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World’s biggest James Bond auto collection scheduled for 2012 exhibit
 
James Bond may be a fictional character to all of us, but the dashing debonair / awesome secret agent is still an inspiration to all of us. Who wouldn’t want to be in his shoes? He’s got a killer job, he scores the hottest women, and best of all - at least in our case - he drives the fanciest cars. That last part is such an integral part of the Bond legend that an exhibition is actually being planned to showcase the largest collection of James Bond vehicle to ever be displayed. The whole event is being prepared through the collaborative efforts of the UK’s National Motor Museum, Beaulieu and EON Productions, which is doing the groundwork for the event in preparation for the 50th anniversary of Ian Fleming’s Bond franchise. Around 50 cars are expected to be included in the exhibit highlighted by the 2008 Aston Martin DBS from Quantum of Solace, the 2002 Jaguar XKR with SFX weapons from Die Another Day, the 1964 Aston Martin DB5 from Goldeneye, and the 1937 Phantom lll Rolls-Royce from Goldfinger. The exhibit will be held at the National Motor Museum in Beaulieu, United Kingdom and will run the entire length of the 2012 calendar year. “Following the success of the first Bond cars exhibition staged at Beaulieu in 2001, we are delighted to be working with EON again on this new display, bringing together the world’s largest collection of Bond vehicles, Beaulieu’s Commercial Director, Stephen Munn said. The exhibit won’t open for another few months, but it’s safe to say that we’ll be dropping by to check it out if we find ourselves in the area next year. Spy Shots: 2014 Jaguar XFR-S Plays with its XKR-S brethren
Our spy photographers were hanging around Jaguar’s test center near the Nurburgring when in the midst of all the XFR models driving around, they came across the vehicle seen in these spy shots. This may look like a standard XFR, but upon closer inspection, we think this is actually a test mule for the XFR-S model previously confirmed by Jaguar’s Global Brand Director, Adrian Hallmark. This test mule may be missing some special body parts to distinguish it as the XFR-S, but its track looks a bit wider and it is already sporting the wheels found on the XKR-S. Our proof, however, is in the pudding and that’s the sound escaping from the exhaust. The test mule is currently being tested with the XKR-S Convertible prototype and the sounds the car is emitting are nowhere near the standard XFR’s at the same test center. The throttle response on this test mule is also very quick when the driver floors it, which can only be explained by the presence of the future XFR-S model’s 550 HP engine borrowed from the XKR-S. Jaguar is getting ready to play in the family sports car segment and we’d love to be there when the Audi RS6, BMW M5, and Mercedes E63 AMG experience the competition firsthand. Spy Shots: 2013 Jaguar XKR-S Convertible
Well, here it is folks! The convertible version of the hotheaded Jaguar XKR-S has finally been caught testing at the Nurburgring showing off its black soft top roof and snarling V8. We expected to see this version of the monster Jaguar at the Geneva Motor Show next year, considering Jaguar has made a grand appearance at every Geneva Motor Show for the past few years, but the barely there camouflage hints at an earlier debut. Maybe we are looking at a Los Angeles Auto Show superstar? The new Jaguar XKR-S Convertible will share the same wide wheel arches, front and rear carbon spoilers, and extra front air scoops as the coupe model. It will also get the same tuned Performance Active Exhaust to go along with the AJ-V8 all-aluminum engine with twin-vortex Roots-type supercharger. This engine will be able to push out 550 HP and 501 lb/ft of torque and deliver performance times similar to the 0-60 mph time of 4.2 seconds and the 186 mph top speed of the coupe model. Jaguar wants in on the hybrid supercar arms race
Like a leaping cat joining in on the fun of hunting prey, the auto industry’s resident feline is getting ready to jump on the hybrid supercar market, and it’s got BMW in its sights. Jaguar is preparing to challenge the standing big boy of the market, BMW AG, with a hybrid supercar and the BMW 3-Series with an entry level sedan. Ever since Tata took control of both Jaguar and Land Rover, the former has become aggressive in reinventing their company to become a little less stiff and a little more cutting edge. "The company now revolves around the JLR unit and not the other way around," said Ashvin Chotai, Managing Director for Intelligence Automotive Asia. "The next challenge for both the brands is to keep the product pipeline going and exploring new product segments." Tata Motors plans to invest 1.5 billion pounds, or $2.5 billion at the current rates, annually in the development of over 40 new vehicles or upgrades at Jaguar and LandRover over the next five years. From the looks of things, one of Tata Motors’ first orders of business is building a hybrid supercar for Jaguar that will roar into the industry, claws out and ready to pounce on the competition. Report: Jaguar Showing Sports Car Concept In Frankfurt
 The 2011 Frankfurt Auto Show is still over a month away, but automakers are beginning to feed information to the press to draw in visitors. One such semi-confirmed rumor is this: Jaguar is expected to show a new sports car concept in Frankfurt, and that car is said to form the highlight of Jaguar’s exhibit at the show. While Jaguar steadfastly refused to either confirm or deny rumors, it’s likely that the new car will be a smaller, less expensive alternative to the current Jaguar XK. To grow sales, Jaguar has long wanted a car that could compete with the likes of the Porsche Boxster or the Infiniti G37 Convertible. If British auto magazine Autocar is correct, the car that Jaguar is showing at Frankfurt has been in development for quite some time, and “will blow the rest of the industry away” when it is revealed. Rumored to be called the Jaguar XE, the car will likely use a V-6 engine with twin sequential turbochargers. Horsepower or performance numbers are anyone’s guess, but to make a big enough wave in the industry, the XE would need to cost less than the Porsche Boxster while providing noticeably better acceleration, braking and handling. That’s a tall order, especially when you’re comparing a front-engine, rear drive car to a mid-engine, rear drive car that’s known to be among the world’s best-handling. Jaguar’s own official statement on the matter is typically British, with a company spokesman saying simply, “Jaguar has bold plans for the future, the next stage of which will be revealed at the Frankfurt show. We are likely to have a concept car to announce there.” In other words, look for the revolutionary new Jaguar XE to debut in concept form at next month’s Frankfurt Auto Show. 2011 Jaguar XKR-S
It wasn’t that long ago when, in the middle of their brand reinvention, Jaguar released the refreshed XKR sports car at the 2010 Geneva Motor Show. A year after the new XKR made its debut to the public, Jaguar is headed back to Geneva with another XKR model. Only this time, it’s the hot-as-a-scorching-summer’s-day XKR-S. The new XKR-S features exclusive new paint colors that reflect Jaguar’s racing heritage. As with competition Jaguar cars of the past, the exterior of the XKR-S adheres to the principle of form following function. Adrian Hallmark, Jaguar’s new Global Brand Director, describes the car as a "bold and exciting new model for Jaguar". He adds: "The styling of this car isn’t about image, it’s about true performance. Like other iconic Jaguar cars before it, the styling has been driven by geometry and aerodynamics for genuine design purity." UPDATE 08/01/2011: What’s better than one Jaguar XKR-S driving around Nurburgring? Why, 12 XKR-S models, of course! Hit the jump to check out what it looks and sounds like when 12 Jaguar XKR-S models whip around the Nurburgring in a variety of colors and revving their AJ-V8 all-aluminum engines. UPDATE 10/04/2011 : Check out the gallery for new images of the Jaguar XKR-S! Details on the Jaguar XKR-S after the jump. Full story 2012 Jaguar C-XE
Jaguar’s long rumored XE model is finally making its way towards production as confirmed with the newest spy shots of the small roadster. First thought to be dropped due to struggling sales, the XE project has been seen spot testing with almost zero camouflage, and we like what we see. The retractable hard top that was first thought to featured on the XE is obviously vacant, and a soft top can be found in its place. This, as well as the rest of the design language, falls in line with all of the latest Jaguar models. The Roadster will be built on the same platform as the XK, so we wouldn’t be surprised to see the same package from the XKR-S in the upcoming model. As for the engine lineup, the XE will feature a range of V6 engines, and a V8 for the top R version. Expect the new XE model to be launched sometime next year as a direct competitor for models like the Porsche 911. UPDATE 09/19/2011: The production version of the Jaguar C-X16 concept has been caught testing in the European Alps. The production version, rumored to be called XE will be offered in both roadster and coupe versions, with the coupe also getting a GT3 version. UPDATE 10/24/2011 : Jaguar has recently filled a patent at the U.S. Patent Office for the "C-XE" moniker which is leading people to believe that the next sports car will use that name instead. It is also believed that the roadster version will be called the R-XE. The only problem is that the "R" letter in the Jaguar world usually refers to a high performance sports car. Rendering: 2015 Jaguar SUV
The automotive world has long since embraced the usefulness of the SUV, but recent upward trends in the price of gasoline have made some people think twice about the bigger mode of transportation. Just last year, Land Rover came out with the Evoque crossover that still hones in on the benefits of an SUV, but in a slightly smaller package to give customer’s wallets a break. Now the more luxurious Tata offspring - Jaguar - is preparing a crossover of their own and this first rendering illustrates the sleek exterior design that will find its way to the market in 2015. Rumors are suggesting that the future Jaguar SUV will be built on the same platform as the recently launched Range Rover Evoque. It will be an all-wheel-drive model powered by the 240 HP 2.0-liter turbocharged 4-cylinder currently residing in the Evoque. The four-cylinder engine will ensure a low fuel consumption and, in the turbocharged version, will deliver enough power to offer great performance numbers. Diesel options may also be available and may include a 2.2-liter four-cylinder producing 187 HP. These engines will be mated to an eight-speed automatic transmission. Jaguar XJ X350 Black Bison Edition by Wald International
Japanese tuner, Wald International, is making a habit of slapping on their Black Bison packages to a number of vehicles, including the Lexus LX570, BMW 5-Series F10, and Bentley Continental Flying Spur, among others. Their next vehicle of choice is the previous generation Jaguar XJ (X350) and includes updates made to both the exterior and the interior. Despite the "Black Bison" designation, the car is painted in a very cool blue. The exterior modifications are mostly the same old story associated with the Black Bison package. The Jaguar sees a number of new spoilers, including a new front bumper spoiler, roof spoiler, rear bumper spoiler, and boot lid spoiler. Side skirts, fender panels, and mirror covers with LED indicators are also added to the mix. The final touch can be found in the new set of 21" Renovatio R12 wheels, wrapped in 255/30R21 tires at the front and 295/25R21 tires at the rear. As with Wald International’s previously tuned models, the Jaguar XJ X350 gets a new DTM TW240 sports muffler to fine tune its sporty sound. The interior receives the usual leather seats, aluminum insertions, and the obligatory Wald International logo. The Black Bison package by Wald International is a rather cool tuning package, but we think they may be overdoing it just a bit. Let’s hope that next time they mix things up with a Red Bison or a Green Bison or something. Tata considering joint engine development with Jaguar Land Rover
It’s been about three years since Tata bought Jaguar and Land Roverfrom one of America’s big top three - Ford - and now the company is thinking of taking the last few necessary steps to completely cut ties with the former owner. A new Tata annual report has been released stating that the company is considering a joint engine-development program with its Jaguar Land Rover unit. If pushed through, the new engine could cement the two brands’ independence from Ford. "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 recent interview. These new engines will be a big step for the Indian company, who are beginning to pick up speed with models like the Range Rover Evoque and the new Jaguar XK and XF. Our concern will be for future models which will need adequate engines to obtain proper performance numbers matching that of the Ford-built engines. Whether or not Tata has the ability to pull something like this off is still up in the air. | featured reviews:Jaguar cars reviews2015 2014 2013 2012
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