Jaguar is preparing to expand its "R" performance lineup with the addition of a new XJR high-performance sedan that made its global debut at the 2013 New York International Automobile Show. The new XJR will go on sale later this summer.
When compared to the standard XJ, the new R version adds a more aggressive exterior look, with a new new front bumper, aerodynamic side skirts and a trunk-mounted spoiler. For the interior Jaguar will add numerous R elements, like sports seats, R badges and specially designed jet leather.
Other updates include an updated suspension, an electronic rear differential and a recalibrated Dynamic Stability Control system. All these updates were required in order to provide the best driving dynamics on both road and track-focused driving.
Updated 03/26/2013: This review has been updated with the official details, images and specs.
Hit the jump to learn more about the 2014 Jaguar XJR.
Okay folks, we are finally to the eve of the 2013 New York International Auto Show — one of the biggest shows of the year. The red carpets are rolled out and the red velvet veils have been draped over their respective models. It’s time to get a brief preview of what debuts you can expect to see at the show.
Unfortunately, this year is not going to yield quite as many debuts as we’re used to. Rather, it will feature a select number of all-new models mixed in with a slew of previously released models. Also lacking from this year’s NYIAS are sports and muscle cars, as by our count, there are only a few being debuted over the next week.
Despite the lack of models and the severe lack of high-performance models, this still looks to be an eventful show with the headliners likely being the all-new Range Rover Sport, the Jaguar XJR, the 2014 Camaro SS and the SRT Viper TA.
Also worth a look are the 2013 Shelby 1000 S/C and the all-new 2014 Scion tC.
Click past the jump to read our preview of the models that are making their debut at the 2013 New York International Auto Show
As everyone expected, one of the five models to be displayed by General Motors at the 2013 New York Auto Show will be a redesigned version of the Buick LaCrosse sedan. The 2014 model year receives new interior and exterior design cues, advanced safety technologies, enhanced in-vehicle connectivity and a new Ultra Luxury interior package.
Updated on the exterior include new, wing-shape LED daytime running lamps and LED wraparound taillights. On the inside, the sedan gets new seats, enhanced materials, and a redesigned central instrument panel and console. The new Ultra Luxury package adds semi-aniline leather seats and Shadow Tamo Ash wood decor.
For the 2014 model year, the LaCrosse receives new safety systems, like Side Blind Zone Alert, Lane Change Alert, Lane Departure Warning, Forward Collision Alert, Rear Cross Traffic Alert and Automatic Collision Preparation.
The 2014 Buick LaCrosse will be put on sale later this year. Prices will be announced at a later date.
Hit the jump to read more about the 2014 Buick LaCrosse.
Last year at the New York Auto Show, Shelby American unveiled the 1000 as a celebration of the company’s 50th anniversary. The model got sold like hot cakes, so this year at the 2013 New York Auto Show, we are going to see an improved version of the model named 1000 S/C, which is essentially a GT500 with a double shot of car `roids.
Unlike the initial version, the new S/C delivers a total of 1,200 horsepower – a 250-horsepower increase over the previous 950 horsepower. This output is even more impressive when compared to the standard 662 horsepower level delivered by the 2013 Ford Shelby GT500 - the model it is based on.
So how did Shelby almost double this output? You’ll have to come back next week if you want to find an answer to this question. We do know that Shelby yanked out the 5.8-liter V-8, stripped it to just a bare block and installed strengthened internals.
Along with the output increase, the new 1000 S/C also received an adjustable suspension, a performance cooling package, big brakes and, of course, a new set of wheels to roll on.
As usual, exclusivity comes with a huge price. The price for the upgrade goes up to an amazing $154,995, not including the base GT500 - which is priced at $54,650. There will be only 100 units built so you better hurry up!
We’ll bring you full details once Shelby release them.
Click past the jump to read Shelby’s press release
Chrysler, in cooperation with Hamilton Carhartt have developed a special edition 200 S and will display it next week at the 2013 New York Auto Show. The new 200 S Special Edition will be priced at $28,870 and will be put into production in the second quarter of 2013.
This special edition was based on the Chrysler 200 "S" package and will add "an incredible amount of standard features." On the exterior the model combines numerous gloss black with chrome insertions and 18-inch aluminum wheels. There are also numerous "S" and black "200" badges that will help you to further identify this special edition.
The interior has been designed in collaboration with Carhartt and continues the same black and gray design theme. As standard equipment the model is offering a leather-wrapped steering wheel and a Boston Acoustic premium sound system.
Hit the jump to read full details on the new Chrysler 200 S Special Edition.
The Ford FF1 isn’t exactly the kind of car you’d expect from the Blue Oval, but the three-cylinder, EcoBoost-powered single-seat racer sure is quite a ride, isn’t it?
Set to make its public debut at the 20th Goodwood Festival of Speed this coming July, the FF1 is the evolution of the Formula Ford Racer that was unveiled a few years ago at the Frankfurt Motor Show. That model was built to meet the FIA’s safety standards, complete with a tubular steel frame for the body, front and rear carbon crash structures, side-intrusion panels, wheel tethers, a removable seat and an FIA-approved head-restraint system.
More importantly, the FF1 proved to be quite the formidable Nürburgring slayer, completing a lap in just 7:22, the 11th fastest recorded time on the ’Ring’s time sheet, besting the likes of the Ferrari Enzo, Pagani Zonda, and yes, even the Lamborghini Aventador.
All that was possible, thanks to the car’s 1.0-liter EcoBoost engine that delivers 205 horsepower and mates to a six-speed manual transmission. This compact powerplant is capable of sprinting the FF1 to 60 mph in less than four seconds with a top speed of 158 mph. Equally important is its ability to cover 100 miles per gallon without any modifications.
So what’s the Ford FF1 going to do at the 2013 Festival of Speed? It’s going to be on display and, on top of that, it’s going to tackle the famous Goodwood hill climb.
Nothing will impress people faster than a lightweight little rocket beating supercars twice its size and three times more powerful. That’s the Ford FF1, folks.
Image Note: The above image is of the Formula Ford Racer, not the FF1. We will reveal the FF1 once Ford releases the images
The fourth-generation Honda Odyssey was unveiled back in 2011 and for the 2014 model year, the minivan is ready for its first update. The revised Odyssey will make its world debut at the 2013 New York International Auto Show, and, according to Honda, it "further strengthens the Honda minivan’s position as the segment’s most coveted family-friendly vehicle, and adds to its status as the strongest overall ownership value in its class."
No other details have been revealed, but we expect some minor updates to both the exterior and the interior, while under the hood the car will most likely retain the usual 3.5-liter V-6 engine with three-mode variable cylinder management.
Next to the new Odyssey, Honda will also display its complete lineup of fuel efficient, innovative and fun-to-drive cars and trucks, including the 2014 Accord Plug-In Hybrid and 2013 Fit EV.
The Porsche 911 started its run back in 1963 - and oh what a run it is -, but it wasn’t until 1999 that a GT3 version was offered up for our ravenous consumption. It came to complete the series of performance vehicles that started back in 1973 with the 911 RS, a model that was capable of sprinting from 0 to 60 mph in 5.5 seconds and to 100 mph in 13 seconds.
Why the short history lesson? Well, the new generation GT3 has just made its world debut at the 2013 Geneva Motor Show and would be nice to make a comparison between the things that were and the things to come.
The new GT3 is lighter and more powerful than the model it replaces, and it brings innovative features like the first active rear wheel steering in a production Porsche. There is a bad news too unfortunately: the new GT3 will only be offered with a PDK transmission - at least for now!
UPDATE 03/18/2013: Porsche has unveiled a new video presenting the interior of the new 911 GT3 sports car. Enjoy!
Hit the jump to read more about the next generation Porsche GT3.
Well, that was a lot of fun, but extremely overwhelming. Of course, we’re talking about the 2013 Geneva Motor Show and the massive number of cars that is contained. We saw sports cars, supercars, hypercars, concepts and so so much more over the course of just a few days. Sure, the show is technically still going on, but we have seen everything it has to offer.
As we do with every auto show, we are going to pick apart the cars that were unveiled and let you know what we think was the best and worst of the show. Additionally, we are going to let you know what we were hoping to see at the show but did not. At the same time, you can let us know in the comments what you though stole the show and what stunk up the joint in the “comments” section.
Click past the jump to read our wrap up of the Geneva motor Show
