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Jaguar's V8-powered F-Pace SVR gets quicker and meaner-looking for 2021

Jaguar is making several visual and mechanical changes to the F-Pace SVR for the 2021 model year. The modifications turn the SUV into a quicker, meaner-looking cat with an appetite for all things Cayenne-flavored. Power for the SVR still comes from a supercharged, 5.0-liter V8 rated at 550 horsepower, but its torque output increases from 502 to 514. Although that's not a drastic improvement, it's enough to lower the SUV's zero-to-60-mph time to 3.8 seconds (three-tenths of a second quicker than before), and to raise its top speed from 176 to 178 mph. Jaguar also gave the F-Pace the XE Project 8's torque converter, and a Dynamic Launch function that relies on driveline inertia to ensure the power flow to the wheels isn't interrupted when the transmission shifts. Revised suspension components and a retuned steering system complement the driveline tweaks. Engineers also developed a recalibrated braking system with an electric booster that improves stopping performance. All-wheel drive and an eight-speed automatic transmission linked to shift paddles continue to come standard. Stylists made subtle visual changes that add up to give the F-Pace a cleaner, sharper design while reducing drag by 35%. Up front, the hood now stretches all the way to the edge of the grille, the headlights gain two individual strips of LED accents, and the trim around the air dams on the lower part of the bumper has been reshaped. Out back, the lights ditch the hemisphere-shaped insert -- a nod to the F-Type -- for a completely horizontal design. The nip-and-tuck is aligned with the one Jaguar performed on the non-SVR variant of the F-Pace. In 2020 more than ever, technology is the yardstick used to measure luxury cars, so Jaguar invested a significant amount of time and money into making the SVR smarter and more connected. It added a 12.3-inch high-definition touchscreen for the Pivi Pro infotainment system, the ability to receive over-the-air software updates, a wireless device charger, and active road noise cancellation technology, among other features.  As the flagship of the F-Pace family, the SVR needs to look and feel suitably posh inside, and our time behind the wheel of the outgoing model suggests that wasn't always the case. Jaguar tells us it addressed this shortcoming. The 2021 SVR's interior gets a split-rim steering wheel, a redesigned center console with more storage space and a shorter gear selector, plus a new-look climate control panel.

Buy a Jaguar E-Type continuation, get a matching wristwatch

From time to time, automakers release special branded watches. Jaguar and Land Rover are no different. The latest from Land Rover isn't particularly remarkable, but one new Jaguar piece is pretty special. Jaguar partnered with British watchmaker Bremont for a line of watches, the most impressive being a 43mm watch that commemorates Jaguar's continuation series of Lightweight E-Types. Like the cars, only six of the watches will be produced, and they will be offered to the owners of those $1.5 million cars. Each watch features a serial number that matches a corresponding car, and the faces have been designed to look like the instruments aboard the E-Types. The same goes for the hands, which look like the gauge needles. The winding crown also has a tire tread pattern that wraps around the sides, with Jaguar's heritage logo on the top. And these timepieces are built with aluminum left over from the continuation E-Types. On the back is the most impressive part, though. Here is where the watch's automatic winding weight is visible. It's shaped like a vintage steering wheel, and the outer rim is made from real wood. The weight keeps the watch and its exclusive Bremont movement wound. If you can't afford this ultra-limited watch, Bremont has a line of other Jaguar watches with many of the same design cues, at prices ranging from less than $5,000 to more than $11,000. The Land Rover watch is a bit disappointing, since it bears little apparent connection to the vehicles. Zenith, the Swiss company that partnered with Land Rover for the piece, claims the design is inspired by the Range Rover. And Land Rover claims a connection in that a British explorer wore the same series watch while completing an expedition with a pair of Range Rovers. There's also the fact that the watch and the SUV are both made of aluminum, but otherwise, the Zenith watch doesn't look particularly automotive. The box sounds pretty cool, though, since it's fashioned from Land Rover wood and upholstery. Related Video:

2017 Jaguar XE

You've seen this movie before. Topple the BMW 3 Series has gone more rounds than The Fast and The Furious and The Transporter combined. But like any good cinematic retread, this time it's different. For starters, the latest installment is a zombie flick. Born from the ashes of Ford ownership and the failed X-Type, the 2017 Jaguar XE is coming to save us from the somnambulant, undead Bimmer. Think Army of Darkness with luxury sport sedans, and you'll understand what we're going for. Okay, the plot is only based on a true story. The reality in the automotive world isn't as dramatic as most car journalists would like you to believe. But the XE is hugely important for Jaguar's desire to increase global production. You're looking at the future best-selling model. It's built on an all-new body structure that forms the basis for all the brand's upcoming sedans. The smallest, most affordable Jaguar also launches with a new engine family, built in a new factory in England. The XE arrives stateside in early 2016 with two available engines. A 2.0-liter diesel from the new Ingenium lineup is the entry-level model. Above that is the supercharged 3.0-liter V6 familiar to the Jaguar and Land Rover lineup. A turbo 2.0-liter gas engine will come in below the diesel at a later date, with an optional manual transmission. The XE versions on launch will offer rear- or all-wheel-drive. Pricing information is yet to be revealed. Until then, just assume the XE will mimic its competitors for price and content. We spent most of our time driving the 35t with R-Sport trim, but check back for a driving impression of the diesel in a few days. As we reported in our prototype drive of the XE earlier this year, this car has incredible steering feel. It's the supernatural aid in the XE's monomyth if any film buffs are still paying attention. The electrically assisted system ranks in the hall of fame with the rack on the current Porsche 911 Carrera. Lightly weighted, the loads build up in the steering wheel like it's wired to strain gauges on the sidewall of the front tires. It's not just good programming that makes the XE steer so well, although that's a big part. The rest comes from the chassis. Jaguar engineers claim the double wishbone front suspension uses lessons learned from the F-Type. The rear part of the car's quick responses comes from a multi-link setup Jag calls integrated link. A body 20-percent stiffer than the current XF also contributes to sharp reflexes.