Showing posts with label jaguar. Show all posts
Showing posts with label jaguar. Show all posts

Jaguar files trademarks for C-XE and C-XJ


Speculation is still big buiness at Jaguar: the leaper could be going upscale with a Daimler revival, going potentially diesel with the XK, and there's the never-ending rumor of something like an F-Type. Now, finally, a few pieces of fruit have fallen from the guesswork tree: Jaguar has filed trademark papers for the terms C-XE and C-XJ.

The concept XJ is expected -- the development car has been spotted here, there, and everywhere. Based on the production car's 2011 due date, the C-XJ will probably take the stage some time late next year or in early 2010. The only thing that remains is to find out how many design influences Ian Callum has settled on for the car.

The C-XE remains a conundrum. We know that Jag's new parents want a sports car in the litter, but where would it slot? In order not to step all over the XK, an E-Type would be a much harder sports car proposition, but would it bare its claws at the Porsche 911 or be a Boxster fighter? It has been rumored to share parts with the XF and XJ, and power is ostensibly coming from the 3.0-liter V6 Duratec. With a 2012 production date leave, the dynamic details probably haven't been settled. Regardless, it's good to see the cat getting ready to roar.

In the Autoblog Garage: 2009 Jaguar XF Supercharged

In the Autoblog Garage: 2009 Jaguar XF Supercharged
Ford Motor Company sent Jaguar packing this year when it sold the storied English automaker, along with Land Rover, to Indian mega corp. Tata. On its way out the door, Jaguar took something special: the XF sedan. Its entire development process having been carried out under the stewardship of Ford, the XF is easily the most tasty fruit born of the cross pollination between the Blue Oval and Leaping Cat since they were first joined back in 1989. Read on to find out how the 2009 Jaguar XF Supercharge fared in the Autoblog Garage.

Jaguar recalls some XFs for faulty seat belts

Jaguar recalls some XFs for faulty seat belts
If you have a 2009 Jaguar XF, you should hop down to your dealer to have the rear safety belt assembly looked at. Jaguar is recalling 7,900 of the '09 cars because in an accident the rear occupants might not be properly restrained. To find out more you can call Jaguar at 1-800-452-4827, or make an appointment at your local Jaguar dealer.

Spy shots: next Jaguar XJ caught at, where else, the Nurburgring

Spy shots: next Jaguar XJ caught at, where else, the Nurburgring
Since you can't even really call it a car anymore if it hasn't been blasted around the 'Ring in development, Jaguar has taken the mechanicals of the next XJ sedan to everyone's favorite playground. Those internals wear the ill-fitting sheetmetal of the current XJ, with the addition of serious wheel arches and a fire-breathing nose.

The real thing to take away from the story is this: the car has been described as "the XF's features... draped over an Aston Martin Rapide." Frankly, we were happy when the XJ's design was moved away from mimicking the Mercedes CLS. And we have come to appreciate the design of the XF. But this equation: XF + Rapide = XJ is the kind of thing that could go wrong. Mr. Callum, however, has earned the benefit of the doubt, so we will wait for the feast for our eyes to decide.

Tata cuts Land Rover production


Land Rover sales are tanking along with the rest of SUVs sold here in the States and in Europe, but strong sales in China and Russia are keeping Tata's new luxury SUV brand to within 3% of last year's sales volume. Encouraging sales in emerging markets isn't enough, however, for the Indian automaker to keep from cutting production to hedge against a further worsening of market conditions. In an effort to keep production in line with sales, two shifts have been cut from the Solihull Land Rover plant and 300 workers have been moved to the Castle Broomwich Jaguar plant. Tata is also executing production cuts at the Halewood Jaguar factory where the perpetually disappointing X-Type is produced.

With Land Rover making up all the profits between Tata's two newly owned British Marquees, the Indian automaker is keeping a keen eye on production to make sure the luxury SUV brand continues to bring in profits. If sales begin to slip further, we'd expect Tata to make more drastic cuts, and quickly.

Jaguar XF-R caught on tape

Jaguar XF-R caught on tape
The coming Jaguar XF-R has been caught in the valley of death. It was accompanied by a Jaguar XJ mule and shepherded by a fleet of Land Rovers charged with blocking the all-seeing eye of someone's Sony Handycam. Fortunately for us, they failed. The driver of this particular prototype XF-R couldn't keep his foot off the throttle, as at different points in the video you hear the growl of a big displacement V8 and the accompanying scream of a supercharger. Other than vents in the hood to let that 5-liter V8 breathe, the body modifications look to be exceptionally tame. With 500 horsepower, however, its acceleration should be quite the opposite.