Last week I had the pleasure, with a few of other Jaguar Dealers from JBOC, to visit the UK for a ride and drive of the new XKR and XFR at Jaguar’s race track. Only Jaguar could arrange snow for the week we were there. We also discussed colors and trim for our new XJ (code name 351). I can’t really reveal too much, but it is the best looking Jaguar ever! Elegant, modern, sleek, and certainly has some XF DNA. The 351 probably has the nicest interior ever and technology that even your grandmother could use and understand.
The real excitement besides reviewing the new XJ came when we drove the new XFR, the XKR and the normally aspirated 5.0L XK on a race track with ice. I forgot to mention that the new R’s have the new 5.0L supercharged engine that beats out 510 horsepower. Fast, is it ever, but not in a brute way. It’s more like you can’t really tell that this is the fastest Jaguar ever. It even gets better CO2 ratings and is as fast, or maybe just 2/10ths less fast than any of our competition. I guess the real story is the interior of the 2010 XK—it has some of the styling cues of the XF, making it even more relevant.
You can sense a difference in the company—they know they have “over delivered” and now when you look at the lineup of Jaguars, you can see the future taking shape. Nice work guys and gals at Jaguar. The future of Jaguar is going to be more historic than it’s past.
Monday, February 16, 2009
Wednesday, February 4, 2009
My Trip to the Detroit Auto Show
I arrived in Detroit on Sunday January 16th, got my press credentials and was off to the auto show. As always, Jaguar press conferences draw a crowd, and what a crowd indeed. Jaguar’s newest model launches include two very special Jaguars, the XKR and the XFR. These super-powerful Jaguars feature our newest engine, a 5.0L supercharged with 510 horsepower which performs 0-60 in just 4.7 seconds according to Jaguar, but manufacturers always underestimate—I bet they probably can do it under 4.5 seconds.
What can I say except the XKR and XFR were absolutely gorgeous. Just a few minor trim and interior changes just make these new models look so much better. The interior of the XK has a more mornernodel look, with some styling cues from our XF, including weaved aluminum trim. More leather, if there’s any room for it, just looks better, but the car doesn’t look beefier. While very fast, a woman wouldn’t feel like she was in a Smokie and the Bandit car, it’s elegant and modern, like a Jaguar should be. The 3 days I spent at the auto show were great as usual.
More to follow…
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