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Jaguar Activity Key | 2017 Autoblog Technology of the Year Finalist

In principle, the Jaguar Activity Key is a good idea. It's simple, useful, and relatively inexpensive. Unfortunately, in our testing it was less than reliable. Here's how it's supposed to work: To lock the car, leave your keys and fobs inside the vehicle, and strap the band on your wrist. Then, within 30 seconds, place your banded wrist against the letter J of the Jaguar script on the back tailgate. When you come back, you can unlock the vehicle by pressing the tailgate opening button, then, again within 30 seconds, placing the Activity Key band against the J of the Jaguar script. We chose the Jaguar Activity Key as a finalist for our 2017 Tech of the Year award because it's an uncomplicated device with lots of potential customers. Jaguar says the wristband is "robust and fully waterproof." Swimmers, surfers, kayakers, hikers, and even couples out for a sunny-day picnic could use a feature like this wristband key. Plus, wearables are pretty new as a category in general, and even more so in the automotive space. We didn't go skydiving with it or anything (an activity Jaguar cites as a potential usage case), but we did dunk it in water with no ill effects. While it all sounds good in theory, actually getting the Activity Key to work effectively was unexpectedly difficult, especially when the cameras were rolling. We tried varying the timing between closing the door and using the wristband, as well as between using the tailgate button and the wristband. It worked about half the time, regardless of our process or who was wearing the wristband. Whether our issues with the wristband were due to interference, new-technology teething problems, or just electrical gremlins, the idea of purposely locking the keys inside an automobile without having a foolproof way to unlock it gives us reason to pause. The Activity Key is a $400 standalone option on the 2017 Jaguar F-Pace, but only on Prestige, R-Sport and S models. The least expensive F-Pace with Activity Key costs $51,095.

Jaguar's F-Sleigh replaces reindeer with jet power

'Tis the season for automakers to demonstrate how they would design Santa's famous (if fictitious) sleigh. The F-Sleigh concept is based on the F-Type convertible, but this one has skids instead of wheels, a pair of jet engines in place of the supercharged V8, the requisite red nose (embossed with the Growler emblem), and of course plenty of room for gifts. This is the second time we've seen a modern Jaguar design incorporating small turbines, and takes the idea of a 550-horse open sleigh to new heights. Jaguar rendered the design in an ice sculpture and is displaying it this holiday season at the London Edition hotel in the British capital. Joining the F-Sleigh on display are some of the more tempting items from the latest Jaguar and Land Rover merchandise collections, including a 1:8 scale model of a 1957 XKSS and a Defender pedal car. But it's the centerpiece that caught our attention, looking at least as cool as some of the designs we've seen from the likes of Ford, Honda, Lexus, Bentley, or even Jaguar Land Rover's previous concepts. Now if you'll excuse us, we have to rush down to the fireplace to replace the milk and cookies with a tanker full of jet fuel. Related Video: JAGUAR UNVEILS EXCLUSIVE CHRISTMAS 'F-SLEIGH' DESIGN TO CELEBRATE THE LAUNCH OF JAGUAR AND LAND ROVER 2016 MERCHANDISE COLLECTIONS - Jaguar unveils special Christmas-themed design study codenamed F-SLEIGH - Jaguar and Land Rover host exclusive launch of new 2016 branded collection in central London - Items from the new collections available to buy at Jaguar and Land Rover retailers and online stores: https://shop.jaguar.co.uk/ / https://shop.landrover.co.uk/ (The London Edition, London W1 - 14 December 2015): Jaguar and Land Rover showcased their latest collection of branded goods alongside licensed partners in central London today, to mark the launch of the brands' 2016 collections. A special ice-sculpture of a Christmas-inspired Jaguar design was exclusively revealed at the London Edition hotel to celebrate the merchandise and luxury goods launch. Codenamed 'F-SLEIGH', the Jaguar Christmas sleigh takes inspiration from the Jaguar F-TYPE convertible, but with skates in place of wheels, a generous open luggage compartment for gifts and jet power to generate Jaguar's renowned supercharged performance through the night sky. A Growler-embossed red nose completes the F-SLEIGH's Christmas theme.

Jaguar's famed design director Ian Callum is quitting

Jaguar's director of design Ian Callum is officially stepping down. Callum has been with the company for over 20 years, leading numerous important and legendary designs. To name a few, Callum is responsible for recent cars like the Jaguar F-Type, XF and I-Pace. He also designed the C-X75, which was a concept hypercar that Jaguar absolutely should have made. "I have had an incredible career at Jaguar," Callum says. "One of my biggest highlights was creating XF because it represented the beginning of a new era moving Jaguar from tradition to contemporary design — it was a significant turning point in our story." Callum also says he isn't done designing cars — he's even going to continue to act as a consultant for Jaguar after his departure. It's unclear what his main project will be after he leaves in July, but he's left the door open for himself. "I came into this role with a mission to take Jaguar design back to where it deserved to be. It has taken 20 years, but I believe I have achieved what I set out to do. Given the strength of both our products and the design team I feel that now is the right time to move on, both personally and professionally, and explore other design projects," Callum says. In addition to slick sports cars and sultry sedans, Callum is also responsible for leading Jaguar into the era of SUVs and crossovers. He headed up the design for the F-Pace and E-Pace. We found both of those to be some of the better looking crossovers on sale today, so props to Callum for finding and implementing the Jaguar style in the inherently unstylish crossover format. Callum has designed plenty of great cars outside of Jaguar, too. A few examples include the Aston Martin DB7, DB9, Vanquish and Ford Escort Cosworth. Our big question is, what's next for Callum? Whatever car he decides to design is probably going to look the business, so we're excited for any projects he gets involved in after Jaguar. Taking his place at Jaguar is current creative design director Julian Thomson. He's been with the company since 2000, and has previously worked with Ford, Lotus and Volkswagen.