1995 Jaguar Xjs 2+2 on 2040-cars

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2018 Jaguar XF S Sportbrake Review | Who needs a crossover with a wagon this sexy?

PORTO, Portugal — SUV and truck mania is real — just ask the 63 percent of American buyers who opted for the high-riding vehicles last year. But there has been a recent groundswell of alternative options in the burgeoning wagon segment. Sure, there are lower-end wagons such as the tried-and-true Subaru Outback ($25,895) and the new-kid-on-the-block Volkswagen Golf SportWagen ($21,580). But the 2018 Jaguar XF S Sportbrake competes more closely with the stalwart Mercedes-Benz E400 ($64,045) and the stylish Volvo V90 Cross Country ($52,300). This begs the nagging question: Could wagons become a serious thing in the States? We spent a day bombing through Portuguese backroads to find out how the Sportbrake fares among its niche competitive set. The 2018 Sportbrake is a wagonized version of the second-gen XF sedan that arrived in 2016. While the first-gen model only offered a wagon variant for the European market, the new Sportbrake is a global vehicle that brings a more streamlined, aluminum-intensive architecture to the table and finally gives American wagon lovers the Jag they've been craving. First off, the essential reason we're here: the cargo area. Activate the power tailgate (which uses a one-piece composite tailgate, just like the F-Pace), and the opening reveals a flat surface on all sides with 31.7 cubic feet of storage. Fold the rear seats down, and volume expands to a considerable 69.7 — an increase of 12.6 and 38.4 cubic feet, respectively. For comparison, the Volvo V90 Cross Country offers 19.8/53.9 cubic feet, and the Mercedes-Benz E400 Wagon has 35.0/64.0 cubic feet. Folding the Sportbrake's rear seats down produces a nice, flat expanse for cargo, with no obtrusive humps or bumps on the side. Standard rear air suspension keeps things level when loaded up. Onward to the front seats, where the cabin brings the XF's familiar design with the dashboard rimmed in a curved ribbon of wood veneer — a pleasant touch that offsets the otherwise blase textured aluminum bits on the dash and shifter surround. Of course, there's the love-it-or-leave-it cylindrical shifter that rises from the center console, a confounding bit of design that leaves most PRNDL traditionalists cold. So, too, does the plastic starter button on the dash, one of the few unsatisfying puzzle pieces in the otherwise agreeably finished interior. But fire up the engine, and it's easy to forget these quibbles.

Weekly Recap: The divergent paths of Tesla and Fisker

There's no doubt that Tesla is downshifting while Fisker has been grinding its gears. But it wasn't always that way.
In the wake of Tesla's recent success, it's easy to forget that there were once two California electric carmakers with bright futures.

2021 Jaguar F-Type pricing announced, including a big decrease

CHICAGO — Jaguar unveiled the redesigned 2021 F-Type coupe and convertible just before the end of 2019, but pricing was kept in the dark. Today, at the 2020 Chicago Auto Show, Jaguar put numbers to trims, and the starting price remains the same at $62,625, including destination. Other trims, however, see somewhat significant price increases or decreases. For now, Jaguar released information for coupe and convertible versions of the P300, the P300 First Edition, the all-wheel-drive P380 R-Dynamic, and the all-wheel-drive R. The P300, with a 296-horsepower turbocharged 2.0-liter inline-four and rear-wheel drive, opens the books at $62,625, including destination, which is the same as the 2020 model. A First Edition, which is based on the P300 R-Dynamic, features the Exterior Design Pack and 20-inch Gloss Technical Gray wheels and starts at $74,125.  The P380 R-Dynamic with a 380-horsepower supercharged 3.0-liter V6 and all-wheel drive starts at $82,825, which is a major price decrease from 2020's price of $88,325. The most powerful version in the current 2021 F-Type lineup is the R (an SVR is expected at a later time). With a 575-horsepower supercharged V8 and all-wheel drive, the 2021 F-Type R starts at $104,225, which is slightly more expensive than the $102,825 price for 2020. All four detailed trims are also available as convertibles. On the P300 and P380 R-Dynamic, the convertible is a $3,100 upcharge. For the First Edition, the convertible is $2,300 more expensive, and the convertible R is $2,700 more expensive than the coupe.