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Jaguar tests autonomous vehicle technology with 100-car fleet

Jaguar Land Rover is exploring how to take autonomous vehicle technology off the paved path. But the company has plans for technology on tarmac, too. The company announced that the Jaguar division will have a fleet of 100 cars testing autonomous technologies on public roads. The testing process will cover a period of four years and begin with vehicle-to-vehicle and vehicle-to-infrastructure communication systems, along with a stereo camera system and autonomous vehicle software. These systems will work together to provide a variety of features that could make their way into future Jaguars and Land Rovers. The first feature in development is called "Roadwork Assist." The system relies on the stereo camera to create a 3D image the car's software can analyze. The software can identify road cones and other barriers associated with construction sites. The car will then alert the driver about entering the construction zone and provide some steering assistance to keep the car centered in its lane. Tony Harper, Jaguar's head of research, said that this system can reduce stress on the driver, and the technology could eventually be used to allow the car to pilot itself through construction zones. Another of Jaguar's proposed features is "Safe Pullaway," which also relies on cameras and software. The Safe Pullaway feature is designed to prevent close-proximity collisions in traffic jams and even in the garage. To do this, the car watches the area immediately ahead of it for obstacles. If the car detects something nearby while the driver adds throttle or shifts into gear, it will apply the brakes to prevent driving into the object. The final project on Jaguar's plate is its "Over the Horizon Warning" system. This will be one of the first features to rely on Jaguar's vehicle-to-vehicle communication technology. The idea is that connected cars in constant communication will give drivers additional warning of upcoming hazards, such as out-of-sight animals and slowed or stopped cars. In Jaguar's example of a stopped car, the stationary vehicle would send a signal alerting approaching cars of the situation. In turn, the approaching vehicles would trigger audible and visual warnings to drivers about the hidden car. Jaguar says that the system could also be applied to emergency vehicles. Emergency vehicles would broadcast a signal to alert drivers well before the lights and sirens get their attention. This would give emergency vehicles a faster, safer path through traffic.

Xcar drives Jaguar C-X75, other Spectre villains of 007

James Bond returns to US theaters very soon in Spectre, and with the action-packed film wrapped, the producers are lending out the keys to some of the movie's automotive stars. We've already seen Jay Leno behind the wheel of Bond's Aston Martin DB10. Now, Xcar's Alex Goy has taken a turn in some of the flick's villainous rides from Jaguar Land Rover, including a very special Jaguar C-X75. The crew from JLR's Special Vehicle Operations team certainly did an impressive job of giving the movies baddies some appropriately nefarious rides. To challenge Bond, they turned the Land Rover Defender into a beast with chunky, off-road tires and blinding-spot lights. They also made the Range Rover Sport SVR even more diabolical than normal with a blacked-out look and LED lightbar. Of course, the king of Spectre's villain cars is the C-X75. According to Goy, most of the ones in the movie use the company's 5.0-liter, supercharged V8, but two are actually original prototypes with the hybrid setup. He gets to drive one of those special examples in this clip. While limited to some low-speed cruising, the coupe still looks wonderfully menacing on the road. Related Video:

Jaguar F-Type Checkered Flag edition marks 70 years of sports cars

Jaguar's first sports car, the XK 120, debuted in 1948, right in the midst of Britain's postwar recovery efforts. Since then, the company has had decades of success building everything from lightweight roadsters to record-setting supercars. Currently, the automaker's performance lineup is led by the Jaguar F-Type coupe and roadster. To celebrate 70 years of building performance cars, Jaguar is releasing a new special edition, the F-Type Checkered Flag. Most of the upgrades are visual and are available on both coupe and convertible models. In addition to badges and logos on the rear bumper, headrests, kick plates and steering wheel, the cars will be fitted with brushed aluminum trim and black leather. The steering wheel will have a red center marker at its top. There are additional red and white accents throughout the rest of the car. The F-Type Checkered Flag will be available in three colors: Caldera Red, Fuji White or Carpathian Grey, all with a contrasting black roof. Jaguar F-Type Checkered Flag View 18 Photos Somewhat surprisingly, the Checkered Flag upgrades will only be applied to four- and six-cylinder models paired with the eight-speed automatic. Turbocharged four-cylinder cars make 296 horsepower, while the supercharged V6 models make either 340 or 380 horsepower. The 380 horsepower model can be equipped with all-wheel drive. The F-Type R Dynamic package (not the same as the V8-powered F-Type R) packs revised dampers for a smoother ride. Other general changes for the 2020 model year include revised dampers on the F-Type R coupe and convertible. The F-Type R gets the SVR's rear upper ball joint, rear knuckle and rear control arm. A rear camera and parking sensors are standard across the board. Related Video: This content is hosted by a third party. To view it, please update your privacy preferences. Manage Settings. News Source: Jaguar Jaguar Convertible Coupe Luxury Performance