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