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Jaguar XJ50 Road Trip Review | Driving the XJ50's history

PARIS, France – It's motor show week in Paris, and Jaguar – which launched the original XJ here in 1968 – is indulging in a little nostalgia to celebrate the 50th anniversary that event. In the half century since, it's become the brand's definitive model – as the Wrangler is to Jeep and the 911 is to Porsche. This sexy, curvaceous and unashamedly sporty sedan set the template for generations of XJs. And to get to the show, I'm going to drive examples of each on a roadtrip from Jaguar's home in Coventry and onward to Paris, via Goodwood and Le Mans. There's new product to enjoy along the way, too, in the shape of the celebratory XJ50 trim level created to mark the anniversary. But this is really a chance to explore Jaguar's past, and how previous XJs will inform the company's future. Respecting traditions without being chained to them is a recurring theme in the XJ story and one Jaguar has, at times, struggled with. Nobody understands this better than design boss Ian Callum, who says the original XJ inspired his dream to one day design cars for Jaguar. When his moment came, however, the opposing pressures of nostalgia and innovation became apparent. He recalls seeing the clay models for the circa 2002 XJ, code named X350, styling for which had already been signed off when he started. "I asked 'this is the new one?' because, to me, it looked just like the old version," he says with characteristic bluntness. Callum's chance to truly reinvent the XJ finally came in 2009 with the current model, a car that jolted Jaguar and its customers out of their comfortable slumber. "It's nearly 10 years old now but I still think it looks good – I'm very proud of what we did with that car," he says. Professionally Callum is always looking ahead. Personally he's happy to indulge himself in what came before. He even brought his own XJC – the rare coupe version of the 70s XJ – to drive on the event. Sadly, the XJC didn't make it off the start line in England, but he's clearly enjoying the chance to immerse himself in XJ history. As am I. Given his appraisal of its retro looks, it's interesting to start in the X350. Here you encounter those aforementioned opposing forces: the forward-thinking aluminum construction (which inspired manufacturing techniques used by Jaguar to this day) and the staid styling. Like many of the heritage fleet examples here, this one is actually badged as a Daimler – to Jaguar what Maybach is to Mercedes.

Jaguar F-Pace 300 Sport, 400 Sport create new trims below SVR

Jaguar has introduced two new F-Pace trims in the UK, one of which we expect to make it our way. Dubbed the F-Pace 300 Sport and F-Pace 400 Sport, they also welcome Amazon Alexa integration to the whole F-Pace range. Both Sport trims come standard with gloss black roof rails, privacy glass, and the Black Pack that dresses the badges, bumpers and intakes, sills and greenhouse trim in gloss black. A set of 21-inch wheels is also standard, the Style 5105 design also in gloss black. A 22-inch Style 1020 forged wheel in either gloss black or with satin black inserts or gloss silver with contrasting inserts. Inside, the Sports get Ebony Suedecloth headliners lording over Windsor leather slimline performance seats and Satin Charcoal Ash veneers, plus premium cabin lighting with 30 available colors. The F-Pace 300 Sport is powered by the automaker's Ingenium 3.0-liter six-cylinder diesel mild hybrid with 296 horsepower (300 PS) and 479 pound-feet of torque. This is the one we don't expect to make land in the U.S. The F-Pace 400 Sport would be the one for us, assuming it leaps the Atlantic. The F-Pace Sport models follow the creation of the E-Pace Sport last year, and that trim on the smaller crossover didn't come to America, hence the uncertainty. Back to the matter: The F-Pace Sport 400 is powered by the Ingenium 3.0-liter straight-six gasoline mild hybrid with 395 hp (400 PS) and 406 lb-ft. Prices in the UK start at GBP62,250 ($80,900 U.S.) for the D300 AWD Auto 300 Sport, and GBP68,520 ($89,050 U.S.) for the P400 AWD Auto 400 Sport. The duo add Alexa voice control to their infotainment suites, the ability to request anything online or change the temperature in your second bedroom at home now officially an F-Pace thing. Jaguar says it will add Alexa integration to every F-Pace globally that's fitted with Pivi Pro Infotaiment via an over-the-air update. Wireless Android Auto and Apple CarPlay are now also standard.   Related video: This content is hosted by a third party. To view it, please update your privacy preferences. Manage Settings.

Jaguar Land Rover to upgrade Castle Bromwich plant to build EVs

LONDON — Jaguar Land Rover is making a multi-million pound investment to build electric vehicles in Britain, in a major boost for the UK government and a sector hit by the slump in diesel sales and Brexit uncertainty. Britain's biggest car company, which built 30 percent of the UK's 1.5 million cars last year, will make a range of electrified vehicles at its Castle Bromwich plant in central England, beginning with its luxury saloon, the XJ. "The future of mobility is electric and, as a visionary British company, we are committed to making our next generation of zero-emission vehicles in the UK," Chief Executive Ralf Speth said on Friday. The announcement gives a boost to Britain's automotive sector hit this year by Honda and Ford's plans to close factories. Jaguar Land Rover (JLR) has highlighted the dangers of a no-deal Brexit and the need to maintain frictionless trade with the European Union, echoing warnings from the industry that just-in-time production could be hit by customs delays and additional bureaucracy. But it has signed a deal with workers at the Castle Bromwich factory to go from a five-day to a four-day working week with the same amount of hours which should allow the plant to operate more efficiently. Three of JLR's four European car plants are in Britain, giving it limited capacity elsewhere on the continent. The other, in Slovakia, only opened last year and is still being ramped up with other models allocated there. "We are making this investment because the ongoing Brexit uncertainty has left us with no choice, we had to act, for our employees and our business," JLR said. "We are committed to the UK as our home and will fight to stay here but we need the right deal." Both candidates to replace Prime Minister Theresa May, Boris Johnson and Jeremy Hunt, have both said they are prepared to take Britain out of the EU on Oct. 31 without a deal, although it is not their preferred option. Brexiteers have argued that the EUÂ’s biggest economy Germany, which exports hundreds of thousands of cars to Britain ever year, would do its utmost to protect that trade Friday's announcement comes after a turbulent few months for Jaguar which announced around 4,500 job cuts earlier in January and posted a 3.66 billion pound ($4.5 billion) loss in 2018/19.