Jaguar cars

Jaguar Officially Cans C-X75 Supercar

You could say that the writing was on the wall longer than most of us were willing to accept it.

After all, it was an ambitious project to begin with, one that would undoubtedly cost Jaguar a ton of money. Sure, we were teased that the C-X75 supercar could end up being a production car, but in the end, that was all it was: a tease. Just as late as yesterday, reports were pointing toward the C-X75 heading into the next testing phase, but it apparently got the axe before it could hit that phase.

That much was made clear by Jaguar’s global brand director Adrian Hallmark after confirming to Autocar UK what a lot of us assumed would happen: production of the C-X75 has been scrapped. Jaguar made the decision to stop production in large part because of the current economic crisis gripping the world today. With the unpredictability of the economy, it didn’t seem like the smartest of business move to push forward with a million-dollar supercar given the unpredictability of the economy.

"We feel we could make the car work, but looking at the global austerity measures in place now, it seems the wrong time to launch an £800,000 to £1 million supercar," Hallmark told Autocar.

It’s a disappointing but, ultimately, understandable decision. It’s a decision that Jaguar had to make to protect its bottom line. We can’t fault them for that. In the meantime, the five existing prototypes of the C-X75 will not go to waste. Three are expected to hit auction blocks soon while one will be sent to a future Jaguar museum. As for the last model, Jaguar’s keeping that for testing and (possibly) further development of the supercar.

Hallmark also said that the technologies developed into designing the C-X75 will be used by the company in developing future models, including the supercar’s hybrid technology, which the company said could eventually find its way on a three-cylinder engine in order to give it the power equivalent to a six-cylinder engine.

It’s a sad day for everybody looking forward to the C-X75. But you can’t fight an unpredictable global economy and Jaguar is doing the right thing axing production of the supercar. Let’s just hope that they don’t lock up the C-X75 for good and throw away the key.

Phew, talk about a quick change of direction…

Do-or-Die Time as the Jaguar C-X75 Enters the Next Testing Phase

The development of the Bugatti killer from Britain has entered a critical stage that decides whether Jaguar’s newly developed hybrid system and the C-X75 project as a whole deserves the green light or no.

For the past three months, Jaguar has been testing the hybrid system on a test bed and is now confident enough to install it on a rolling chassis to create a working prototype. Now the anticipation meter is back to its highest point after months of silence.

When it was first revealed at the 2010 Paris Motor Show, the Jaguar C-X75 featured two turbines that looked like rockets attached. Since Jaguar was gunning for the top-spot in performance, the rockets did make sense. But, they weren’t there to launch the car down the road like a Wile E. Coyote contraption; they were actually a pair of gas turbines to power the car once charge for the four wheel-mounted electric motors had expired.

What looked promising when Jaguar bragged about was later scrapped when the Leaping Jag announced the production of the hypercar in 2011.

The gas turbine system was replaced with a hybrid system that combined a 1.6-liter boosted engine that produced more than 500 horsepower and four insanely powerful electric motors powered by a highly sophisticated liquid- and air-cooled battery pack.

So far, the tests conducted on the hybrid system have been a success in the test bed but the real nail-biting situation will arise when Jag installs the system into a chassis to make a functional prototype.

If Jaguar succeeds this phase, then hypercar fans, start clearing your bedroom posters for space...

Video: Drive Visits Jaguar’s Top-Secret Test Facility at Nürburgring

Drive has shot yet another amazing video. A few months ago, Drive got the chance to shoot inside the Pagani factory, and the fellas are ready to try and trump that video with their latest visit. This lastest trip takes the boys the famous Nürburgring race track, which really isn’t a huge deal. What is a huge deal is that they got to spend time at the Jaguar test center.

Jaguar’s test center is hidden on a side road just outside the northern loop of the Nürburgring, more precisely in the Industrial Park — AKA the “Area 51 of cars.” The guys over Drive got a tour of the test facility with Phil Talboys, head of European Test Operations for Jaguar, and took a lap around the Nordshliefe with Sascha Bert, the Jaguar test driver who set the XKR-S lap record.

All we can say is sit back and enjoy! You’re sure to be amazed by the hell that Jag puts its cars through when testing. Then again, with some of the issues the once-great Jaguar has had in recent years, it doesn’t surprise us that the test cars get thrashed to their breaking point.

Top 5 Launches at the Los Angeles Auto Show

This year’s edition of the Los Angeles Auto Show has witnessed some exciting and electrifying launches by most established brands.

Being one of the most important markets for the automobile industry, most car manufacturers see it fitting to debut their new models, variants and lineups in L.A. Every auto show has its stunners and duds, and some automakers just pull out ridiculous stuff to make us giggle – whether that giggle is intended or not is up for debate.

Sadly, the L.A. Auto Show’s biggest event is already over – the press days on the 28th and 29th of November – so we have pretty much seen everything that there was to see. The show does continue through December 6th, but those are general public days where the people that may actually buy these rigs can come and get a better look at them.

The L.A. Auto Show does, essentially, close the book on the 2012 auto show season, as just a few minor shows remain, but don’t fret; the North American International Auto Show (NAIAS) and its headliner – the C7 Corvette – are just around the corner.

To help ease the transition between the ending of the 2012 L.A. Auto Show and the beginning of the NAIAS, we bring you the top-5 cars launched at the soon-to-close L.A. Auto Show.

2013 Jaguar F-Type Firesand

The all-new Jaguar F-Type made its North American debut today at the 2012 Los Angeles Auto Show. Alongside this much-anticipated model, Jaguar also unveiled the "Firesand" version. This version is based on a standard F-Type V-6 S model and demonstrates the range of personalization options that are available for customers.

As it name suggests, this version features Firesand paintwork — available as a special order paint — and comes equipped with the two optional packages: “Design” and both exterior and interior “Black” packs. This “Black” pack adds a more aggressive look to the F-Type, thanks to a gloss-black paint applied to the grille and its surround, and the side power vent surround and mesh.

The V-6 S version is powered by a supercharged V-6 engine that delivers a total of 380 horsepower and 339 pound-feet of torque at 3,500 to 5,500 rpm. It can sprint from 0 to 60 mph in just 4.8 seconds and goes up to a top speed of 171 mph.

Jaguar Drops XFR-S Teaser No. 2

Jaguar is preparing for a busy time in Los Angeles this week with a number of debuts. One debut, in particular, is getting significant attention because of the way the British automaker has been harking its debut.

Less than a week after dropping the first teaser image of the XFR-S, Jaguar is back with teaser No. 2, showing off the sports sedan’s enormous rear spoiler. Take a closer look at it and you might think that you’ve seen that rear spoiler before. Yup, it certainly looks like the same kind of spoiler that the XKR-S Coupe has on it.

More details will be revealed about the new XFR-S when it takes center stage at the L.A. Auto Show. For now, however, digest the growing notion that the rear spoiler won’t be the only thing similar between the XFR-S and the XKR-S. The word is that the former will also carry a 5.0-liter supercharged V-8 engine that delivers a total of 550 horsepower.

Should that prove to be accurate, we expect nothing but good things from this sports sedan.

Top 5 Most Beautiful Cars Launched in 2012

One of the key selling points to any car’s success is its design. Even if the brand of a car is unknown, with the help of a good design, it can grab positive attention from the most discerning of critics. This focus on beauty is the main reason so many brands invest millions of dollars in design studios.

One of the most important steps toward the success of any project is to get the design right. It should not be pretentious but also should not be too bland. Nowadays, automobile designing is one of the toughest jobs in the industry. People who can draw and have passion for automobiles simply cannot call themselves a designer. It takes a certain skillset and experience to make a mark. The toughest part in designing a vehicle is balancing key elements such as aerodynamics with modern design that pays homage to the brand’s original design language. Take for instance the Jaguar F-Type. It’s a car that, Chief designer Ian Callum says, ushers in a whole new design language for the Leaping Jag while still keeping certain elements of the legendary E-Type alive. Customers of today’s world not only want a head-turning design but also a design that is recognizable.

This year, we have witnessed quite a few cars that have amazed the public through soulful beauty without compromising on aerodynamics and brand image. Here is a list of five cars that we think are the most beautiful cars, launched this year.

2013 Jaguar F-Type Black Pack Edition

We all know that Jaguar will be unveiling the new XFR-S sports sedan next week at the 2012 Los Angeles Auto Show next to the new F-Type roadster. But, the company now announced that a special "Black Pack" F-Type will also be on display on its stand.

As its name suggests, the new Black pack will add lots of black elements. A distinctive gloss black finish will be added to the alloy wheels, the grille and window surrounds and it will be combined with a limited list of body color options. And, for an even more aggressive look the package will add smoked lights and blacked-out mirrors. The same black treatment will continue on the interior.

The new Black Pack will go on sale in the same time with the F-Type - mid-spring 2013 - and will add an extra $1,600 to the car’s total price. It will be offered for both V6 and V8 engine configurations.

2013 Jaguar XKR-S Nicko McBrain Edition

Just like what Ferrari did for golfer Ian Poulter and musician Eric Clapton, automakers have been known to acquiesce to certain customers who want to build their own one-off customized vehicles.

British automaker Jaguar recently took that step when it built a special edition XKR-S exclusively for Iron Maiden drummer Nicko McBrain. On top of being a sick drummer for one of the world’s most famous heavy metal bands, McBrain is also a noted car enthusiast.

So it wasn’t all that surprising that McBrain decided to have Jaguar commission him with a special edition XKR-S shortly after taking the sports car out for a ride out on a race track. The man knows how to decide quickly, doesn’t he?

At his behest, Jaguar jumped at the opportunity, dressing up McBrain’s XKR-S with an Ultra-Blue exterior paint job to go with a red and black interior that comes complete with Iron Maiden references. The door sills, in particular, were engraved with a "Nicko McBrain" XKR-S" inscription using Iron Maiden’s iconic font style. The same font was also used on the carbon fiber hood louvers where the word "Supercharged" was engraved to.

There doesn’t appear to be any performance modifications on the XKR-S, but McBrain doesn’t appear to mind considering that the Jaguar sports car already comes with a 5.0-liter V8 engine that produces 500 horsepower and 501 lb/ft of torque.

Jaguar XFR-S Teased

Jaguar has just announced its lineup for the upcoming 2012 Los Angeles Auto Show, and we have to admit, we like what we see. First, the new F-Type roadster will be making its U.S. debut, which is enough to get us amped up. Now we are learning that an important piece to Jag’s future lineup, the ultra-high-performance Jaguar XFR-S, will be making its world debut in L.A. too.

The XFR-S is the second R-S model in Jaguar’s lineup, following the XKR-S that Jag unveiled at the 2011 Geneva Motor Show. No official details have been offered just yet, but it is believed the XFR-S will be powered by the same engine that fuels the XKR-S: a 5.0-liter supercharged V-8 engine that delivers a total of 550 horsepower.

Jaguar is quoted saying: "Making its global debut at the show will be the XFR-S model, the fastest and most powerful saloon Jaguar has ever produced. This is the second model in the ultra-high performance R-S range and builds on the already acclaimed XFR."

That sounds like a pretty awesome Jag to us, so stay tuned for more info. The L.A. Auto Show is just around the corner!