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Motor Trend pits Aston V12 Vantage S against Jaguar XKR-S GT in battle of the Brits

With the recent increase in higher-performance versions of already high-performance vehicles, like Mercedes-Benz and its AMG Black Series, the public is now gaining even greater access to speed and maneuverability. Two of the most recent sports cars to get their wicks turned up include the Jaguar XKR-S GT and the Aston Martin V12 Vantage S.
Both of these cars are the pinnacles of their lines, with the Jag lording over the XKR-S, XKR and XK while the Aston rules over the standard V8 Vantage S and V8 Vantage. Motor Trend has opted to pit the two rivals together for some thorough testing, and it just happened to bring along a few video cameras to capture all the action.
There's nearly 19 minutes of super hot sports car action below, so scroll down and enjoy.

Our love of SUVs is killing people in the streets

Americans are fond of supersized fast-food meals and colossal convenience-store fountain drinks, even though they're clearly bad for our health and U.S. adults keep getting fatter. We also like large vehicles, and our love affair with SUVs is killing people in the streets. According to a recent investigation by the Detroit Free Press/USA Today, the increase in SUV sales over the past several years coincides with a sharp rise in pedestrian deaths in the U.S. — up 46 percent since 2009, with nearly 6,000 people killed in 2016 alone. With SUV sales surpassing sedans in 2014 and pickups and SUVs currently accounting for 60 percent of new vehicle sales, it's no wonder Ford announced in April plans to cease U.S. sales of almost all passenger cars. And this followed Fiat Chrysler's move to virtually an all-truck, -SUV and -crossover lineup. While the Freep/USA Today investigation found that the simultaneous surge in SUV sales and pedestrian deaths comes down to vehicle size, it also points to a lack of action on the part of the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), even though it knew of the dangers SUVs pose to pedestrians. Also blamed are automakers dragging their feet on implementing active safety features. Using federal accident data, the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) determined that there was an 81 percent increase in single-vehicle pedestrian fatalities involving SUVs between 2009 and 2016. Freep/USA Today's analysis of the same data by counting vehicles that struck and killed pedestrians instead of the number of people killed showed a 69 percent increase in SUV involvement. As far back as 2001, researchers at Rowan University forecasted a rise in pedestrian deaths as Americans began switching to SUVs. "In the United States, passenger vehicles are shifting from a fleet populated primarily by cars to a fleet dominated by light trucks and vans," the researchers wrote, with light trucks comprising SUVs.

Jaguar's 600-hp XE SV Project 8 is the fastest Jaguar sedan ever

Jaguar is honing its XE SV Project 8 performance version, the car it calls its fastest four-door ever built. The manufacturer says the limited edition, 200mph sedan is almost production-ready, after countless small adjustments. The XE SV Project 8 will hit production in June. Only 300 of these 600-horsepower super sedans will be built, and they will all be handmade at Coventry's Special Vehicle Operations. Jaguar has also released this short documentary video clip about the project. This content is hosted by a third party. To view it, please update your privacy preferences. Manage Settings. Project 8 Vehicle Dynamics Manager David Pook is enthusiastic about fettling with the car as long as it's possible. "The good thing about building only 300 cars, all handmade, is that you can keep developing the car right up to the start of production. And we've done just that." The recorded 0-60 mph time for the Project 8 is just 3.3 seconds, and it will go all the way to 200 mph. At the Nurburgring Nordschleife last year, it was able to set a four-door production car record time of 7 minutes and 21.23 seconds. There have been last-minute handling changes to make sure the car is just right, Pook says: "The springs have got stiffer and so have the engine mounts. The suspension arm bushes have changed. The brakes have been refined for the exact pedal feel and performance we want." Constant software modifications have also been made to alter the XE SV Project 8's responses. "It's certainly even faster, better handling and more responsive than it was six months ago. All that effort has been worth it." The car comes highly adjustable, as the ride height, camber, front splitter and rear wing setups can be altered. The stock tires are Michelin Pilot Sport Cup 2s on forged 20-inch wheels, and even the wheel bearings are ceramic! Front uprights, two-part upper wishbones, balljoints in place of rubber bushes, twin coil springs, dampers, lower suspension bushes, anti-roll bars and latest specification carbon ceramic brakes are all Project 8 specific, and the only bits lifted from the standard XE are the aluminum roof and front door skins. The vented bonnet and flared front wings and bumpers are carbon. One can also order the Project 8 with or without a rear seat, to save weight. Jaguar prices the Project 8 from GBP149,995 in the UK, or $210,000. Related Video: Featured Gallery Jaguar XE SV Project 8 Jaguar Special and Limited Editions Videos jaguar xe