2004 Jaguar Xj-series on 2040-cars

Auto blog

2022 Jaguar F-Type goes V8-only as lineup gets trimmed

The sporty F-Type is the latest subject (victim?) of Jaguar's efforts to slim down and modernize its product offerings. For 2022, the coupe and convertible ditch their previous four- and six-cylinder variants in favor of a simple, all-V8 strategy.  For 2022, the entry-level F-Type will be the new P450 RWD coupe, which packs 444 horsepower and 429 lb-ft of torque from its supercharged 5.0-liter V8. Jaguar says it can hit 60 in just 4.4 seconds (with or without the now-optional R-Dynamic AWD system) on the way to a top speed of 177 mph. The 575-horsepower F-Type R will anchor the top end of the range, carrying over pretty much unchanged. If you're thinking, "Hey, at least you're not telling me Jaguar is ditching the manual transmission," that's because you missed it when they did so going into the 2021 model year overhaul. Sorry.  While the demise of the less-expensive P300 four-cylinder and P380 six-cylinder will leave some hopeful buyers in the lurch, it's not all bad news. The new P450 starts at just $71,050 — nearly $10,000 cheaper than the old P380 despite offering an additional 70 horsepower. Yeah, it's $10,000 more than the P300 was, but you're getting a heck of a lot more engine and some new standard equipment. It may not be cheaper, but it's certainly a better value — provided you care about power, that is. The range-topping F-Type R carries on essentially unchanged at $104,350.  The aforementioned 2021 update was a fairly comprehensive one, so the changes for 2022 on the cosmetic and feature fronts are few and far between, with the only noteworthy differences being the elements unique to the new P450 — badges and wheels, in other words. While options were shuffled around from last year's positioning, there's not really anything strictly new. Unlike the F-Pace and XF, the F-Type still relies on Jaguar's older Touch Pro infotainment system, which is a pretty big step down from the new Pivi Pro suite.  For those who want sweet, sweet V8 noises and sexy Jaguar styling, the 2022 F-Type will do both just fine. We'd like to see some Pivi Pro (and perhaps another SVR, pretty please), but for the time being, we'll take solace in the fact that the F-Type lives to see another model year at all. Not all Jaguars have been so lucky. 

Jaguar Land Rover puts the freeze on wounded soldier-athletes [w/video]

For athletes, the cold is often a powerful ally in treating injures, with RICE (rest, ice, compression and elevation) a popular means of treating muscle pulls, bruising and other common forms of discomfort. Did you know, though, that frosty temps are also popular tools for simply recovering from a rough training session?
Well, we're guessing Jaguar Land Rover knew that, as the British company was kind enough to loan out its climactic testing chamber to Jaco van Gass and Luke Darlington, a pair of veterans wounded in their service to Queen and Country. Van Gass, a former private in the Royal Army, and Darlington, a Royal Marine, are attempting to earn a spot on the British Armed Forces cycling team for the upcoming Invictus Games.
The Games, inspired by the Warrior Games held in the United States, are a sporting competition reserved for injured servicemen and women, either active duty or veterans, and is slated to take place from September 10 to 14 in London's former Olympic venues. Van Gass lost his left arm below the elbow after getting hit by a rocket-propelled grenade (he also suffered from a collapsed lung, punctured internal organs, severe shrapnel and blast wounds, a broken tibia and a fractured knee). Darlington, meanwhile, suffered a traumatic brain injury during action in Afghanistan, and he now suffers from weakness in his right side and cognitive issues.

Say goodbye to Jaguar's vestigial oval grille

Jaguar has been on a campaign to replace any and all retro cues with modern ones. Just look at the current XJ and the one it replaced, or the XF and the S-Type that came before it and you'll know what we mean. The one remnant is the XK and its oval grille, in and of itself a throwback to Jags of old (which started to look more like a certain Star Wars alien in above-pictured XKR-S form). But don't expect it to hang around.
Newer Jaguars have been ditching the oval aperture for a more squared-off one, and the next XK will have to fall in line. But don't expect that to be the only change in store for the next-generation Jaguar coupe and convertible.
With the new F-Type now holding the more enthusiast-oriented ground, the next XK is expected to grow bigger, softer and more luxurious. That will likely mean a more commodious back seat as well, though that shouldn't be hard to do considering the lack of space in the back of the current model...