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Jaguar Shows Frankfurt-Bound C-X16 Sports Car

Concept, FRANKFURT MOTOR SHOW, JAGUAR, UK 2:44 PM

This is the first official image or rather sketch of the all-new Jaguar C-X16 study which will make its world premiere at the 2011 Frankfurt Motor Show on September 13.
The British automaker describes the C-X16 as a "production concept" adding that it is a "precursor to future Jaguar sports cars that will aim to set new class benchmarks in design, vehicle dynamics and technology".
Jaguar did not say whether the C-X16 previews a replacement for the current XK or as recent reports suggested, a new and smaller model lightly inspired from the iconic E-Type that would rival the Porsche Cayman and Boxster sports cars.
Among the few details revealed about the C-X16 is that it is designed by the same team responsible for the XJ, XF and XK, headed of course by Jaguar Director of Design Ian Callum, who had this to say about the study:
"Great Jaguars have always been beautiful, innovative and have looked firmly to the future. The finished C-X16 concept has the potential to do these things while retaining the ability to surprise, to excite and invigorate."
Adrian Hallmark, Global Brand Director, was quoted by the British firm as saying: "Jaguar has set in place bold, ambitious plans for the future. This production concept demonstrates the depth of design and engineering ability we have within Jaguar to make these plans come to life – I look forward to sharing this latest, exciting step at the Frankfurt Motor Show."
Expect more information and photos of the new Jaguar C-X16 to be revealed closer to the Frankfurt Show.

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Jaguar E-type New Concept at the Frankfurt Motor Show

Concept, FRANKFURT MOTOR SHOW, JAGUAR 1:49 PM

Over the past few years, we've heard plenty of rumors concerning Jaguar's plans to build a spiritual successor to the famed E-type of the 1960s and 1970s. The latest word on the grapevine comes from British weekly magazine Autocar that claims Jaguar will release a sporty model in the spirit of the E-type as early as next year.
The magazine says the firm's Indian owner Tata Motors is determined to resurrect the spirit of the iconic Jag. The new model, codenamed XE, is planned as a rival to Porsche’s new Boxster.
Company insiders are cited as saying that the XE will not be a retro interpretation of the classic E-type but a modern roadster that will, however, have some styling similarities with the original like a long bonnet and short tail.
The XE will be based on a new, all-aluminum platform that will also underpin the successor to the current XK, itself due for launch in 2014. It will be smaller than the XK with a length of around 4.3 meters, because its wheelbase will be shortened since it will only accommodate the driver and a passenger.
The report goes on to say that the XE will be revealed as a concept at the forthcoming Frankfurt Motor Show in September, while production of the road version is expected to begin at Castle Bromwich in 2012. It will initially be produced only as a roadster, although there is still talk about a coupe version to battle the next generation of the Cayman.
Under the hood will be V6 engines, both normally aspirated and supercharged for the hotter versions. A more affordable turbocharged four-cylinder with lower emissions has also been considered.
What hasn’t been decided yet is what to call the new model. XE will most likely remain just a code. XE-E would be too close to the original, plus Jaguar has already expressed its desire to change the names of its cars. So the brainstorming continues.
Whatever they decide to name it, we hope that they eventually build it and this is not just another false alert.
*All Photos are of the Jaguar F-Type Concept that was introduced in 2000

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Mercedes-Benz Tops Secret Shopper Study of U.S. Dealers

Chrysler, JAGUAR, Lexus, LINCOLN, MERCEDES, MITSUBISHI, SUZUKI, Toyota 2:53 PM

Mercedes-Benz dealers were number one for customer treatment in the US according to an independent study by survey company Pied Piper. The California-based company hired 3,524 “secret shoppers” and sent them to US dealerships in order to determine how their salesmen were performing in anything from explaining a car’s features to closing a deal.

This is the third year in a row that Mercedes-Benz, which looks set to top the sales charts this year in the luxury segment, has topped Pied Piper’s study.

The German firm was followed by Jaguar and Lexus dealers, who tied in second place. According to the survey, Toyota and Chrysler’s Ram sales representatives were ranked the best among mass-market carmakers, while Mitsubishi and Suzuki finished at the bottom, as did Lincoln in the luxury segment.

According to CEO of Pied Piper, Fran O’Hagen, in general the brands that scored the poorest were those with the worst sales per dealership. O’Hagen added that’s easy to explain, as these brands cannot retain competent salesmen for a long time.

He also commented that reduced staff has had a negative impact in customer satisfaction now that sales are on the rise again and dealers don’t have the necessary staff to cover their needs.

However, as O’Hagen pointed out, the secret of success in this particular business is not really a secret at all. Good dealerships focus on a customer’s needs, get to know them and ask a few questions about their driving habits – and that takes skill and time.

The “secret”, according to O'Hagen, is to "think not like a salesman, but as a customer".

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New Jaguar XF 2.2 Diesel Goes from Birmingham to Munich

cars news, JAGUAR, new cars 7:50 PM

Jaguar is touting it’s new diesel-powered XF 2.2D saloon as the most fuel-efficient model in its history and to back its claims, the company set out to complete a journey from its factory at Castle Bromwich in Birmingham, UK, to Munich, Germany, on a single tank of fuel.

The British company manages to achieve its goal, with the four-cylinder XF covering a distance of 816 miles or 1,312 kilometers on 64 liters of diesel fuel, which gives an average fuel economy of 57mpg UK, equal to 4.9 lt/100km and 47.5 mpg US.

David Madgwick, an independent tester, accompanied by navigator Alexander Madgwick, drove the vehicle, which left Jaguar’s facilities with a little over 3,000-miles on the clock.

The crew was met in Munich by Chief Programme Engineer for the XF, Andy Whyman, who commented:

“The entire development team is very proud of what the new XF 2.2 has achieved – this not only proves the efficiency of the new model but underlines that performance and economy can be combined,” said Andy Whyman, Chief Programme Engineer for the XF.

The new Jaguar XF 2.2D is powered by an updated version of the Ford-sourced 2.2-liter turbocharged four-cylinder engine found in the Land Rover Freelander and the European-market Ford Mondeo.

It produces 190-horses and 332 lbs ft of torque allowing the XF to accelerate from naught to 62mph (100km/h)in 8.5-seconds before reaching a top speed of 140mph (225 km/h).

The four-pot is connected to a new eight-speed ZF automatic gearbox and, in a first for Jaguar, a Stop-Start system.

It will join the rest of the facelifted XF range in Europe this September.

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1:24 Scale Supercar Exotics Encased In Resin

Ferrari, JAGUAR, LAMBORGHINI 7:23 PM

Here’s something you don’t see every day: a 1970's style resin “sculpture” made by an unknown French artist and featuring various 1:24 scale Ferraris.
There’s also a Lamborghini Diablo, Jaguar XJ220 and Bugatti EB110 in there among others. Props to anyone who can help us identify the rest. The unusual item is being sold by Mantiques Modern [sic] of New York.
For details on price, you’ll have to contact the dealer, but something tells us it won’t be cheap… More photos of the artsy piece in the gallery

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Jaguar-Land Rover Opens Assembly Plant in India

cars news, JAGUAR, LAND ROVER 12:55 AM

Gone are the times when you knew where cars were made just by looking at the brand, and when luxury carmakers made the manufacturing of their vehicles in their home country one of their top selling points. Nowadays, you have BMWs built in China, India, South Africa and the USA, Mercedes-Benz cars made in Russia, Thailand and Egypt and so on.
The latest premium automaker to go global is the Jaguar-Land Rover group, which inaugurated its first Indian factory on Friday. A Land Rover Freelander 2 SUV was the first vehicle to roll out of the assembly plant, which is located just outside Pune in the Maharashtra region of India. We’ll remind you that Ford Motor Co. sold Jaguar and Land Rover to India’s Tata Motors in 2008 after losing some US$15 billion in two years.
Tata Motors believes that the assembly of Land Rover models in India will help the company better compete against rivals such as Audi, BMW and Mercedes-Benz, all of which already build vehicles in the booming South Asian country.
“We are excited about the prospect of assembling cars in Pune for the Indian market where we have achieved significant growth since we opened our first showroom in 2009,” said Dr Ralf Speth, CEO of Jaguar Land Rover. “It is a great time to be expanding our operation in India due to the increasing demand for luxury products and the strength of the Indian economy."
The Pune facility will assemble Land Rover Freelander 2 vehicles supplied in Complete Knock Down (CKD) form sourced from the British firm’s Halewood manufacturing plant in Liverpool, UK. The SUV will be available in India in two variants, the TD4 SE Automatic and the SD4 HSE Automatic, with local prices starting from INR 3.39 million, or around 15 percent lower than the current imported models.
Recent media reports have suggested that Jaguar Land Rover is also looking into building a new engine plant in India, but the company has not yet confirmed the news.

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