-jaguar-dial-shifter%E2%80%94and-possible-diesel-electric-hybrid-powertrain/

Chicago Land Rover

REVIEWS: First Drive: 2012 Jaguar XKR-S

There’s no shortage of performance in the Jaguar lineup. With the XFR sedan, the XKR two-door, and the XJ Super Sport sedan, the British automaker has a trio of 510-hp supercharged brutes that are plenty competent around a track. But what Jaguar doesn’t have is performance with cachet. The R subbrand carries little emotional weight compared with BMW M, Mercedes-Benz AMG, and Audi RS badges. 

Enter the XKR-S. It’s Jaguar’s fastest production car ever and churns out 550 hp for a price of $132,875. If that doesn’t grab your attention, take just one look at the sleek sports car slathered in scintillating French racing blue paint.

 

Tuned for the track

Extracting additional performance from the XKR to create the XKR-S was largely an exercise in calibration rather than swapping hardware. The familiar supercharged 5.0-liter V-8 now makes 550 hp and 502 lb-ft of torque, up 40 hp and 41 lb-ft from the XKR’s output. Engineers have stiffened the front suspension uprights, tweaked the rear suspension geometry, increased spring rates 28 percent up front and 32 percent in back, and dropped the ride height 0.4 inch. The XKR’s adaptive dampers and active rear differential have also been tuned to act more aggressively. The most significant hardware changes come in the form of an active exhaust, a reworked aero package that reduces lift by 26 percent, and Pirelli PZero tires wrapped around new 20-inch aluminum wheels finished in a sinister graphite color.

To enrich the interior, there’s supple stitched leather covering the seats, the dash, and a new steering wheel, and the cabin is trimmed with leather carbon-fiber-like accents and optional dark aluminum inserts. The XKR-S-exclusive sport seats are exceptionally comfortable and feature 16-way adjustability including inflatable side bolsters. 

The only obvious omission from the XKR-S’s pedigree is a weight-loss program. The front splitter, rear diffuser, and rear wing are made of carbon fiber, but that decision was driven by aesthetics, not function. Weight remains unchanged from the XKR, at 3968 pounds. For now, the XKR-S is only available as a coupe.

 

Powerful, punchy, and playful

We already knew that the XKR is a torque monster, so it’s no surprise that the XKR-S produces silly thrust before the pedal is depressed even halfway. The gas pedal’s satisfying responsiveness means a short sprint to triple-digit speeds is always waiting for your command. Jaguar claims 60 mph comes in 4.2 seconds and that a top speed of 186 mph makes the XKR-S the fastest production car in the brand’s history.

A six-speed automatic transmission is the only gearbox offered, but it is a very, very good one. With Jaguar’s rotary gear selector twisted all the way to the right to the sport setting, the transmission will crack off shifts with a hammer-like punch. Initiating Dynamic mode sharpens the throttle response, tightens up the dampers, and opens a set of valves in the exhaust. At full wood, the XKR-S emits a raw, guttural snarl of blats and grunts and the sharp bark at lift-off is chased by intermittent aftershocks of snaps and crackles as the engine revs fall. It’s hardly the seductive symphony of an Italian engine, but this Jag has a presence and aural individuality that makes the heart flutter.

What really gets our pulse pounding, though, is the devilish active differential, which uses an electric motor to progressively lock the rear wheels together. As we hustle through the turns of the Algarve race circuit in Portugal, the diff makes its existence known by dialing in the perfect amount of lockup to keep the car neutral and balanced. Thanks to the rigidity of the chassis, the natural tuning of the throttle pedal, and the supportive seats, you can perfectly read and anticipate the differential’s actions, inviting explorations into controlled oversteer without threatening a smoky spin.

Read More: http://www.automobilemag.com/reviews/driven/1106_2012_jaguar_xkr_s_drive/index.html

All-New Entry-Level Jaguar Delayed Until 2015

The autosphere is abuzzed with news that not only luxury marque's entry-level, or compact Jag's release date has been pushed back several years, but that the model may actually be as large as the XF sedan.

What?

First, why the delay? Autocar suggests the revised timing allows Jaguar to introduce its small model without cannibalizing sales from the current XF sedan. Seeing as both models are set to grow, the new “small” Jag may actually be close in size to today’s XF. If so, we wouldn’t blame buyers for opting for the newer model one bit.

“We definitely won’t kill today’s XF with a new small car,” Adrian Hallmark, Jaguar’s global brand director, told Autocar. “We’ll kill it with the new XF.”

But wait — why would a new small Jaguar be roughly the same size as the larger XF? In a word, competition. Both the next-generation BMW 3 Series and Mercedes-Benz C-Class sedans are expected to grow in stature, and accordingly, so should the small Jag in order to remain competitive. That’s apparently a touchy subject at Jag, considering the last stab at crafting a small model — the X-Type — was essentially a flop. Jaguar engineering chief Bob Joyce tells the British magazine the new car “has to be designed and engineered to be exactly right for its market,” and if that market is moving larger, then so too shall the Jaguar.

After being blown away by both the XF and the radically rethought XJ, we can’t wait to see what Jaguar has in store for this “new” segment. Sadly, it seems we’ll have to do just that — and for a little longer than we originally expected.

Read more: http://blogs.automotive.com/6762297/opinion/all-new-entry-level-jaguar-delayed-until-2015/index.html#ixzz1NZNt6GJB

Jaguar Says Yes to Production Version of C-X75 Concept

Both our offices and the autosphere is celebrating with news that Jaguar has given the green light to a production version of the C-X75 supercar.

Jaguar hasn’t released many details about the vehicle just yet, but we do know the production car will sprint to 60 mph in less than 3 seconds, top 200 mph, and emit fewer than 99 grams of CO2 per kilometer. We’re told to expect more details on the C-X75’s powertrain, performance, and official name on September 1 when dealers begin accepting orders. Williams F1 promises to bring “engineering expertise in areas including aerodynamics, carbon composite manufacture and hybrid technologies” to the partnership along with considerable motorsport knowledge.

The production C-X75 will use a traditional internal combustion engine with a small displacement and lots of boost along with an electric motor for each axle. Jaguar expects the C-X75 to have a range of approximately 31 miles in EV mode. Though there’s no specific promise of a micro-turbine powertrain option like we saw in the concept car, Jaguar’s press release does mention Tata’s “significant stake” in Bladon Jets and indicates the technology is a “medium-term aspiration that will play a part in Jaguars of the future.”

When the C-X75 debuted in Paris, Jaguar wanted to showcase a sustainable supercar.  In today’s release Jaguar Land Rover CEO, Dr. Ralf Speth said, “a supercar like the C-X75 is the logical choice to showcase cutting-edge design, intelligent use of new environmental technologies and motorsport-inspired performance.” When interviewed last year about the C-X75 concept, design director Ian Callum said: “This vehicle ticks all the right boxes: it moves our form language to a higher level, it is state-of-the-art in terms of materials used and weight saved, it is refreshingly minimalistic in style and execution, and as far as electrification goes, it offers a variety of fresh and yet quite feasible solutions.”

Read more: http://blogs.automotive.com/6726254/exotic-cars/jaguar-says-yes-to-production-version-of-c-x75-concept/index.html#ixzz1M3xE9YEe

Jaguar Planning Brand New V-6 Engine for XF (and Maybe XJ)

Perhaps you read in this week’s Financial Times that Jaguar is looking at building a new factory for engine construction in the UK. What the company hasn’t said—but thanks to our sources, we can now confirm—is that the added production capacity will allow the Jaguar to begin construction of a brand-new six-cylinder engine. The engine should come to the U.S. in the XF, and possibly even in the XJ.

At present, every Jaguar sold in the U.S. comes with an excellent 5.0-liter V-8 engine. Some are naturally aspirated and make 385 hp, while others are supercharged and produce 475 or 510 ponies. Europeans see more options for their cats: a 2.2-liter diesel four, a 3.0-liter diesel six, and the old Ford-based 3.0-liter V-6. You may remember that last engine from such groaning flops as the Jaguar X-Type 3.0 and the S-Type 3.0. Suffice it to say that the company needs a new gasoline V-6 for the U.S. market and for Europeans who want an engine designed during the current millennium. (Jag also needs all-wheel drive, but that’s not happening any time soon.)

Given that the outgoing lump makes 240 hp, we’d expect Jaguar’s new six-pot to produce significantly more power, something comparable to the 300-plus-hp engines from BMW, Mercedes-Benz, and Audi. It seems sensible that this engine would be paired to the eight-speed automatic that the company recently announced would be used in 2.2-liter diesel cars in Europe. We were told our wait for the engine wouldn’t be too long, so we figure that we’ll see it in the 2013 or 2014 model year.

Read More: http://blog.caranddriver.com/jaguar-planning-brand-new-v-6-engine-for-xf-and-maybe-xj/

Land Rover’s First Hybrid Coming In 2013, Plug-In Hybrid One Year Later

Land Rover’s ongoing pledge to become more environmentally friendly is starting to result in some interesting developments, with the automaker’s brand director recently confirming the launch of the first Land Rover hybrid in 2013.

Speaking with Inside Line, Land Rover’s John Edwards said the hybrid model would launch in 2013 followed by a plug-in hybrid version in 2014. Both models would be based on the next-generation Range Rover luxury SUV, due in gasoline and diesel variants next year, as part of the automaker’s “top-down” strategy for hybrid vehicles.

You may recall Edwards first hinted at this top-down strategy back in December where he said Land Rover’s larger SUVs would be the first recipients of its hybrid technology as this was where the greatest consumption gains were to be made.

Edwards also explained during his latest interview that Land Rover’s first hybrid would use a gasoline engine, most likely a V-6, as this would be cheaper to produce than a diesel-electric hybrid and would appeal more to buyers in the U.S.--the vehicle’s primary targets.

As for the technology itself, Land Rover is expected to utilize an electric motor and internal combustion engine connected in parallel on a single driveshaft, similar to what we saw on the most recent Range_e hybrid prototype vehicle.

The plug-in hybrid version, due in 2014, will most likely feature a more powerful electric motor and batteries that would be able to carry the big SUV for short distances on electric power alone, possibly up to 40 miles. Owners could then charge up the batteries using a regular household power outlet or the internal combustion engine could fire up, acting as a generator and charging the batteries whilst also driving the vehicle.  

Sadly, the top-down strategy also means there are no immediate plans for a hybrid version of the stylish new Range Rover Evoque.


Read More: http://www.greencarreports.com/blog/1058155_land-rovers-first-hybrid-coming-in-2013-plug-in-hybrid-one-year-later

2012 Range Rover Evoque to Offer Plenty of Customization Options

If the 2012 Range Rover Evoque you order later this year arrives feeling like a stripped-down econo-ute, you didn’t check enough boxes. At the 2011 Geneva Auto Show, Land Rover announced a comprehensive customization and option program that allows customers to tailor their three- or five-door Evoque to suit a wide variety of tastes (and budgets), from clean simplicity to Range Rover–esque opulence. The Evoque will be available in 12 exterior colors and with three contrasting roof treatments, as well as with five wheel designs ranging from 18 to 20 inches in diameter. A dozen interior colors also are available, along with different wood and metal trim pieces. Kick plates are available in aluminum and chrome, while roof rails can be rendered in black or chrome.

If that’s too much decision-making for a person to bear, fear not: the combinations will be aligned along three themes: “Pure” (think base model), “Prestige” (dressier exterior, glitzy 19-inch wheels, two-tone interior coated in leather and wood), and “Dynamic” (sportier exterior with unique fascias and wheels, available contrasting roof treatment, intensified interior in darker colors). Beyond that, Land Rover has come up with its own “designers choice” themes, which it “with carefully coordinated color and material combinations that have their own distinctive character,” according to Gerry McGovern, Land Rover Design Director.

A final bit of fine-tuning can be done once customers take delivery of their Evoque: LED-based ambient lighting is provided in a range of colors that can be selected by the occupants, although if the sportiest mode of the adjustable Terrain Response chassis-adjustment system is selected, the interior is bathed in red. Cool.

Read More: http://blog.caranddriver.com/range-rover-evoque-to-offer-plenty-of-customization-options/

AUTO SHOWS: First Look: 2011 Jaguar XKR-S

Three years after Jaguar launched a performance-tuned XKR-S model at the Geneva Motor Show, the automaker revealed it will be bringing an all-new, more powerful XKR-S to this year's Geneva extravaganza. Deja vu? Perhaps, but the latest XKR-S promises to be a much more intimidating cat than the last.

If nothing else, the new XKR-S certainly looks the part. Designers have added a number of bespoke touches from head to toe, including an aggressive front fascia with a large lower air intake, sweeping air scoops on the front corners, and small, slender air ducts just beneath the hood's lower edge. XKR-S models eschew the XK's vertical fender vent in favor of a horizontal port. Flared side sills are much smoother than those used on both the XKR Speed Pack and the previous XKR-S. A flared rear valence, similar to that used on the Speed Pack, provides room for four exhaust tips, while a wild wing spoiler rests atop the decklid.

Unlike the previous XKR-S, however, the new model receives some additional go along with all this show. The supercharged, direct-injection 5.0-liter V-8 is boosted to roughly 542 horsepower and 501 pound-feet of torque, a gain of 32 horsepower and 40 pound-feet of torque. Jaguar says the power allows the new XKR-S to sprint from 0-60 in a blistering 4.2 seconds, run from 0-100 mph in 8.6 seconds, and hit a top speed of 186 mph. That's plenty quick, but the automaker says the XKR-S is the "fastest Jaguar ever" -- perhaps, unless you consider the XJ220...

Jaguar is keeping a number of the other XKR-S details under wraps until the car's official unveiling next week, but does note the car will receive unique suspension modifications at both ends, and a recalibrated stability system, which potentially allows drivers to push the envelope a little further.

Read More: http://www.automobilemag.com/auto_shows/geneva/2011/1102_2011_jaguar_xkr_s/index.html

FEATURES: Jaguar Is Thinking Big

Jaguar scaled back its big-volume ambitions after the Premiere Auto Group years, but now, under Tata, is scaling them back up again. Together with Land Rover, Jaguar's unofficial long- term plan is to build 750,000 vehicles by 2018. This is a dramatic threefold increase in production. New executives John Edwards at Land Rover and Adrian Hallmark at Jaguar have, together with Carl-Peter Forster and Ralph Speth, agreed to jointly conceive more efficient, universally applicable drivetrains, vehicle architectures, and production processes.

For Land Rover that means evaluating a common components matrix for the next Freelander/LR2, the Discovery/LR4 replacement -- and the future Defender. Jaguar is meanwhile working on the facelifted XF complete with an interesting wagon variant to appear later this year, on a more affordable two-seater sports car (in 2013), on a family of all-new entry-level models aimed at the Audi A4/BMW 3-series/Mercedes-Benz C-class (also in 2013), and on the next-generation XF (in 2014) and XK (also 2014).

Comments the recently appointed (ex-VW) senior brand manager Adrian Hallmark: "We won't have a 1-series-size car in the next five to ten years, but we are working on some compelling alternative body styles that are quite anti-German luxury car establishment. I don't think for instance that Jaguar should rely on the traditional sedan, wagon, coupe, and convertible mix in every segment we compete in. Not when there are alternatives like a four- or five-door coupe, a shooting brake [sports hatch/wagon], or a crossover. I also don't think that we can compromise on engines. What effect would a four-cylinder unit designed and made in India have on the brand image? At the upper end of the spectrum, it would be relatively easy to create a lightweight XKR R-type spyder, a high-performance diesel, or a more accessible variation of the C-X75 concept."

One new model in the pipeline is a striking XJ coupe on a shortened wheelbase. The pillarless four-seater features a glass roof and its own sheet metal, sources say. Hallmark describes it as "much more dynamic and emotional than a Mercedes CL."

Word is that Jaguar is seriously contemplating a four-door shooting brake based either on the entry-level model or the next XF. Although this model would boost XF sales by only 15 percent overall due to its strong focus on the European market, the cost basis is said to be attractive enough to turn a profit.

Read More: http://www.automobilemag.com/features/news/1101_future_jaguar_lineup/index.html

Jaguar Dealers

A Third Year Running A Jaguar Is An "All-Star"

The Jaguar XJ has been picked from 271 eligible cars to win Automobile magazine’s All-Star Award for 2011. The award was presented at the North American International Motor Show in Detroit and means the XJ has now won more than 20 international accolades since its launch in 2010.

According to Automobile magazine: “The toughest part about this class is that it’s very hard for any one car to stand out, and yet the XJ manages to do just that, in both its design and its dynamics. Both for the aesthete and the enthusiast, the all-new Jaguar XJ is an All-Star.”

It’s the third consecutive year a Jaguar has been named an All-Star – the XF won the honor in both 2009 and 2010.

Jaguar Illinois

2011 Jaguar XF Gives Up on Glove-Box Touch Control, Gets Other Minor Changes

We noted a couple of quiet updates made to a 2011 Jaguar XF Supercharged that recently graced the C/D lot. Two buttons caught our eye—specifically the one that operates the newly available heated windshield (thanks, Land Rover!) and another that opens the glove-compartment door.

A read of the 2011 XF press release reveals this line: “JaguarSense® glove box opening sensor replaced by a pushbutton for more convenient operation.” Interestingly, the same change does not appear to have been made to U.K.-market XFs. And the all-new XJ also includes the JaguarSense button-y thing.

Our 2009 XF long-termer’s touch-sensitive bull’s-eye worked consistently for only a handful of operators, and many of us wondered what would happen if the battery died, trapping the owner’s manual inside. That first complaint has been addressed in a switch to a more traditional momentary switch. But pressing it—tactile feedback and all—still activates a solenoid that actually does the job of releasing the door, so tough luck when the battery’s flat.

Other changes for the 2011 XF: the base model gets the naturally aspirated 5.0-liter V-8 that was previously only the province of the XF Premium model; XF Supercharged and XFR models continue with the supercharged 5.0-liter in two states of tune. This means the 4.2-liter V-8 that the car was originally introduced with is now entirely gone from the lineup. The newfound 5.0-liter in the base car is accompanied by a commensurate increase in front brake-disc size, matching the Premium’s. Also, the 2011 XFR gets a black grille, which looks pretty good.

Oh, and the wave-to-operate overhead lights? They’re still there, as are the pop-up shift knob and rotating HVAC vents. Sometimes the opposite of progress is slow, too.

Read More: http://blog.caranddriver.com/2011-jaguar-xf-gives-up-on-glove-box-touch-control-gets-other-minor-changes/

Land Rover Dealers