1969 Jaguar E-type Xke Ser 2, 2+2 Coupe. 40k Miles. Orig Paint/trim. Needs Resto on 2040-cars

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SVR plans to tune electrified Jaguar-Land Rover models, but not the I-Pace

Jaguar-Land Rover's SVR division has only put its name on high-horsepower gasoline-burning cars, like the XE Project 8 built in strictly limited numbers. It's open to the idea of tuning electrified models, whether they're electric or hybrid, but it confirmed it's not currently planning on making a spicier evolution of the I-Pace. "We will be developing electrified versions of our cars, be that fully electrified or plug-in hybrids," affirmed Michael van der Sande, the division's managing director, in an interview with Auto Express. But although the electric I-Pace (pictured) raced in a one-make race series held on the sidelines of Formula E events for two seasons, and SVR could credibly claim to inject track DNA into a street car, it stressed the I-Pace doesn't appear in its product plans for reasons that remain a little bit murky. Jaguar announced the end of the eTrophy series in May 2020, which might explain why it's reluctant to exploit racing's marketing power. "There are other various things we are working on which we can't talk about, but we're very interested in electrification. That's why we got involved in eTrophy," van der Sande clarified. "The technology transfer, the learning applies to that car and other cars but we're not planning an SVR I-Pace at the moment." His comments confirm we'll need to be patient to see what SVR's take on an electric or hybrid car looks like. One of the first electrified models to receive the go-fast treatment might be the next-generation XJ tentatively scheduled to make its debut before the end of 2020. It will be exclusively electric, though it won't look as radical as the I-Pace, so Jaguar will need to find a way to replace the hot-rodded XJR 575 model it positioned at the top of the last-generation model's line-up. It's not too far-fetched to speculate the next Range Rover also due out in the coming months will receive some degree of electrification, and it could spawn an SVR-tuned model, too. Related Video:    

2018 Jaguar XJ stars in 'Game of Drones'

Looking for a fun way to put the its 2018 XJ in the spotlight, Jaguar turned to a fresh form of racing. The automaker placed three of the long-wheelbase XJL models in a studio, and surrounded them with illuminated, door-shaped gates. Then Jaguar brought in a pair of professional drone racers to compete in the glowing circuit, which includes pass-through of the rear of the XJL cabins. The drone pilots, donning VR headsets, sat in the rear of the 575-horsepower version of the XJL, the Jaguar XJR575, and launched the drones from the trunk of the car. They raced the drones through the gates and through the cars at speeds of up to 60 miles per hour. "The course was a great test, but the fact we were able to go at such speeds proves how much space the doors of the Jaguar XJL gave us," said the winning drone pilot, Brett Collis. "Despite having to fly through the cabin, we were still pushing the drones to their top speeds." The "Game of Drones," as Jaguar dubbed the race, took place at Alexandra Palace in London, but the automaker is bringing similar experiences to more locations. Jaguar plans to go on an "Art of Performance Tour," where it will bring drone and Smart Cone driving challenges to the public, free of charge.

2020 Jaguar XE updated inside and out, diesel engine dropped

For the 2020 Jaguar XE sports sedan, less is more, at least in terms of powertrain offerings and trim levels. But the new, slimmer lineup adopts additional tech features, and the model also sees design tweaks inside and out. The diesel engine and the 3.0-liter V6 have been axed. The 247-horsepower 2.0-liter turbocharged Ingenium inline-four is the base engine. It's mated to an eight-speed automatic transmission and can be had with rear-wheel drive or all-wheel drive. This base engine's new model designation is P250, versus 25t previously. The step-up engine is the 296-hp version of the Ingenium 2.0-liter. Cars so equipped wear a new P300 badge, in place of the previous 30t. All-wheel drive is now standard with the 296-hp engine, and Jaguar claims a zero-to-60-mph time of 5.4 seconds for this powertrain. The exterior design tweaks include new bumpers front and rear, a reshaped rear valence, as well as new LED headlights and taillights. A wider grille with lattice mesh is supposed to draw the XE closer visually to the I-Pace EV. The previous thicket of trim levels — Premium, Prestige, R-Sport, S, Portfolio, and Landmark — have been pruned to just two: S and R-Dynamic S. Newly available is Jaguar Land Rover's InControl Touch Pro Duo infotainment system, which uses a second screen for climate control, flanked by two large knobs that can operate different functions (temperature, fan speed, and seat heating/cooling). The new rearview camera mirror eliminates blind spots, and wireless device charging has been added to the center console. Jaguar also has ditched the rotary shifter in favor of pistol-type shifter found in the F-Type and elsewhere, while surrounding it with a variety of controls, including a flipper switch to toggle among the car's different drive modes. A beefier steering wheel includes capacitive-touch switches. Newly designed seats, with standard leather, are claimed to be more comfortable, while redesigned door panels incorporate wider, softer armrests as well as increased storage capability. Base pricing climbs from $37,990 for the old rear-wheel-drive 20t to $40,895 (including destination) for the new P250. The AWD P250 is $42,894, while the P300 is $47,290. The 2020 Jaguar XE is on sale now. Related Video: