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Jaguar Heritage Driving Experience throws you the keys to the museum

As automotive journalists, we get to drive a lot of really cool, high-performance vehicles. It really is the single best thing about this job. However, our access to vehicles is generally limited to the newest offerings on the market. That means, much like the general public, we don't really get access to vintage iron.
Jaguar is trying to rectify that issue for journalist and enthusiast alike, with a new program called the Heritage Driving Experience. It allows British enthusiasts to pop into the brand's Warwickshire testing site, drop anywhere from 100 to 300 pounds ($160 to $480) and go for a spin in some of the brand's most legendary offerings. That includes the more typical classics, like the Mark 2 saloon and the E-Type sports car, but you can also pay for access to stunners like the XK150, XKSS and the race-spec D-Type. In addition to the classics, most of the tests include time in their modern successors. So an hour with the Mark II can be split with time in an XFR-S, while the E-Type is complemented by its spiritual successor, the F-Type.
Most of the events are limited to 30 or 60-minute sessions, although the brand does offer a half-day and full-day event. The former, the Jaguar Le Mans Experience, includes time in the C-Type, D-Type, XKSS and F-Type R. The full-day Grace and Pace Pack, meanwhile, gives you access to nine vehicles, covering a huge gamut. That means time in the C-, D- and E-Type, XK150, Mark II, XKR-S GT and F-Type R, among others. Not surprisingly, prices aren't listed for the half- and full-day pack. Much like Jag's finest cars, if you have to ask, you probably can't afford them.

Weekly Recap: Jaguar takes a leap with price cut, new strategy

Jaguar was one of the famous automotive props and plotlines in the now-iconic drama Mad Men. There's a scene where the show's protagonist, Don Draper, deftly undercuts an influential Jaguar dealer by indicating that get-me-in-the-door local radio spots would be an effective way to sell cars like the slinky E-Type. The British executives think this is folly – Draper knows they will – and his advertising strategy wins out over the dealer's approach to move the metal. Jaguar's not doing that, but half a century later in the real world the company is launching plans to make its cars more attainable to new and younger customers like Millenials. These aren't coupons, but this is a leap for Jaguar, which has long banked on sexy styling and its rich motorsports history to overshadow its past mechanical flaws. Put simply, Jaguar is addressing the reasons why people, especially the younger set, don't buy its cars. The 2017 XE will start at $35,895 when it launches next spring – which makes it an attractive buy for a successful, relatively young person. When it's time to move up, the redesigned XF will be more attainable, coming in at $52,895, which is $5,275 less than the 2015 model. The flagship XJ sedan and the enthusiast-oriented F-Type sports car will also get thousands of dollars worth of added standard features, and Jag is actively pitching them as a better value than their competitors. "The Jaguar brand is on the eve of a major transformation that will see it dramatically increase its presence in the United States luxury marketplace with an expanded lineup, pricing focused on the core of the luxury market, and an all-new ownership package with best-in-class coverage," Joe Eberhardt, CEO of Jaguar Land Rover North America, said in a statement. The brand's quality and reliability dings have also lurked in the back of buyers' minds for decades, though that's an outdated notion. Jaguar placed third in J.D. Power's Initial Quality Study in June and was the top-ranked luxury brand in J.D. Power's Customer Service Index in March. Not content, the company is rolling out an enhanced program called Jaguar EliteCare that launches on 2016 models. It offers a five-year, 60,000-mile limited warranty, the longest among its competitors, with free scheduled maintenance during that period. The plan also covers roadside assistance and connectivity features.

New Jaguar F-Type to launch — maybe literally — with Hot Wheels' help

An updated and redesigned Jaguar F-Type is going to be revealed Dec. 2, which is less than a week away at this point. The info comes to us via a tweet from Jaguar, teasing out the reveal with a video. This content is hosted by a third party. To view it, please update your privacy preferences. Manage Settings. Update: For a split second, the new F-Type appears to be flashed up onto the screen. We screenshot the video and pasted the photo down below. The side profile is similar to the previous F-Type, which comes as no surprise to us after seeing the spy shots. We can see the red LED taillight and a hint of the headlight design from the photo, too. The most intriguing part of this tweet is at the end, where Jaguar says it’s going to reveal the F-Type in partnership with Hot Wheels. Jaguar and Hot Wheels are not the most obvious of pairings at first, but both have a penchant for theatrics and stunts. Jaguar launched the tiny E-Pace with a barrel roll, completing a 270-degree corkscrew jump and launching it through 50 feet of open air. Nobody was expecting that. WeÂ’re not sure what to expect from the F-Type launch event, but the teaser video shows a Hot Wheels track with a loop. Will Jaguar try and top themselves? WeÂ’re not sure, but itÂ’s worth a watch on Dec. 2 to find out. As for what the actual car will be like, weÂ’ve seen several sets of spy shots (above). The most recent set places the Jaguar on the Nurburgring for track testing. Jaguar hasnÂ’t messed with the F-TypeÂ’s design much since it launched earlier this decade, but thatÂ’s no complaint. Even today, the F-Type is one of the best looking sports cars on sale. And even though Ian Callum isnÂ’t around anymore, weÂ’re sure he had a hand in this redesign. Expect a new interior, updated powertrains and more performance from the F-Type in its updated form next week.