1938 Alfa 8C 2900B Le Mans
Those are incredibly good looking Jaguars
On of the most remarkable and well designed instrument gauge clusters I've ever seen
Fiat 1400b junior Ghia
Awesome use of a hoodscoop to make an ugly car better looking
Sorry, I don't know where these came from anymore, but I bet they were from websites that I've posted from in the past month
Thursday, June 16, 2011
photos I meant to post when I still knew where I'd found them
Wednesday, May 18, 2011
Great variety of fun stuff over at Tamerlane's Thoughts, not all car stuff though, lots of travels
the above Land Rover advertisement is brilliant, go see the world and get your passport stamped
Who know Sammy had a Delorean?
The source of the above XJ220 Jag's tail lights? the below Rover... huh
Wow, rare Jeep FC 170 and Civil Defense with the old license plates!
these two were photographed at the Sonoma Marin Concours
all this variety is from just the only http://karakullake.blogspot.com/
Thursday, May 12, 2011
Jaguar XK-Series Review
The Jaguar E-Type or XKE is widely regarded as one of the most beautiful, iconic cars of all time. Introduced in 1961, it has been lusted after ever since, appearing on teenage boys' bedroom walls, grown men's garages and in movies like the "Austin Powers" series, where it served as the international man of mystery's Shaguar. More than three decades since the XKE went to cat heaven, its spirit lives on in a new breed of sleek Jaguar coupes and convertibles. The latest Jaguar XK-Series maintains classic design cues like the oval grille, but adds a thoroughly modern all-aluminum body and high-tech features designed to better defend Britain against German competition.
2008 Jaguar XK-Series XK Convertible
After 22 years of the unloved Jaguar XJS, the XK name and spirit were revived in the late '90s with the stunning XK8 coupe and convertible. Powered by an all-new 290-horsepower V8, it was quick and capable of keeping up with the best of the sub-$100,000 luxury coupe rivals of the time. As its 10-year life wore on, however, the competition predictably began to surpass the XK8 and the high-performance XKR in terms of refinement and comfort.
For 2007, the Jaguar XK ditched the "8" in its name and dusted off several layers of old-school Jaguar heritage to reveal an all-new, more modern coupe and convertible. Sharing components with the XJ sedan's aluminum structure, the XK is lighter and more rigid -- actually 50 percent stiffer -- than the old XK8, Jag says. Its interior is a drastic departure from the typical Jaguar look, with a modern dashboard design featuring a more intuitive control layout. The biggest interior change is the availability of alloy trim in lieu of wood – although some may argue that a Jag without wood is like Tom Selleck without the mustache.
Current Jaguar XK-Series
The new Jaguar XK and supercharged XKR are available as a two-door coupe and convertible. The standard XK comes with a 4.2-liter V8 churning out 300 hp and 310 pound-feet of torque, while the XKR's supercharged version of the same engine pumps out 420 hp and 418 lb-ft of torque. Both models come standard with a six-speed automatic with steering-wheel-mounted paddle shifters for automanual control. Jaguar's old "J-gate" shifter has finally been replaced with a new design that could perhaps be called a Backwards L Gate or Upside-Down 7 Gate.
The XKR adds sportier interior trim, 19-inch wheels (versus 18s), a firmer suspension, retuned steering, larger front brakes and exterior modifications like an aluminum mesh grille. The XK's standard stability control program is reprogrammed for the XKR to allow the driver more leeway and the option of shutting it off completely.
In road tests and reviews, we've found the regular Jaguar XK to be a little disappointing in terms of acceleration; the coupe's 0-60-mph time of 6.4 seconds is about a second slower than some competitors' times. Both XKR models are expectedly much quicker, going from zero to 60 mph in 4.9 seconds. When driving calls for something other than a straight line, both XKs display impressive composure through high-speed sweeping turns. On tighter roads, though, they lack a nimble feel. One final aspect to consider before a purchase would be reliability. In the three XKs we drove, we discovered electrical gremlins involving the touchscreen interface that operates navigation, stereo and climate functions.
Past Jaguar XK models
They say cats have nine lives and quite appropriately, it takes a long time for Jaguar coupes and roadsters to die. The XKE survived from 1961-'74 before being replaced by the very different XJS, which languished in mediocrity for 22 years before being mercifully put out of its misery. By comparison, the 10-year-old XK8 was practically a kitten when it was replaced by today's XK.
The 1997 Jaguar XK8 debuted in coupe and convertible body styles, with the XKR arriving in 2000. The standard 290-hp 4.0-liter engine was Jaguar's first-ever V8 and only the fourth all-new engine in its history. We were impressed with its low-end torque and found that it accelerated from zero to 60 mph in 6.7 seconds. We also thought it was "a hoot to drive" with effortless acceleration, precise steering and a supple suspension.
Inside, the XK8 featured a classic Jaguar look with lots of Connolly leather and walnut trim. Although it began to look antiquated later in life with unintuitive controls and subpar materials, in the retro-crazed late '90s, it was certifiably chic. The car's cramped interior dimensions and small trunk were never in style, however.
In 2003, the Jaguar XK-Series engine was upgraded to 294 hp and 303 lb-ft of torque (from 284 lb-ft), sending the coupe from zero to 60 in 6.1 seconds – which is better than the current model. That year also saw a new six-speed automatic and more than 900 other mostly minor changes, none of which touched the still-attractive sheet metal. After that, the XK8 prowled about through 2006 without any significant updates.
The high-performance XKR featured a supercharged version of the 4.0-liter V8, making 370 hp and 387 lb-ft of torque. Zero to 60 mph in the coupe was accomplished in 5.1 seconds. The 2003 revisions also applied to the XKR, including a power boost to 390 hp and 399 lb-ft of torque.
Prior to the XK8, Jaguar offered the XJS coupe and convertible. The latter appeared in 1989, replacing the odd "Cabriolet" model, which featured a Jeep Wrangler-esque retractable roof that maintained the window frames. By 1990, a 262-hp 5.3-liter V12 was the standard engine. It was briefly replaced in 1993 by a 4.0-liter inline-6 making only 219 hp, but a new 278-hp, 6.0-liter V12 emerged in 1994 to complement the standard six-cylinder. A four-speed automatic replaced the ancient GM TH400 three-speed auto in 1993. In 1992, a new head- and taillight design debuted.
The XJS was actually heavier than today's XK, making it all the more slow, ponderous to drive and generally undesirable. Also, with its 1970s-era interior and Jaguar's notoriously poor reliability from this era, used-car shoppers should avoid the XJS as if it were a rabid cat in heat.
Saturday, May 7, 2011
Jaguar C-X75 Hypercar 2011
To be developed in cooperation with Williams F1, the C-X75 will make use of hybrid powertrain with Jaguar aiming to have the car on sale in 2013. The British maker said only 250 examples will be built, each costing between £700,000 - £900,000, or US$1.16 million to US$1.44 million at today’s exchange rates, depending on market and local taxes.
To have it in the market within a considerable timeframe, Jaguar will replace the jet-powered setup of the original concept with a more conventional, yet still innovative for today’s standards, powertrain comprising of a state-of-the-art, small-capacity, highly-boosted internal combustion engine with one powerful electric motor at each axle offering all-wheel drive capability.
Jaguar did not get into any further details, but Williams F1’s involvement hints at a high-tech four-cylinder unit closely related to the 1.6-liter four-pot engine to be used in Formula One after the new regulations come into force in 2013.
We may not have any output figures for now, but Jaguar revealed that the C-X75 will be one of the fastest production cars in the world with a sub-three second 0-60mph (96 km/h) time and a top speed in excess of 200mph (322 km/h). Thanks to its lightweight construction and the use of the electric motors, the C-X75 will also be green emitting less than 99g/km of CO2."The engine's compact size allows it to be mounted low in the car for optimum weight distribution and to retain the concept's stunning silhouette,” explained Bob Joyce, Group Engineering Director, Jaguar Land Rover. “This will make the Jaguar C-X75 a bona fide hybrid supercar capable of silent electric running with an extensive EV range in excess of 50km."
Jaguar added that development of the micro-turbine technology that was showcased in the original concept C-X75 continues and will play an important role in the British firm’s future plans.
Williams F1 said it will provide its engineering expertise in various areas including aerodynamics, carbon composite manufacture and hybrid technologies.
"Never before has the company launched such an ambitious, world-beating vehicle programme," said Carl-Peter Forster, CEO Tata Motors. "This is the Jaguar of the future. The opportunity for innovation like this in the UK is part of the reason Tata Motors invested in Jaguar, and it's fantastic that products like the C-X75 can become reality."
GALLERY
Read more In Cars
Saturday, April 30, 2011
E-TYPE New XJ: Fifty Years Of Design Integrity
Fifty years ago, the New York Auto Show to launch hosted a classic car: Jaguar E-Type - XKE or as it was known in America.
If a country has taken the E-Type to his heart was in the United States. More than two-thirds of all models built were sent across the Atlantic and establish a special relationship, which continues to this day.
greater: "I want the car and I want it now" and Old Blue Eyes was just part of a long list of Hollywood: At first glance, the E-Type was launched, is Frank Sinatra, told the request the two-seater sports car. Steve McQueen, Tony Curtis, Britt Ekland and Brigitte Bardot were all owners of celebrity.
Beauty, performance and passion that houses all the Jaguars still resonate strongly in the U.S. today. The 21 Century XJ limousine turned many heads in New York with his smooth, powerful and captivating charisma as an E-Type Sinatra did when he first saw 50 years ago.
Here Jaguar Ian Callum, Design Director, explains:
Two cars, two ages, a corporation. The two are entirely of their time, but crucial, as Jaguar, and thus shares a final goal - to be fast and beautiful.
Few companies are fortunate to have enjoyed the Jaguar design heritage that dates back half a century and more. It is this integrity which makes visual comparisons between the revolutionary XJ luxury sedan and the legendary E-type sports car, a beautiful machine, which occupies a permanent seat on the New York Museum of Modern Art. Both cars can be separated by a space of 50 years, during which the global automotive industry has changed beyond all recognition, but both are certainly Jaguars.
Jaguar design director Ian Callum explains how the two cars separated by more than one generation can share the same design philosophy:. "Part of the goal of a Jaguar is to be beautiful, we always tryto make our vehicles visually a little wider, lower and more. That'swhat our proportions are about. When you see them together, and XJ S-Type speak the same language. "
This is true even if two cars meet the very different needs. One is a high-tech sport limousine whose only intent flowing model is designed to turn heads in the modern world. Other legendary two jobs created in the 60's guy (or girl) around the city.
According to Callum, E-Type indicates a fundamental principle of sports car design: at least a basket sealed for maximum performance. He explains: "The excitement and beauty of the car was almost as a by-product You have a beauty from the scientific purity of the surface tension and its proportions .."
“We still work very hard to get the proportions of our cars as tight to the mechanicals as possible. Unlike the E-Type, of course, the XJ has to carry five people in total comfort but the principles of wrapping the body around the package to create exciting proportions are exactly the same now as they were 50 years ago.”
As envisaged by its designer, Malcolm Sayer, the primary aim of the E-Type was to be fast. Indeed, topping out at 150mph, it was the world’s quickest production car.
As an aerodynamicist, Sayer employed a uniquely scientific method of design, which involved the use of slide rules and logarithmic tables to plot the complex curves and straight lines that gelled so harmoniously to create not just the E-Type but its C-Type and D-Type racing predecessors.
“Malcolm Sayer shaped the E-Type with absolutely pure geometric lines,” explains Ian Callum. “He wasn’t driven by aesthetics for the sake of it, he was trying to build something that was shaped by mathematics. That’s how he built his cars up and their beauty is determined by purity and simplicity. That same restraint of line guides us to this day, in everything we do, as we create the next generation of Jaguars like the XJ.”
The E-Type, however, was more than the epitome of automotive beauty. It came to symbolise excitement, embodying Jaguar founder Sir William Lyons’ words that: “driving should be a pleasure not a chore.”
In its profile, stretched lines, prominent rear haunches and the arc of the rear window it was the archetype of sporting performance. The same is true of the XJ, which although it is very much a product of the 21st century, shares key styling attributes with the E-Type that have become firmly established in the company’s design language.
Flourishes such as the E-Type’s famous bonnet bulge – necessary to cover the straight-six engine – have been carried over to the XJ as a symbol of its potency. Both cars share the same sense of front-end drama to give that quintessential Jaguar ‘rear-view mirror’ presence.
Callum explains that it was Lyons’ ability to focus on the future that led to such distinctive designs:
“The E-Type was ahead of its time, just as the XJ is now. Williams Lyons’ philosophy was all about taking that next step. He was very adventurous and knew that it is Jaguar’s job to break the rules. He never looked back, always forward.”
A question Callum is often asked is whether he would design another E-Type. His answer is always the same: “I would refuse, it had its time and place. What I will do is create something as dramatic now as that car was then and I think the XJ achieves that.
“Jaguars should be bought for reasons other than simply pure pragmatism, they should be bought for their style, excitement and beauty. The XJ is the most dramatic, captivating car in its class. Job done.”
Ian Callum, Design Director, Jaguar Cars
Hailed as the architect of Jaguar’s future success, Design Director Ian Callum has a passion for the marque that stretches back to his formative years.
Having shown a talent for drawing from the age of four, it was as a teenager that Callum realised his calling lay in automotive design. Aged 14, he was inspired by the original XJ saloon, designed by Sir William Lyons:“That was a car of great proportions and excitement; it was the best looking and handling saloon in the world at that time.”
This prompted the youthful Callum to send Bill Heynes, Jaguar’s engineering guru, some of his own designs. In response Heynes advised Callum that in order to pursue his dream career, he should study engineering draughtsmanship and industrial design.
Callum earned a place at the Glasgow School of Art in Scotland, followed by a Masters degree in Design at the Royal College of Art in London. After graduating, he designed cars for Ford, Tom Walkinshaw Racing and Aston Martin. In 1999, a mere 30 years after seeking Heynes’ advice as a young boy, Callum was appointed Design Director of Jaguar. He had moved into his dream job.
Callum recognises the huge legacy left in his care by men such as Lyons, Heynes and Jaguar design legend Malcolm Sayer, insisting that it is their determination to explore the possibilities of design and performance that inspires his work today: “I know how intently my predecessors pushed the boundaries. Jaguar has always been a forward-thinking company and that philosophy guides us now.”
Despite the ever greater legislative, safety and comfort constraints on design freedoms, in just over a decade at the helm, Callum has created an award-winning range of Jaguars that capture the drama and passion of the cars of old while remaining entirely focused on the future. As Callum explains: “My task is to look forwards. The car I am most proud of is the next one.”
The New XJ: A True Jaguar Flagship
Created without compromise, Jaguar’s flagship XJ limousine is a class-leader in the mould of Jaguars of old and yet is a beguilingly cutting-edge offering that places its rivals firmly in the past.
The XJ’s construction is as innovative as its appearance, utilising state-of-the-art techniques pioneered by Jaguar. Crafted from high-grade aluminium, the car is lighter than much of its opposition by up to 150kg with the commensurate gains in performance, agility and economy. Up to 50 percent of the structure is made from recycled aluminium allowing for a potential saving of up to 3.3 tonnes of CO2 per car.
In order to maximise the potential of its class-leading architecture, the XJ is powered by the latest highly-efficient Jaguar AJ-V8 petrol direct-injection engines, in both naturally aspirated and supercharged forms. Smooth and powerful, these provide effortlessly refined performance.
Once inside, passengers will find themselves cocooned in unparalleled luxury. Bathed in natural light from the panoramic glass roof, the interior is meticulously crafted from the finest materials in a manner that is strikingly contemporary.
Standard and long wheelbase versions are available, while new for the 2012 XJ range is the Rear Seat Comfort package, which offers an advanced new entertainment system, as well as electric recline, lumbar adjustment and massage functions.
Jaguar is justly renowned for its innovation and the company has, in the cockpit of the XJ, created a haven in which cutting-edge technology is unobtrusively and instantly at the command of the driver. In place of the traditional instrument panel is a 12.3-inch high-definition virtual information interface that can be customised to display a range of driver-critical information.
A unique central 8-inch Touch-screen incorporates exclusive dual-view technology allowing the front-seat passenger to watch a DVD while the driver receives satellite navigation information.
A range of premium surround-sound entertainment systems is topped by the 1200W, 17-speaker system from British experts Bowers & Wilkins and provides concert-hall levels of audio fidelity. All infotainment systems feature hard disc-based music storage and connectivity for audio and video devices via a powerful Media Hub.
Available in three trim levels – Luxury, Premium Luxury and Portfolio – the Jaguar XJ offers a truly unmatched ownership experience.
Jaguar E-Type: A Work of Modern Art
The E-Type is still revered as the ultimate artistic fusion of mechanics and mathematics and if proof were needed of its aesthetic credentials, it came in 1996 when it was the subject of an exhibition at New York’s Museum of Modern Art.
Entitled Refining the Sports Car: Jaguar’s E-Type, this was only the third time a car had been exhibited at the museum and was made possible by the donation of an opalescent, dark blue 1963 Open Two-Seater to MOMA by Jaguar.
The exhibition traced the genesis of the E-Type’s design and engineering from that of the revered 1950s C-Type and D-Type endurance racers with which it shared a stylist in aerodynamicist Malcolm Sayer. Alongside the flawless E-Type was an example of its legendary, race-winning, straight-six engine, images of its predecessors and original engineering sketches.
The E-Type was one of the first production cars designed along aerodynamic principles, worked out by Sayer using complex mathematical equations to design the ellipses and other elements that defined the car’s timeless appearance.
The organiser of the original exhibition, Assistant Curator of the Department of Architecture and Design, Christopher Mount said: “Rarely has a car inspired the kind of passion in both motoring enthusiasts and the general public that the Jaguar E-type has. Even today, the E-type is considered an icon of the post-war British sports car.”
The E-Type was so well received that it is now on permanent display at MOMA.
1966 SERIES 1 E-TYPE
Top speed: 151mph
0-60mph: 7.0secs
Engine: 3781cc, six-cylinder, in-line; triple SU carburettors
Power/torque: 265bhp @ 5500rpm; 256lb ft @ 4000rpm
Chassis: Steel monocoque, torsion bar and wishbone front suspension, independent rear suspension
Dimensions: Length 444cm; width 165cm; height 122cm; weight 1219kg.
2012 JAGUAR XJ LWB Supercharged
Top speed: 155mph (limited)
0-60mph: 4.9secs
Engine: 5000cc, supercharged, 8-cylinder, V-formation
Power/torque: 470bhp @ 6000-6500rpm; 424lb ft @ 2500-5500rpm
Chassis: Aluminium monocoque, wishbones front and rear, Adaptive Dynamics Dimensions: Length 525cm; width 211cm; height 145cm; weight 2365kg.
If a country has taken the E-Type to his heart was in the United States. More than two-thirds of all models built were sent across the Atlantic and establish a special relationship, which continues to this day.
greater: "I want the car and I want it now" and Old Blue Eyes was just part of a long list of Hollywood: At first glance, the E-Type was launched, is Frank Sinatra, told the request the two-seater sports car. Steve McQueen, Tony Curtis, Britt Ekland and Brigitte Bardot were all owners of celebrity.
Beauty, performance and passion that houses all the Jaguars still resonate strongly in the U.S. today. The 21 Century XJ limousine turned many heads in New York with his smooth, powerful and captivating charisma as an E-Type Sinatra did when he first saw 50 years ago.
Here Jaguar Ian Callum, Design Director, explains:
Two cars, two ages, a corporation. The two are entirely of their time, but crucial, as Jaguar, and thus shares a final goal - to be fast and beautiful.
Few companies are fortunate to have enjoyed the Jaguar design heritage that dates back half a century and more. It is this integrity which makes visual comparisons between the revolutionary XJ luxury sedan and the legendary E-type sports car, a beautiful machine, which occupies a permanent seat on the New York Museum of Modern Art. Both cars can be separated by a space of 50 years, during which the global automotive industry has changed beyond all recognition, but both are certainly Jaguars.
Jaguar design director Ian Callum explains how the two cars separated by more than one generation can share the same design philosophy:. "Part of the goal of a Jaguar is to be beautiful, we always tryto make our vehicles visually a little wider, lower and more. That'swhat our proportions are about. When you see them together, and XJ S-Type speak the same language. "
This is true even if two cars meet the very different needs. One is a high-tech sport limousine whose only intent flowing model is designed to turn heads in the modern world. Other legendary two jobs created in the 60's guy (or girl) around the city.
According to Callum, E-Type indicates a fundamental principle of sports car design: at least a basket sealed for maximum performance. He explains: "The excitement and beauty of the car was almost as a by-product You have a beauty from the scientific purity of the surface tension and its proportions .."
“We still work very hard to get the proportions of our cars as tight to the mechanicals as possible. Unlike the E-Type, of course, the XJ has to carry five people in total comfort but the principles of wrapping the body around the package to create exciting proportions are exactly the same now as they were 50 years ago.”
As envisaged by its designer, Malcolm Sayer, the primary aim of the E-Type was to be fast. Indeed, topping out at 150mph, it was the world’s quickest production car.
As an aerodynamicist, Sayer employed a uniquely scientific method of design, which involved the use of slide rules and logarithmic tables to plot the complex curves and straight lines that gelled so harmoniously to create not just the E-Type but its C-Type and D-Type racing predecessors.
“Malcolm Sayer shaped the E-Type with absolutely pure geometric lines,” explains Ian Callum. “He wasn’t driven by aesthetics for the sake of it, he was trying to build something that was shaped by mathematics. That’s how he built his cars up and their beauty is determined by purity and simplicity. That same restraint of line guides us to this day, in everything we do, as we create the next generation of Jaguars like the XJ.”
The E-Type, however, was more than the epitome of automotive beauty. It came to symbolise excitement, embodying Jaguar founder Sir William Lyons’ words that: “driving should be a pleasure not a chore.”
In its profile, stretched lines, prominent rear haunches and the arc of the rear window it was the archetype of sporting performance. The same is true of the XJ, which although it is very much a product of the 21st century, shares key styling attributes with the E-Type that have become firmly established in the company’s design language.
Flourishes such as the E-Type’s famous bonnet bulge – necessary to cover the straight-six engine – have been carried over to the XJ as a symbol of its potency. Both cars share the same sense of front-end drama to give that quintessential Jaguar ‘rear-view mirror’ presence.
Callum explains that it was Lyons’ ability to focus on the future that led to such distinctive designs:
“The E-Type was ahead of its time, just as the XJ is now. Williams Lyons’ philosophy was all about taking that next step. He was very adventurous and knew that it is Jaguar’s job to break the rules. He never looked back, always forward.”
A question Callum is often asked is whether he would design another E-Type. His answer is always the same: “I would refuse, it had its time and place. What I will do is create something as dramatic now as that car was then and I think the XJ achieves that.
“Jaguars should be bought for reasons other than simply pure pragmatism, they should be bought for their style, excitement and beauty. The XJ is the most dramatic, captivating car in its class. Job done.”
Ian Callum, Design Director, Jaguar Cars
Hailed as the architect of Jaguar’s future success, Design Director Ian Callum has a passion for the marque that stretches back to his formative years.
Having shown a talent for drawing from the age of four, it was as a teenager that Callum realised his calling lay in automotive design. Aged 14, he was inspired by the original XJ saloon, designed by Sir William Lyons:“That was a car of great proportions and excitement; it was the best looking and handling saloon in the world at that time.”
This prompted the youthful Callum to send Bill Heynes, Jaguar’s engineering guru, some of his own designs. In response Heynes advised Callum that in order to pursue his dream career, he should study engineering draughtsmanship and industrial design.
Callum earned a place at the Glasgow School of Art in Scotland, followed by a Masters degree in Design at the Royal College of Art in London. After graduating, he designed cars for Ford, Tom Walkinshaw Racing and Aston Martin. In 1999, a mere 30 years after seeking Heynes’ advice as a young boy, Callum was appointed Design Director of Jaguar. He had moved into his dream job.
Callum recognises the huge legacy left in his care by men such as Lyons, Heynes and Jaguar design legend Malcolm Sayer, insisting that it is their determination to explore the possibilities of design and performance that inspires his work today: “I know how intently my predecessors pushed the boundaries. Jaguar has always been a forward-thinking company and that philosophy guides us now.”
Despite the ever greater legislative, safety and comfort constraints on design freedoms, in just over a decade at the helm, Callum has created an award-winning range of Jaguars that capture the drama and passion of the cars of old while remaining entirely focused on the future. As Callum explains: “My task is to look forwards. The car I am most proud of is the next one.”
The New XJ: A True Jaguar Flagship
Created without compromise, Jaguar’s flagship XJ limousine is a class-leader in the mould of Jaguars of old and yet is a beguilingly cutting-edge offering that places its rivals firmly in the past.
The XJ’s construction is as innovative as its appearance, utilising state-of-the-art techniques pioneered by Jaguar. Crafted from high-grade aluminium, the car is lighter than much of its opposition by up to 150kg with the commensurate gains in performance, agility and economy. Up to 50 percent of the structure is made from recycled aluminium allowing for a potential saving of up to 3.3 tonnes of CO2 per car.
In order to maximise the potential of its class-leading architecture, the XJ is powered by the latest highly-efficient Jaguar AJ-V8 petrol direct-injection engines, in both naturally aspirated and supercharged forms. Smooth and powerful, these provide effortlessly refined performance.
Once inside, passengers will find themselves cocooned in unparalleled luxury. Bathed in natural light from the panoramic glass roof, the interior is meticulously crafted from the finest materials in a manner that is strikingly contemporary.
Standard and long wheelbase versions are available, while new for the 2012 XJ range is the Rear Seat Comfort package, which offers an advanced new entertainment system, as well as electric recline, lumbar adjustment and massage functions.
Jaguar is justly renowned for its innovation and the company has, in the cockpit of the XJ, created a haven in which cutting-edge technology is unobtrusively and instantly at the command of the driver. In place of the traditional instrument panel is a 12.3-inch high-definition virtual information interface that can be customised to display a range of driver-critical information.
A unique central 8-inch Touch-screen incorporates exclusive dual-view technology allowing the front-seat passenger to watch a DVD while the driver receives satellite navigation information.
A range of premium surround-sound entertainment systems is topped by the 1200W, 17-speaker system from British experts Bowers & Wilkins and provides concert-hall levels of audio fidelity. All infotainment systems feature hard disc-based music storage and connectivity for audio and video devices via a powerful Media Hub.
Available in three trim levels – Luxury, Premium Luxury and Portfolio – the Jaguar XJ offers a truly unmatched ownership experience.
Jaguar E-Type: A Work of Modern Art
The E-Type is still revered as the ultimate artistic fusion of mechanics and mathematics and if proof were needed of its aesthetic credentials, it came in 1996 when it was the subject of an exhibition at New York’s Museum of Modern Art.
Entitled Refining the Sports Car: Jaguar’s E-Type, this was only the third time a car had been exhibited at the museum and was made possible by the donation of an opalescent, dark blue 1963 Open Two-Seater to MOMA by Jaguar.
The exhibition traced the genesis of the E-Type’s design and engineering from that of the revered 1950s C-Type and D-Type endurance racers with which it shared a stylist in aerodynamicist Malcolm Sayer. Alongside the flawless E-Type was an example of its legendary, race-winning, straight-six engine, images of its predecessors and original engineering sketches.
The E-Type was one of the first production cars designed along aerodynamic principles, worked out by Sayer using complex mathematical equations to design the ellipses and other elements that defined the car’s timeless appearance.
The organiser of the original exhibition, Assistant Curator of the Department of Architecture and Design, Christopher Mount said: “Rarely has a car inspired the kind of passion in both motoring enthusiasts and the general public that the Jaguar E-type has. Even today, the E-type is considered an icon of the post-war British sports car.”
The E-Type was so well received that it is now on permanent display at MOMA.
1966 SERIES 1 E-TYPE
Top speed: 151mph
0-60mph: 7.0secs
Engine: 3781cc, six-cylinder, in-line; triple SU carburettors
Power/torque: 265bhp @ 5500rpm; 256lb ft @ 4000rpm
Chassis: Steel monocoque, torsion bar and wishbone front suspension, independent rear suspension
Dimensions: Length 444cm; width 165cm; height 122cm; weight 1219kg.
2012 JAGUAR XJ LWB Supercharged
Top speed: 155mph (limited)
0-60mph: 4.9secs
Engine: 5000cc, supercharged, 8-cylinder, V-formation
Power/torque: 470bhp @ 6000-6500rpm; 424lb ft @ 2500-5500rpm
Chassis: Aluminium monocoque, wishbones front and rear, Adaptive Dynamics Dimensions: Length 525cm; width 211cm; height 145cm; weight 2365kg.
Monday, April 25, 2011
E-TYPE TO NEW XJ: FIFTY YEARS OF DESIGN INTEGRITY
Fifty years ago, the New York Auto Show played host to the launch of an automotive classic: the Jaguar E-Type - or XKE as it was known in America.
If any country took the E-Type to its heart, it was the United States. More than two-thirds of all models built were sent across the Atlantic, establishing a special relationship that persists to this day.
On first sight of the E-Type at its launch, Frank Sinatra is reputed to have said: “I want that car and I want it now”, and old Blue Eyes was just one in a long list of Hollywood greats to covet the two-seater sports car. Steve McQueen, Tony Curtis, Britt Ekland and Brigitte Bardot were all celebrity owners.
The beauty, performance and passion that all Jaguars embody still resonates strongly in America to this day. The 21st century XJ limousine turns as many heads in New York with its lithe, powerful and captivating presence as the E-Type did when Sinatra first saw it 50 years ago.
Here, Jaguar’s Design Director Ian Callum explains why:
Two cars, two eras, one company. Both are entirely of their time but, crucially, both are Jaguars and therefore share a definitive purpose – to be fast and beautiful.
Few companies are fortunate enough to have the design heritage enjoyed by Jaguar; one that stretches back half a century and more. It’s this visual integrity that allows comparisons to be drawn between the groundbreaking new XJ luxury saloon and the legendary E-Type sports car, a machine so beautiful that it holds a permanent place in New York’s Museum of Modern Art. These two cars may be separated by a gulf of 50 years, during which time the global automotive industry has changed beyond all recognition, but both are unmistakeably Jaguars.
Jaguar’s Design Director Ian Callum explains how two cars separated by more than a generation can share the same design philosophy: “Part of the purpose of a Jaguar is to look beautiful. We always tryto make our cars visually that little bit wider, lower and longer. That’swhat our proportions are about. When you see them together, the XJ and E-Type speak the same language.”
This is true even though the two cars fulfill very different needs. One is a high-tech limousine with sporting intent, whose unique flowing design is conceived to turn heads in the modern world. The other an iconic two-seater created for the ’60s boy (or girl) about town.
According to Callum, the E-Type demonstrates the overriding principle of sports car design: minimum bodywork encapsulating maximum performance. He explains: “The excitement and beauty of the car were almost created as a by-product. You’ve got beauty derived from its scientific purity of surface and excitement from its proportions.”
“We still work very hard to get the proportions of our cars as tight to the mechanicals as possible. Unlike the E-Type, of course, the XJ has to carry five people in total comfort but the principles of wrapping the body around the package to create exciting proportions are exactly the same now as they were 50 years ago.”
As envisaged by its designer, Malcolm Sayer, the primary aim of the E-Type was to be fast. Indeed, topping out at 150mph, it was the world’s quickest production car.
As an aerodynamicist, Sayer employed a uniquely scientific method of design, which involved the use of slide rules and logarithmic tables to plot the complex curves and straight lines that gelled so harmoniously to create not just the E-Type but its C-Type and D-Type racing predecessors.
“Malcolm Sayer shaped the E-Type with absolutely pure geometric lines,” explains Ian Callum. “He wasn’t driven by aesthetics for the sake of it, he was trying to build something that was shaped by mathematics. That’s how he built his cars up and their beauty is determined by purity and simplicity. That same restraint of line guides us to this day, in everything we do, as we create the next generation of Jaguars like the XJ.”
The E-Type, however, was more than the epitome of automotive beauty. It came to symbolise excitement, embodying Jaguar founder Sir William Lyons’ words that: “driving should be a pleasure not a chore.”
In its profile, stretched lines, prominent rear haunches and the arc of the rear window it was the archetype of sporting performance. The same is true of the XJ, which although it is very much a product of the 21st century, shares key styling attributes with the E-Type that have become firmly established in the company’s design language.
Flourishes such as the E-Type’s famous bonnet bulge – necessary to cover the straight-six engine – have been carried over to the XJ as a symbol of its potency. Both cars share the same sense of front-end drama to give that quintessential Jaguar ‘rear-view mirror’ presence.
Callum explains that it was Lyons’ ability to focus on the future that led to such distinctive designs:
“The E-Type was ahead of its time, just as the XJ is now. Williams Lyons’ philosophy was all about taking that next step. He was very adventurous and knew that it is Jaguar’s job to break the rules. He never looked back, always forward.”
A question Callum is often asked is whether he would design another E-Type. His answer is always the same: “I would refuse, it had its time and place. What I will do is create something as dramatic now as that car was then and I think the XJ achieves that.
“Jaguars should be bought for reasons other than simply pure pragmatism, they should be bought for their style, excitement and beauty. The XJ is the most dramatic, captivating car in its class. Job done.”
Ian Callum, Design Director, Jaguar Cars
Hailed as the architect of Jaguar’s future success, Design Director Ian Callum has a passion for the marque that stretches back to his formative years.
Having shown a talent for drawing from the age of four, it was as a teenager that Callum realised his calling lay in automotive design. Aged 14, he was inspired by the original XJ saloon, designed by Sir William Lyons:“That was a car of great proportions and excitement; it was the best looking and handling saloon in the world at that time.”
This prompted the youthful Callum to send Bill Heynes, Jaguar’s engineering guru, some of his own designs. In response Heynes advised Callum that in order to pursue his dream career, he should study engineering draughtsmanship and industrial design.
Callum earned a place at the Glasgow School of Art in Scotland, followed by a Masters degree in Design at the Royal College of Art in London. After graduating, he designed cars for Ford, Tom Walkinshaw Racing and Aston Martin. In 1999, a mere 30 years after seeking Heynes’ advice as a young boy, Callum was appointed Design Director of Jaguar. He had moved into his dream job.
Callum recognises the huge legacy left in his care by men such as Lyons, Heynes and Jaguar design legend Malcolm Sayer, insisting that it is their determination to explore the possibilities of design and performance that inspires his work today: “I know how intently my predecessors pushed the boundaries. Jaguar has always been a forward-thinking company and that philosophy guides us now.”
Despite the ever greater legislative, safety and comfort constraints on design freedoms, in just over a decade at the helm, Callum has created an award-winning range of Jaguars that capture the drama and passion of the cars of old while remaining entirely focused on the future. As Callum explains: “My task is to look forwards. The car I am most proud of is the next one.”
The New XJ: A True Jaguar Flagship
Created without compromise, Jaguar’s flagship XJ limousine is a class-leader in the mould of Jaguars of old and yet is a beguilingly cutting-edge offering that places its rivals firmly in the past.
The XJ’s construction is as innovative as its appearance, utilising state-of-the-art techniques pioneered by Jaguar. Crafted from high-grade aluminium, the car is lighter than much of its opposition by up to 150kg with the commensurate gains in performance, agility and economy. Up to 50 percent of the structure is made from recycled aluminium allowing for a potential saving of up to 3.3 tonnes of CO2 per car.
In order to maximise the potential of its class-leading architecture, the XJ is powered by the latest highly-efficient Jaguar AJ-V8 petrol direct-injection engines, in both naturally aspirated and supercharged forms. Smooth and powerful, these provide effortlessly refined performance.
Once inside, passengers will find themselves cocooned in unparalleled luxury. Bathed in natural light from the panoramic glass roof, the interior is meticulously crafted from the finest materials in a manner that is strikingly contemporary.
Standard and long wheelbase versions are available, while new for the 2012 XJ range is the Rear Seat Comfort package, which offers an advanced new entertainment system, as well as electric recline, lumbar adjustment and massage functions.
Jaguar is justly renowned for its innovation and the company has, in the cockpit of the XJ, created a haven in which cutting-edge technology is unobtrusively and instantly at the command of the driver. In place of the traditional instrument panel is a 12.3-inch high-definition virtual information interface that can be customised to display a range of driver-critical information.
A unique central 8-inch Touch-screen incorporates exclusive dual-view technology allowing the front-seat passenger to watch a DVD while the driver receives satellite navigation information.
A range of premium surround-sound entertainment systems is topped by the 1200W, 17-speaker system from British experts Bowers & Wilkins and provides concert-hall levels of audio fidelity. All infotainment systems feature hard disc-based music storage and connectivity for audio and video devices via a powerful Media Hub.
Available in three trim levels – Luxury, Premium Luxury and Portfolio – the Jaguar XJ offers a truly unmatched ownership experience.
Jaguar E-Type: A Work of Modern Art
The E-Type is still revered as the ultimate artistic fusion of mechanics and mathematics and if proof were needed of its aesthetic credentials, it came in 1996 when it was the subject of an exhibition at New York’s Museum of Modern Art.
Entitled Refining the Sports Car: Jaguar’s E-Type, this was only the third time a car had been exhibited at the museum and was made possible by the donation of an opalescent, dark blue 1963 Open Two-Seater to MOMA by Jaguar.
The exhibition traced the genesis of the E-Type’s design and engineering from that of the revered 1950s C-Type and D-Type endurance racers with which it shared a stylist in aerodynamicist Malcolm Sayer. Alongside the flawless E-Type was an example of its legendary, race-winning, straight-six engine, images of its predecessors and original engineering sketches.
The E-Type was one of the first production cars designed along aerodynamic principles, worked out by Sayer using complex mathematical equations to design the ellipses and other elements that defined the car’s timeless appearance.
The organiser of the original exhibition, Assistant Curator of the Department of Architecture and Design, Christopher Mount said: “Rarely has a car inspired the kind of passion in both motoring enthusiasts and the general public that the Jaguar E-type has. Even today, the E-type is considered an icon of the post-war British sports car.”
The E-Type was so well received that it is now on permanent display at MOMA.
1966 SERIES 1 E-TYPE
Top speed: 151mph
0-60mph: 7.0secs
Engine: 3781cc, six-cylinder, in-line; triple SU carburettors
Power/torque: 265bhp @ 5500rpm; 256lb ft @ 4000rpm
Chassis: Steel monocoque, torsion bar and wishbone front suspension, independent rear suspension
Dimensions: Length 444cm; width 165cm; height 122cm; weight 1219kg.
2012 JAGUAR XJ LWB Supercharged
Top speed: 155mph (limited)
0-60mph: 4.9secs
Engine: 5000cc, supercharged, 8-cylinder, V-formation
Power/torque: 470bhp @ 6000-6500rpm; 424lb ft @ 2500-5500rpm
Chassis: Aluminium monocoque, wishbones front and rear, Adaptive Dynamics Dimensions: Length 525cm; width 211cm; height 145cm; weight 2365kg.
If any country took the E-Type to its heart, it was the United States. More than two-thirds of all models built were sent across the Atlantic, establishing a special relationship that persists to this day.
On first sight of the E-Type at its launch, Frank Sinatra is reputed to have said: “I want that car and I want it now”, and old Blue Eyes was just one in a long list of Hollywood greats to covet the two-seater sports car. Steve McQueen, Tony Curtis, Britt Ekland and Brigitte Bardot were all celebrity owners.
The beauty, performance and passion that all Jaguars embody still resonates strongly in America to this day. The 21st century XJ limousine turns as many heads in New York with its lithe, powerful and captivating presence as the E-Type did when Sinatra first saw it 50 years ago.
Here, Jaguar’s Design Director Ian Callum explains why:
Two cars, two eras, one company. Both are entirely of their time but, crucially, both are Jaguars and therefore share a definitive purpose – to be fast and beautiful.
Few companies are fortunate enough to have the design heritage enjoyed by Jaguar; one that stretches back half a century and more. It’s this visual integrity that allows comparisons to be drawn between the groundbreaking new XJ luxury saloon and the legendary E-Type sports car, a machine so beautiful that it holds a permanent place in New York’s Museum of Modern Art. These two cars may be separated by a gulf of 50 years, during which time the global automotive industry has changed beyond all recognition, but both are unmistakeably Jaguars.
Jaguar’s Design Director Ian Callum explains how two cars separated by more than a generation can share the same design philosophy: “Part of the purpose of a Jaguar is to look beautiful. We always tryto make our cars visually that little bit wider, lower and longer. That’swhat our proportions are about. When you see them together, the XJ and E-Type speak the same language.”
This is true even though the two cars fulfill very different needs. One is a high-tech limousine with sporting intent, whose unique flowing design is conceived to turn heads in the modern world. The other an iconic two-seater created for the ’60s boy (or girl) about town.
According to Callum, the E-Type demonstrates the overriding principle of sports car design: minimum bodywork encapsulating maximum performance. He explains: “The excitement and beauty of the car were almost created as a by-product. You’ve got beauty derived from its scientific purity of surface and excitement from its proportions.”
“We still work very hard to get the proportions of our cars as tight to the mechanicals as possible. Unlike the E-Type, of course, the XJ has to carry five people in total comfort but the principles of wrapping the body around the package to create exciting proportions are exactly the same now as they were 50 years ago.”
As envisaged by its designer, Malcolm Sayer, the primary aim of the E-Type was to be fast. Indeed, topping out at 150mph, it was the world’s quickest production car.
As an aerodynamicist, Sayer employed a uniquely scientific method of design, which involved the use of slide rules and logarithmic tables to plot the complex curves and straight lines that gelled so harmoniously to create not just the E-Type but its C-Type and D-Type racing predecessors.
“Malcolm Sayer shaped the E-Type with absolutely pure geometric lines,” explains Ian Callum. “He wasn’t driven by aesthetics for the sake of it, he was trying to build something that was shaped by mathematics. That’s how he built his cars up and their beauty is determined by purity and simplicity. That same restraint of line guides us to this day, in everything we do, as we create the next generation of Jaguars like the XJ.”
The E-Type, however, was more than the epitome of automotive beauty. It came to symbolise excitement, embodying Jaguar founder Sir William Lyons’ words that: “driving should be a pleasure not a chore.”
In its profile, stretched lines, prominent rear haunches and the arc of the rear window it was the archetype of sporting performance. The same is true of the XJ, which although it is very much a product of the 21st century, shares key styling attributes with the E-Type that have become firmly established in the company’s design language.
Flourishes such as the E-Type’s famous bonnet bulge – necessary to cover the straight-six engine – have been carried over to the XJ as a symbol of its potency. Both cars share the same sense of front-end drama to give that quintessential Jaguar ‘rear-view mirror’ presence.
Callum explains that it was Lyons’ ability to focus on the future that led to such distinctive designs:
“The E-Type was ahead of its time, just as the XJ is now. Williams Lyons’ philosophy was all about taking that next step. He was very adventurous and knew that it is Jaguar’s job to break the rules. He never looked back, always forward.”
A question Callum is often asked is whether he would design another E-Type. His answer is always the same: “I would refuse, it had its time and place. What I will do is create something as dramatic now as that car was then and I think the XJ achieves that.
“Jaguars should be bought for reasons other than simply pure pragmatism, they should be bought for their style, excitement and beauty. The XJ is the most dramatic, captivating car in its class. Job done.”
Ian Callum, Design Director, Jaguar Cars
Hailed as the architect of Jaguar’s future success, Design Director Ian Callum has a passion for the marque that stretches back to his formative years.
Having shown a talent for drawing from the age of four, it was as a teenager that Callum realised his calling lay in automotive design. Aged 14, he was inspired by the original XJ saloon, designed by Sir William Lyons:“That was a car of great proportions and excitement; it was the best looking and handling saloon in the world at that time.”
This prompted the youthful Callum to send Bill Heynes, Jaguar’s engineering guru, some of his own designs. In response Heynes advised Callum that in order to pursue his dream career, he should study engineering draughtsmanship and industrial design.
Callum earned a place at the Glasgow School of Art in Scotland, followed by a Masters degree in Design at the Royal College of Art in London. After graduating, he designed cars for Ford, Tom Walkinshaw Racing and Aston Martin. In 1999, a mere 30 years after seeking Heynes’ advice as a young boy, Callum was appointed Design Director of Jaguar. He had moved into his dream job.
Callum recognises the huge legacy left in his care by men such as Lyons, Heynes and Jaguar design legend Malcolm Sayer, insisting that it is their determination to explore the possibilities of design and performance that inspires his work today: “I know how intently my predecessors pushed the boundaries. Jaguar has always been a forward-thinking company and that philosophy guides us now.”
Despite the ever greater legislative, safety and comfort constraints on design freedoms, in just over a decade at the helm, Callum has created an award-winning range of Jaguars that capture the drama and passion of the cars of old while remaining entirely focused on the future. As Callum explains: “My task is to look forwards. The car I am most proud of is the next one.”
The New XJ: A True Jaguar Flagship
Created without compromise, Jaguar’s flagship XJ limousine is a class-leader in the mould of Jaguars of old and yet is a beguilingly cutting-edge offering that places its rivals firmly in the past.
The XJ’s construction is as innovative as its appearance, utilising state-of-the-art techniques pioneered by Jaguar. Crafted from high-grade aluminium, the car is lighter than much of its opposition by up to 150kg with the commensurate gains in performance, agility and economy. Up to 50 percent of the structure is made from recycled aluminium allowing for a potential saving of up to 3.3 tonnes of CO2 per car.
In order to maximise the potential of its class-leading architecture, the XJ is powered by the latest highly-efficient Jaguar AJ-V8 petrol direct-injection engines, in both naturally aspirated and supercharged forms. Smooth and powerful, these provide effortlessly refined performance.
Once inside, passengers will find themselves cocooned in unparalleled luxury. Bathed in natural light from the panoramic glass roof, the interior is meticulously crafted from the finest materials in a manner that is strikingly contemporary.
Standard and long wheelbase versions are available, while new for the 2012 XJ range is the Rear Seat Comfort package, which offers an advanced new entertainment system, as well as electric recline, lumbar adjustment and massage functions.
Jaguar is justly renowned for its innovation and the company has, in the cockpit of the XJ, created a haven in which cutting-edge technology is unobtrusively and instantly at the command of the driver. In place of the traditional instrument panel is a 12.3-inch high-definition virtual information interface that can be customised to display a range of driver-critical information.
A unique central 8-inch Touch-screen incorporates exclusive dual-view technology allowing the front-seat passenger to watch a DVD while the driver receives satellite navigation information.
A range of premium surround-sound entertainment systems is topped by the 1200W, 17-speaker system from British experts Bowers & Wilkins and provides concert-hall levels of audio fidelity. All infotainment systems feature hard disc-based music storage and connectivity for audio and video devices via a powerful Media Hub.
Available in three trim levels – Luxury, Premium Luxury and Portfolio – the Jaguar XJ offers a truly unmatched ownership experience.
Jaguar E-Type: A Work of Modern Art
The E-Type is still revered as the ultimate artistic fusion of mechanics and mathematics and if proof were needed of its aesthetic credentials, it came in 1996 when it was the subject of an exhibition at New York’s Museum of Modern Art.
Entitled Refining the Sports Car: Jaguar’s E-Type, this was only the third time a car had been exhibited at the museum and was made possible by the donation of an opalescent, dark blue 1963 Open Two-Seater to MOMA by Jaguar.
The exhibition traced the genesis of the E-Type’s design and engineering from that of the revered 1950s C-Type and D-Type endurance racers with which it shared a stylist in aerodynamicist Malcolm Sayer. Alongside the flawless E-Type was an example of its legendary, race-winning, straight-six engine, images of its predecessors and original engineering sketches.
The E-Type was one of the first production cars designed along aerodynamic principles, worked out by Sayer using complex mathematical equations to design the ellipses and other elements that defined the car’s timeless appearance.
The organiser of the original exhibition, Assistant Curator of the Department of Architecture and Design, Christopher Mount said: “Rarely has a car inspired the kind of passion in both motoring enthusiasts and the general public that the Jaguar E-type has. Even today, the E-type is considered an icon of the post-war British sports car.”
The E-Type was so well received that it is now on permanent display at MOMA.
1966 SERIES 1 E-TYPE
Top speed: 151mph
0-60mph: 7.0secs
Engine: 3781cc, six-cylinder, in-line; triple SU carburettors
Power/torque: 265bhp @ 5500rpm; 256lb ft @ 4000rpm
Chassis: Steel monocoque, torsion bar and wishbone front suspension, independent rear suspension
Dimensions: Length 444cm; width 165cm; height 122cm; weight 1219kg.
2012 JAGUAR XJ LWB Supercharged
Top speed: 155mph (limited)
0-60mph: 4.9secs
Engine: 5000cc, supercharged, 8-cylinder, V-formation
Power/torque: 470bhp @ 6000-6500rpm; 424lb ft @ 2500-5500rpm
Chassis: Aluminium monocoque, wishbones front and rear, Adaptive Dynamics Dimensions: Length 525cm; width 211cm; height 145cm; weight 2365kg.
Sunday, April 24, 2011
BERTONE JAGUAR B99 CONCEPT
A historic brand in automotive. A historic signature in design. Put the two together and you get an explosive new concept car called the Jaguar B99 which Bertone presented at the 2011 Geneva Motor Show.
The name B99 stands for B as in Bertone and 99 for the company near 100 year anniversary in 2012, one of the oldest design companies in the world. The concept projects Jaguar's classic style into the future with refined Bertone elegance, exploring a fascinating new form language with a "dynamic imbalance" between parallel lines and leaping forms. The result is a compact, four-door sedan (4.5 m long, 1.35 m tall, 1.95 m wide, 2.8 m wheelbase) that fits perfectly into the D segment. Starting with a classic three-volume architecture, Bertone designers have shaped the taut, muscular body with bold yet refined character, entirely constructed with handmade aluminum panels in true Italian "coachbuilder" tradition. The unique personality of the luxury sports sedan is emphasized by the sophisticated minimalism outside and in, underlining the true nature of the British authenticity where understatement equals exclusiveness.
Bertone will present not only the luxury sedan in Geneva but also a full GT2 race version, maintaining the exceptional "double soul" tradition of the Jaguar brand, adding high speed aerodynamic appendages and aggressive graphics for continued success on the race track.
In terms of technological innovation, the B99 uses a pure hybrid power system designed and developed by Bertone Energy (the newest Bertone division dedicated to renewable energy research), including a thermal engine for range extension and two electric motors which provide propulsion for the rear wheels. Bertone has been studying ecologically sustainable powertrain systems for the past twenty years, with many examples including full-electric "extreme" concept cars like the 1992 Blitz or 1994 Zer record car, which was the first full-electric car to break the 300 km/h speed barrier in the world.
With the 2011 Bertone Jaguar B99 concept car, Bertone establishes a new record in its 99 year history as the only Italian designer to have created five different Jaguars. The previous models are the 1957 XK 150, produced in a limited edition of four copies, the 1966 Jaguar FT concept car, the 1967 Jaguar Pirana, and 1977 Jaguar Ascot.
"Britishness": a Jaguar at heart
Start from the brand. This is the concept that Mike Robinson, Bertone Brand & Design Director, gives his design team for every project. As an outside design source Bertone must do a lot of catching up on what in-house designers take for granted: a deep knowledge of what their brand was, is, and will be. So Robinsons' team began in late October 2010 with a pre-sketch research program called: "From Cats to Cars", exploring all the possible analogies coming from this spectacular feline from Central and South America. In fact ancient Aztecs and Mayans worshipped this noble predator for its cunning tactics and sheer power, calling it "Jaguar", meaning "he who kills with one leap".
These big cats can reach 160kgs and are very stocky with powerful but short legs designed specifically for a silent, "stalk and ambush" approach to hunting, sneaking slowly through the bushes low to the ground until their powerful pounce concludes the hunt. This stealth or silent approach to hunting is very different from other large feline species who run down their prey with long agile legs like the Cheetah. The Jaguar has an oversized head with an exceptionally powerful jaw capable of crushing skulls.
Today the modern symbol of the Jaguar automobile manufacturer brand is the infamous "leaper", a chrome image which poises the elegant animal in a powerful jump forward with all the weight centered on the rear hips projecting the enormous cat forward with lightning fast speed. The big head is stretched out ready to grab the un-expecting prey. This icon has conditioned Jaguar car design for decades and continues to weigh strongly on the overall balance and proportions of Jaguar automobiles past, present, and future. Unlike other high performance sports cars, Jaguars are designed for "wofting" or floating down the boulevard in silent grace.
So every Jaguar must be smooth and silent and lightning fast, yet still a most elegant and noble automobile. The visual metaphors between the animal the company name represents, the logo, and the milestone cars from the past are extremely important for our understanding of the Jaguar brand. An old Jaguar slogan was: "Grace, Space, & Pace". Bertone research for the Jaguar B99 concept could be summed up in: "Cunning Glamour with Race-Bred Innovation."
Dynamic Imbalance
The first thing that strikes the observer about the Bertone Jaguar B99 concept car is not a high tail - low nose wedge shape like most modern sport sedans. In fact the traditional three volume architecture has headlights and taillights that are roughly the same height from the ground. The beltline and the rocker panel are perfectly parallel. Still, the cars' form language is all but horizontal. The muscles on the B99 are tight, like a sprinter seconds before the gun shot, or a jaguar ready to pounce. In fact the bodyside seems like it is leaping forward. This contrast between "linear and leaping" is the secret of "dynamic imbalance", the evolutionary trend which suggests a possible Jaguar design language of the future.
The front end starts with the forward leaning Jaguar grille which now looks down on the road showing the "British confidence" Jaguars have always had. The angle of the grill is likened to a slingshot, which naturally tends to angle forward in order to counterbalance the tension of the powerful payload about to be launched. This tension visually extends the hood, and when combined with the high position of the headlights, gives the B99 front end a superior stance from any angle, hinting at classic Jaguar grilles from the past without renouncing the modernity and the glamour of its futuristic luxury, conveying a feeling of motion and agility.
Above the grille we have replaced the classic leaping jaguar . Thanks to advanced technology, motion sensors anticipate the vicinity of any object (or person) that comes close and electric motors will pull it down under the level of the hood in a fraction of a second (think airbag deployment speed) before any damage can be done to the pedestrian.
The body side of the car is characterized by an extremely long wheelbase (2.8m) with a classic short front overhang and a long rear one. The traditional three volume greenhouse has been shortened (about 75% of the wheelbase). and lowered, now seems to be sunken down into the body, like a Jaguar stalking its prey, offering an extremely modern glass-to-mass relationship. Another demonstration of "dynamic imbalance" which transmits both mystery and glamour. The Bertone Jaguar B99 concept has the visual center of gravity placed "on" the rear wheel, where the C pillar meets the body and where the powerful hip muscle launches the car forward towards the front grille. Rear view mirrors are futuristic, ultra-thin chrome wings with tiny video cameras that protrude out from the beltline trim molding.
The extra wide stance seen from the rear end is especially important in a car with so much plan view taper. The powerful hips are poised and ready to pounce, demonstrating the silent power the car exudes. The rear grille is very similar to the front grille, with the same floating gloss black insert which carries the round Jaguar logo, but without the chrome frame. The same high, horizontal taillights float out sideways from the rear grille, again accentuating the exceptional width of the vehicle. The wide center exhaust pipe is a reminder that the hybrid vehicle has a thermal engine for extended range capable of bringing the best of both worlds, low pollution with hair-raising performance. The active aerodynamics in the Bertone Jaguar B99 concept is visible in the rear spoiler which automatically rises at high speeds for extra downforce and reduced air turbulence. At lower speeds it simply disappears back into the trunklid.
Interior design: refined minimalism
The pillar less doors open in opposing directions and offer a large, luxurious welcome for all who desire to enter. The deep, dark brown interior is rich in two-tone leather, one with an extra opaque, big grain finish and the other with a pearl, semi-gloss, small grain finish. This dark, luxurious ambient is offset with bright accents in both brushed aluminum and high gloss wood which generate a hidden richness throughout the interior.
Jaguars are typically very individualistic sports cars which privilege driver needs with a dynamic living space. While other luxury sedans are rear passenger oriented Jaguars are definitely driver oriented, with a "you can come too" attitude for passengers. This hand crafted cockpit has a "built up" look using prestigious materials wherever you look, touch or smell, taking perceived quality to higher levels. The relaxing yet responsive environment transforms beautiful forms into high performance controls before your very eyes at a single touch. "Surprise and Delight" are part of the Jaguar DNA.
Once seated the first component that strikes the eye is the wide, horizontal instrument panel which has an elegant, wrap-over, concert piano feeling, with lacquered Ebony Macasar African wood completely framed in a discreet brushed aluminum frame which carries the Jaguar signature in the center. The built-up look adds layers of components to formulate an overall living space which is an extension of both the wealthy home and the business office. The lack of visual noise is a modern way of redefining luxury, putting pure, refined form and materials above all the flashy high-tech buttons that fill most luxury car interiors today. According to our "Cats-to-Cars" research, the very nature of the powerful Jaguar cat is based on its silent approach to hunting, where "less is more", total silence avoids any form of advanced warning until the lightning fast leap attack. So true modern exclusiveness in a Jaguar comes from the lack of visual noise.
As mentioned above, another classic characteristic of modern Jaguars is the "surprise and delight" feature which hides almost everything only to reveal the functions at finger-tip touch. This aspect allows the driver the pleasure of demonstrating to both friends and business colleagues Jaguars' "hidden riches" and purity of idea. The large central infotainment screen is hidden behind the continuous wood panel which stretches across the entire instrument panel so as to maintain the purity of form and materials when not in use. The same is true for the ultra-slim horizontal air registers which are hidden deep in the shadows between the floating "wing" and the main body of the fascia, covering the entire area from A pillar to A pillar, virtually unnoticed.
The instruments are all found in four, classic aluminum cylinders which also float between the "wing" and the fascia. Each cylinder is filled with a ceramic white trumpet shaped analog dial with hidden numbers, transforming traditional 2D dials into innovative tridimensional, backlit sculptures which magically come to life when the start button is pushed. The gear shift lever is a similar mechanism which has the same cylindrical trumpet shape in ceramic white that comes up out of the center console at a touch of the finger. Externally the mechanism serves as an automatic transmission gear shifter but internally serves a mouse command for the hidden infotainment system. When touched, the floating front arm rest on the center console moves forward and upward into an inclined plane, creating a visual bridge between the wide longitudinal tunnel and the wide horizontal fascia.
The door panels are designed with an innovative, wood insert with an elegant sculptural motif based on the "ripples on a lake". The floating arm rests found on all four door panels are the same as those found on the center console. Each arm rest has window lift switches and the driver's door has a multi-function Drive mechanism which disappears when not in use. Rear passengers can take advantage of the floating arm rest which continues up and over the top of the rear center console. This beautifully detailed piece of modern furniture not only acts as a multi-purpose arm rest but also slides out to hold two Champaign bottles in a refrigerated compartment.
Technology: clean power
"Performance through innovation" is one of Jaguars slogans, and today more than ever powerful sports cars must find new responsible ways to offer both high performance and ecological sustainability. The Bertone Jaguar B99 concept is powered by a modular, Extended Range Hybrid system which futuristic utilizes twin 150kW (204 Cv) electric engines connected to the inboard side of the rear axle for propulsion and a lightweight 1.400 cm3 thermal engine producing 125 kW-170 Cv for range extension, giving a combined power output of 425 kW or 570 Cv. The thermal engine charges the Lithium-ion batteries while driving allowing for a theoretical range of 700 kilometers of highway driving between fill-ups with a carbon dioxide output of around 30 g Co2/km. The Bertone Jaguar B99 concept can also travel in full electric mode offering zero emissions for 100kms.
Jaguar B99 GT: Mr. Hyde
Robert Louis Stevenson's "Dr Jeckyll and My Hyde" novel helps us all understand how great paradoxes can coexist inside the human soul. Jaguar has thrived on such a powerful duality for decades, combining the subtleties of exclusive luxury cars perfectly suited to red carpet evenings and the predator-like brute force of the full race cars perfectly suited to 24 hour race track punishment. For this reason Bertone has decided to transform the elegant B99 luxury sedan into a GT race track monster.
The carryover components of the original sedan (front doors, greenhouse, hood and trunk) are very obvious but the 2.5 meter wide body leaves no doubt, the race version is just as wild as every Jaguar in the jungle, ready to eat the competition alive. The overall height car has been lowered 100mm compared to the street version, and has been given a mere 50mm ground clearance along with a perfectly flat belly for aerodynamic efficiency. The Pirelli PZero race tires are 325/30/19. The giant front spoiler pulls in the cooling air while the giant rear extractor returns it. The side spoilers are filled with giant exhaust side pipes. The rear spoiler is a traditional bi-level race spoiler. The interior has been completely emptied and filled with a safety roll cage, a full race drivers seat and a few minimalist instruments. The graphics are in bright fluorescent green in contrast with the silver body and the carbon fiber aerodynamics components.
In order to meet the demanding performance requirements on the track, the modular "pure" hybrid system in the B99 has been modified to include two additional Lucchi electric engines for a four-wheel drive layout producing the equivalent of 725 kW, around 980Cv. Now the Jaguar racing dynasty has a new member, the B99 GT.
Bertone designed Jaguars of the past
As the only Italian designer to penned five Jaguars, over and above the two concept cars presented this year at the Geneva Auto Show, Bertone has a long history of collaboration with the elitist British brand:
Jaguar XK 150 - 1957: produced in a mini-series of four automobiles, this coupé was based on the XK 150 and was inspired by subtle elegance. The bodyside was characterized by sculpted lines coming from the front fender, the greenhouse was shortened but was also very light and airy, almost a classic Bertone signature at the time.
Jaguar FT - 1966: designed as a direct request from Jaguar, the FT was based on the S Type platform and was presented at the 1966 Geneva Auto Show. The four passenger, two door coupé was a very popular layout at the time and was interpreted with a low beltline, wide side glass and an original Jaguar grille with four headlights.
Jaguar Pirana - 1967: based on the legendary E Type, the Jaguar Pirana was presented at the 1967 London Motor Show. The unmistakable proportions of the E Type led to what was considered a futuristic design at the time, with long hood, a short tail and muscled bodyside.
Jaguar Ascot - 1977: based on the XJ-S platform with a V12 engine, the Jaguar Ascot was presented at the 1977 Geneva Auto Show. Typical 70s wedge shaped design with hard edges gave a sneak preview to the modern day 5 door coupés which became so popular some 30 years later.
The name B99 stands for B as in Bertone and 99 for the company near 100 year anniversary in 2012, one of the oldest design companies in the world. The concept projects Jaguar's classic style into the future with refined Bertone elegance, exploring a fascinating new form language with a "dynamic imbalance" between parallel lines and leaping forms. The result is a compact, four-door sedan (4.5 m long, 1.35 m tall, 1.95 m wide, 2.8 m wheelbase) that fits perfectly into the D segment. Starting with a classic three-volume architecture, Bertone designers have shaped the taut, muscular body with bold yet refined character, entirely constructed with handmade aluminum panels in true Italian "coachbuilder" tradition. The unique personality of the luxury sports sedan is emphasized by the sophisticated minimalism outside and in, underlining the true nature of the British authenticity where understatement equals exclusiveness.
Bertone will present not only the luxury sedan in Geneva but also a full GT2 race version, maintaining the exceptional "double soul" tradition of the Jaguar brand, adding high speed aerodynamic appendages and aggressive graphics for continued success on the race track.
In terms of technological innovation, the B99 uses a pure hybrid power system designed and developed by Bertone Energy (the newest Bertone division dedicated to renewable energy research), including a thermal engine for range extension and two electric motors which provide propulsion for the rear wheels. Bertone has been studying ecologically sustainable powertrain systems for the past twenty years, with many examples including full-electric "extreme" concept cars like the 1992 Blitz or 1994 Zer record car, which was the first full-electric car to break the 300 km/h speed barrier in the world.
With the 2011 Bertone Jaguar B99 concept car, Bertone establishes a new record in its 99 year history as the only Italian designer to have created five different Jaguars. The previous models are the 1957 XK 150, produced in a limited edition of four copies, the 1966 Jaguar FT concept car, the 1967 Jaguar Pirana, and 1977 Jaguar Ascot.
"Britishness": a Jaguar at heart
Start from the brand. This is the concept that Mike Robinson, Bertone Brand & Design Director, gives his design team for every project. As an outside design source Bertone must do a lot of catching up on what in-house designers take for granted: a deep knowledge of what their brand was, is, and will be. So Robinsons' team began in late October 2010 with a pre-sketch research program called: "From Cats to Cars", exploring all the possible analogies coming from this spectacular feline from Central and South America. In fact ancient Aztecs and Mayans worshipped this noble predator for its cunning tactics and sheer power, calling it "Jaguar", meaning "he who kills with one leap".
These big cats can reach 160kgs and are very stocky with powerful but short legs designed specifically for a silent, "stalk and ambush" approach to hunting, sneaking slowly through the bushes low to the ground until their powerful pounce concludes the hunt. This stealth or silent approach to hunting is very different from other large feline species who run down their prey with long agile legs like the Cheetah. The Jaguar has an oversized head with an exceptionally powerful jaw capable of crushing skulls.
Today the modern symbol of the Jaguar automobile manufacturer brand is the infamous "leaper", a chrome image which poises the elegant animal in a powerful jump forward with all the weight centered on the rear hips projecting the enormous cat forward with lightning fast speed. The big head is stretched out ready to grab the un-expecting prey. This icon has conditioned Jaguar car design for decades and continues to weigh strongly on the overall balance and proportions of Jaguar automobiles past, present, and future. Unlike other high performance sports cars, Jaguars are designed for "wofting" or floating down the boulevard in silent grace.
So every Jaguar must be smooth and silent and lightning fast, yet still a most elegant and noble automobile. The visual metaphors between the animal the company name represents, the logo, and the milestone cars from the past are extremely important for our understanding of the Jaguar brand. An old Jaguar slogan was: "Grace, Space, & Pace". Bertone research for the Jaguar B99 concept could be summed up in: "Cunning Glamour with Race-Bred Innovation."
Dynamic Imbalance
The first thing that strikes the observer about the Bertone Jaguar B99 concept car is not a high tail - low nose wedge shape like most modern sport sedans. In fact the traditional three volume architecture has headlights and taillights that are roughly the same height from the ground. The beltline and the rocker panel are perfectly parallel. Still, the cars' form language is all but horizontal. The muscles on the B99 are tight, like a sprinter seconds before the gun shot, or a jaguar ready to pounce. In fact the bodyside seems like it is leaping forward. This contrast between "linear and leaping" is the secret of "dynamic imbalance", the evolutionary trend which suggests a possible Jaguar design language of the future.
The front end starts with the forward leaning Jaguar grille which now looks down on the road showing the "British confidence" Jaguars have always had. The angle of the grill is likened to a slingshot, which naturally tends to angle forward in order to counterbalance the tension of the powerful payload about to be launched. This tension visually extends the hood, and when combined with the high position of the headlights, gives the B99 front end a superior stance from any angle, hinting at classic Jaguar grilles from the past without renouncing the modernity and the glamour of its futuristic luxury, conveying a feeling of motion and agility.
Above the grille we have replaced the classic leaping jaguar . Thanks to advanced technology, motion sensors anticipate the vicinity of any object (or person) that comes close and electric motors will pull it down under the level of the hood in a fraction of a second (think airbag deployment speed) before any damage can be done to the pedestrian.
The body side of the car is characterized by an extremely long wheelbase (2.8m) with a classic short front overhang and a long rear one. The traditional three volume greenhouse has been shortened (about 75% of the wheelbase). and lowered, now seems to be sunken down into the body, like a Jaguar stalking its prey, offering an extremely modern glass-to-mass relationship. Another demonstration of "dynamic imbalance" which transmits both mystery and glamour. The Bertone Jaguar B99 concept has the visual center of gravity placed "on" the rear wheel, where the C pillar meets the body and where the powerful hip muscle launches the car forward towards the front grille. Rear view mirrors are futuristic, ultra-thin chrome wings with tiny video cameras that protrude out from the beltline trim molding.
The extra wide stance seen from the rear end is especially important in a car with so much plan view taper. The powerful hips are poised and ready to pounce, demonstrating the silent power the car exudes. The rear grille is very similar to the front grille, with the same floating gloss black insert which carries the round Jaguar logo, but without the chrome frame. The same high, horizontal taillights float out sideways from the rear grille, again accentuating the exceptional width of the vehicle. The wide center exhaust pipe is a reminder that the hybrid vehicle has a thermal engine for extended range capable of bringing the best of both worlds, low pollution with hair-raising performance. The active aerodynamics in the Bertone Jaguar B99 concept is visible in the rear spoiler which automatically rises at high speeds for extra downforce and reduced air turbulence. At lower speeds it simply disappears back into the trunklid.
Interior design: refined minimalism
The pillar less doors open in opposing directions and offer a large, luxurious welcome for all who desire to enter. The deep, dark brown interior is rich in two-tone leather, one with an extra opaque, big grain finish and the other with a pearl, semi-gloss, small grain finish. This dark, luxurious ambient is offset with bright accents in both brushed aluminum and high gloss wood which generate a hidden richness throughout the interior.
Jaguars are typically very individualistic sports cars which privilege driver needs with a dynamic living space. While other luxury sedans are rear passenger oriented Jaguars are definitely driver oriented, with a "you can come too" attitude for passengers. This hand crafted cockpit has a "built up" look using prestigious materials wherever you look, touch or smell, taking perceived quality to higher levels. The relaxing yet responsive environment transforms beautiful forms into high performance controls before your very eyes at a single touch. "Surprise and Delight" are part of the Jaguar DNA.
Once seated the first component that strikes the eye is the wide, horizontal instrument panel which has an elegant, wrap-over, concert piano feeling, with lacquered Ebony Macasar African wood completely framed in a discreet brushed aluminum frame which carries the Jaguar signature in the center. The built-up look adds layers of components to formulate an overall living space which is an extension of both the wealthy home and the business office. The lack of visual noise is a modern way of redefining luxury, putting pure, refined form and materials above all the flashy high-tech buttons that fill most luxury car interiors today. According to our "Cats-to-Cars" research, the very nature of the powerful Jaguar cat is based on its silent approach to hunting, where "less is more", total silence avoids any form of advanced warning until the lightning fast leap attack. So true modern exclusiveness in a Jaguar comes from the lack of visual noise.
As mentioned above, another classic characteristic of modern Jaguars is the "surprise and delight" feature which hides almost everything only to reveal the functions at finger-tip touch. This aspect allows the driver the pleasure of demonstrating to both friends and business colleagues Jaguars' "hidden riches" and purity of idea. The large central infotainment screen is hidden behind the continuous wood panel which stretches across the entire instrument panel so as to maintain the purity of form and materials when not in use. The same is true for the ultra-slim horizontal air registers which are hidden deep in the shadows between the floating "wing" and the main body of the fascia, covering the entire area from A pillar to A pillar, virtually unnoticed.
The instruments are all found in four, classic aluminum cylinders which also float between the "wing" and the fascia. Each cylinder is filled with a ceramic white trumpet shaped analog dial with hidden numbers, transforming traditional 2D dials into innovative tridimensional, backlit sculptures which magically come to life when the start button is pushed. The gear shift lever is a similar mechanism which has the same cylindrical trumpet shape in ceramic white that comes up out of the center console at a touch of the finger. Externally the mechanism serves as an automatic transmission gear shifter but internally serves a mouse command for the hidden infotainment system. When touched, the floating front arm rest on the center console moves forward and upward into an inclined plane, creating a visual bridge between the wide longitudinal tunnel and the wide horizontal fascia.
The door panels are designed with an innovative, wood insert with an elegant sculptural motif based on the "ripples on a lake". The floating arm rests found on all four door panels are the same as those found on the center console. Each arm rest has window lift switches and the driver's door has a multi-function Drive mechanism which disappears when not in use. Rear passengers can take advantage of the floating arm rest which continues up and over the top of the rear center console. This beautifully detailed piece of modern furniture not only acts as a multi-purpose arm rest but also slides out to hold two Champaign bottles in a refrigerated compartment.
Technology: clean power
"Performance through innovation" is one of Jaguars slogans, and today more than ever powerful sports cars must find new responsible ways to offer both high performance and ecological sustainability. The Bertone Jaguar B99 concept is powered by a modular, Extended Range Hybrid system which futuristic utilizes twin 150kW (204 Cv) electric engines connected to the inboard side of the rear axle for propulsion and a lightweight 1.400 cm3 thermal engine producing 125 kW-170 Cv for range extension, giving a combined power output of 425 kW or 570 Cv. The thermal engine charges the Lithium-ion batteries while driving allowing for a theoretical range of 700 kilometers of highway driving between fill-ups with a carbon dioxide output of around 30 g Co2/km. The Bertone Jaguar B99 concept can also travel in full electric mode offering zero emissions for 100kms.
Jaguar B99 GT: Mr. Hyde
Robert Louis Stevenson's "Dr Jeckyll and My Hyde" novel helps us all understand how great paradoxes can coexist inside the human soul. Jaguar has thrived on such a powerful duality for decades, combining the subtleties of exclusive luxury cars perfectly suited to red carpet evenings and the predator-like brute force of the full race cars perfectly suited to 24 hour race track punishment. For this reason Bertone has decided to transform the elegant B99 luxury sedan into a GT race track monster.
The carryover components of the original sedan (front doors, greenhouse, hood and trunk) are very obvious but the 2.5 meter wide body leaves no doubt, the race version is just as wild as every Jaguar in the jungle, ready to eat the competition alive. The overall height car has been lowered 100mm compared to the street version, and has been given a mere 50mm ground clearance along with a perfectly flat belly for aerodynamic efficiency. The Pirelli PZero race tires are 325/30/19. The giant front spoiler pulls in the cooling air while the giant rear extractor returns it. The side spoilers are filled with giant exhaust side pipes. The rear spoiler is a traditional bi-level race spoiler. The interior has been completely emptied and filled with a safety roll cage, a full race drivers seat and a few minimalist instruments. The graphics are in bright fluorescent green in contrast with the silver body and the carbon fiber aerodynamics components.
In order to meet the demanding performance requirements on the track, the modular "pure" hybrid system in the B99 has been modified to include two additional Lucchi electric engines for a four-wheel drive layout producing the equivalent of 725 kW, around 980Cv. Now the Jaguar racing dynasty has a new member, the B99 GT.
Bertone designed Jaguars of the past
As the only Italian designer to penned five Jaguars, over and above the two concept cars presented this year at the Geneva Auto Show, Bertone has a long history of collaboration with the elitist British brand:
Jaguar XK 150 - 1957: produced in a mini-series of four automobiles, this coupé was based on the XK 150 and was inspired by subtle elegance. The bodyside was characterized by sculpted lines coming from the front fender, the greenhouse was shortened but was also very light and airy, almost a classic Bertone signature at the time.
Jaguar FT - 1966: designed as a direct request from Jaguar, the FT was based on the S Type platform and was presented at the 1966 Geneva Auto Show. The four passenger, two door coupé was a very popular layout at the time and was interpreted with a low beltline, wide side glass and an original Jaguar grille with four headlights.
Jaguar Pirana - 1967: based on the legendary E Type, the Jaguar Pirana was presented at the 1967 London Motor Show. The unmistakable proportions of the E Type led to what was considered a futuristic design at the time, with long hood, a short tail and muscled bodyside.
Jaguar Ascot - 1977: based on the XJ-S platform with a V12 engine, the Jaguar Ascot was presented at the 1977 Geneva Auto Show. Typical 70s wedge shaped design with hard edges gave a sneak preview to the modern day 5 door coupés which became so popular some 30 years later.
Friday, April 22, 2011
Jaguar XF 2012
On the outside, Jaguar tried to bring the XF into line with the new XJ, though some may also see common themes with the original C-XF Concept, especially up front with the new and sleeker headlamp designs that incorporate LED daytime running lights arranged in a distinctive Jaguar ‘J-Blade’ signature.
The 2012 XF benefits from revisions to the grille, hood, and front fenders, which incorporate new triangular side vents, while Jaguar also added larger tail lamps with full-LEDs for stop, tail light and turn signal functions. In addition, the trunk lid trim has been redesigned. The XFR’s newly styled bumpers and alloy wheels complete the exterior makeover.
Inside, the changes are more subtle with the XF gaining a new steering wheel, revised seats, a modified instrument panel and optional 1200W Bowers & Wilkins premium sound system.
In North America, the 2012 XF continues with the existing engine lineup that includes a 385HP 5.0-liter naturally-aspirated V8, a 470HP 5.0-liter supercharged V8 and a 5.0-liter supercharged V8 with 510HP in the XFR.
In Europe and other markets, however, Jaguar is introducing the 2.2-liter four-cylinder AJ-i4D turbo diesel, which is a development of the Ford unit found in the Land Rover Freelander. The oil burner puts out 190HP and 450Nm of peak torque, and is linked to a new 8-speed automatic transmission.
Jaguar says that with this engine, the XF reached 60mph (96 km/h) in 8.0 seconds en route to a top speed of 140 mph (225 km/h), while returning a 52.3mpg UK (equal to 43.6 mpg US or 5.4 lt/100 km) on the EU combined cycle, making it the most economical Jaguar ever. According to the automaker, it emits 149g/km of CO2 and is Euro Stage V compliant.
GALLERY
Read more In Cars
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
