2002 Jaguar X-type Base Sedan 4-door 3.0l on 2040-cars

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Frankfurt Motor Show Notes: Why Jaguar decided to build an SUV

It was inevitable. Jaguar had to make an SUV, and that notion became reality this week with the debut of the F-Pace, an all-wheel-drive five-seater that will launch in the United States next spring. Some purists may cringe. But in an era when Porsche, Bentley, Lamborghini, Rolls-Royce, Aston Martin, and other traditional luxury brands are all building or (planning to build) SUVs, Jaguar had to evolve. While it seems like a leap for Jaguar to make an SUV, longtime design director Ian Callum said it's been in the works for years. "The first time I was asked the question was when I arrived 16 years ago," he said. So in 1999 (and probably well before that), Jaguar was already thinking SUV. What took so long? "It wasn't a priority," Callum said. Jaguar was concentrating on fixing its existing lineup, which was pockmarked with holes and poorly selling products, like the X-Type. Along the way, Jaguar and sister brand Land Rover were sold by Ford to Indian conglomerate Tata Motors. Flash forward several years, and Jaguar and Land Rover are both experiencing a resurgence in the United States and around the world. Jaguar's lineup is flush with the E-Type's modern successor, the F-Type, plus a new version of the XF. The XJ received a 2016 freshening, and the smaller XE sedan is on the way. Jaguar put its house in order as other factors conspired to make a crossover timely. Fuel prices stayed relatively low, and consumers in the US and China remained steadfast in their love for utility vehicles of all stripes. Making a Jaguar SUV became a priority. "The world was telling us in no uncertain terms this is what they wanted," Callum said. "Not to be in the sector would be a little naive for the sake of purity." Jaguar proved its intent two years ago when it revealed the C-X17 crossover concept at Frankfurt, and the final production model is close to the prototype's striking looks. "I thought we managed to maintain that spirit," Callum said. It's a true Jaguar, with cues from the F-Type, 1968 XJ, and other famous models. Who would have thought Jaguar would make an SUV? "I certainly didn't," Callum admitted. But the F-Pace is here. If Callum is okay with it, purists can be, too. Quick Hits Opel retrenches for 2016 and beyond Opel used the Frankfurt show to display its new generation of the Astra, a critical vehicle line for the German division of General Motors.

Jaguar riffs on Super Bowl ad with new F-Type Coupe web short

Continuing the story of black hearts it began with its first Super Bowl commercial, Jaguar is roaring down the dark and oh-so-magnificently appealing road of villainy with a new spot featuring Tom Hiddleston. Using its new F-Type Coupe to demonstrate, the actor explains the salient features of the best - meaning, English - villains.
However, it's likely that even if you could manage the elegance, the tailored suit, the sharp wit and the distinct sound, you couldn't pull it all off nearly as well as Hiddleston. That doesn't mean you can't try, of course. Might we suggest starting with his excellent lesson in being properly villainous in the video below?

Jaguar F-Type SVR leaks with more power, aggressive looks

Jaguar's new F-Type SVR just leaked online, and according to the German brochure posted by Autovisie the new model in the range is a powerhouse with 567 horsepower and 516 pound-feet of torque (according to our conversions) from its 5.0-liter supercharged V8. Those figures give the SVR 25 hp and 14 lb-ft over the current all-wheel drive F-Type R. That's according to the brochure, anyway. US figures might vary slightly. The F-Type SVR is solely available with an eight-speed automatic and all-wheel drive, and the powertrain can get the coupe to a top speed of 200 miles per hour or 194 mph for the convertible. Acceleration is also quite brisk with the run to 62 mph lasting just 3.7 seconds, which makes the new model even quicker than the Project 7's 3.8-second sprint to 60 mph. The SVR shows off its extra power through a more aggressive nose with larger intakes and slats behind the front wheels to pull cool air past the brakes. The rear also gets a wing and larger diffuser. The brochure lists optional carbon ceramic brakes that are 46 pounds lighter overall than traditional units. A titanium exhaust can also shed about 26 pounds and probably makes the supercharged V8 sound even fiercer. Spy shots have shown the SVR testing, but Jaguar hasn't said anything official about it. Still, this brochure looks legit. The document makes no mention of price, but you can expect a premium over the F-Type R's $104,595 (after $995 destination) for the coupe and $107,445 for the convertible. You can check out more photos of the SVR and download the full brochure from Autovisie. Related Video: