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Jaguar refreshes the 2018 F-Type lineup and adds a high-performance V6 model

Jaguar is giving the F-Type line a refresh for 2018 and adding two new variants. All new F-Types feature LED headlights and slightly darker taillights. Every model except the SVR also gets updated front bumpers. The most noticeable change is the side vents, which morph from the double slots to single openings in most cases. The F-Type R's large side vents are bisected horizontally. The two new F-Type models are the R Dynamic and the limited edition 400 Sport. The R Dynamic isn't particularly exciting, since it's pretty much just a dress-up package for the entry level 340- and 380-horsepower F-Types. All the model adds are 19- and 20-inch wheel options, as well gloss black-painted hood vents, splitter, side sills, and rear diffuser. The 400 Sport, on the other hand, comes with much more. It's only available for one year, and comes with a modified supercharged V6 producing 400 horsepower. The 400 Sport can be ordered with either rear- or all-wheel-drive, but the 8-speed automatic is the only available transmission. The car also benefits from larger 15-inch brakes at each corner. Owners of the 400 Sport can personalize their driving settings as well, thanks to the car's Configurable Dynamics system. Inside and out, the 400 Sport gets some visual upgrades, too. It includes the Sport Design Pack, which adds a deeper front spoiler, larger side sills, and a rear diffuser. A flat-bottom steering wheel, yellow contrast stitching, and black brushed aluminum accents finish off the interior. There are also plenty of 400 Sport badges on the car. View 12 Photos The two other major changes for the F-Type line involve infotainment. One of which is that every model now comes standard with Jaguar's Touch Pro infotainment system and its 8-inch touchscreen with which the driver can interact. The other is a cool new app the company developed with GoPro. It's called ReRun, and it allows the driver to connect a GoPro camera to the car, and download footage to the phone. The reason for connecting the camera to the car, is so that it can add telemetry data including speed, gear, g force, and steering and brake inputs to the video footage. After a spirited drive in the country or on a racetrack, the footage can be downloaded to the phone to be reviewed and shared. The app even generates "highlights" automatically. The new F-Type range will go on sale in the first quarter of 2017.

European automakers gear up for Brazilian production

Brazil is the place to be, apparently. Toyota has been investing in the South American country, as has BMW, which announced a $261 million investment in October 2012, on the heels of an Audi factory announcement in San José Chiapa. The high-end immigration is only set to continue, as Mercedes-Benz and Jaguar-Land Rover have both announced plans to set up manufacturing operations there.
Mercedes is the big news here, as its new facility will see the German manufacturer invest 170-million euros for production of its next-generation C-Class and upcoming GLA-Class. "Brazil is an important future market. With our local production we accept the challenge and take on the competition," noted Andreas Renschler, Management Board member for Production and Procurement at Mercedes-Benz Cars and Mercedes-Benz Vans. Production is expected to begin by 2016.
Jaguar-Land Rover, meanwhile, isn't so concrete in its plans. The news of its investment in South America comes from a job posting for a plant quality manager in Brazil that was picked up by the UK's AutoCar. "Portuguese language skills will be definite advantage" for interested candidates, according to the job listing. The want ad follows on the heels of remarks by Jaguar Land Rover's Dr. Ralph Speth, who said there are "very intensive discussions" with Brazil's government. Unlike Mercedes, there's no mention of which vehicles will be produced in South America, although AutoCar thinks the Freelander, sold in the US as the LR2, is a leading contender.

The Jaguar XE SV Project 8 looks like an XE, but is almost completely new

Jaguar's XE SV Project 8 is a thoroughly astonishing sports sedan. With a 592-horsepower V8, it's the most powerful Jaguar road car ever produced. And it's amazing to think that Jaguar's most powerful car is a version of its entry-level sedan. Or at least it looks that way. In reality, the majority of the body is completely unique to the Project 8. A Jaguar representative told us that only the roof and door skins are shared with the standard XE. The other 70 percent of the exterior is completely unique to the car. These changed body panels include wider fenders of course, and many of the pieces are made from carbon fiber rather than metal, but there are also some more unusual tweaks. For instance, the headlights actually had to be moved to a different position to make space for the Project 8's massive wheels and tires. The tires, for reference, are 265-mm wide at the front, and the rears are 305-mm wide. There were also some changes for style. The air vents at the front that consist of many small holes in the bumper are a tribute to Jaguars of the past. The hexagonal shape of the holes apes that of the vintage Jaguar logo, which featured the word Jaguar in an elongated hexagon. All in all, there's an impressive amount of new engineering that went into creating the Project 8. The results are, in a word, stunning. Related Video: