2001 Jaguar Xk8 Base Convertible 2-door 4.0l on 2040-cars

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Latest Jaguar XJ snaps show old versus new

It is a rare day when automakers line up their current models and test cars right next to each other and allow us to compare them directly. However, Jaguar ending up doing just that during cold weather testing of the face lifted XJ, providing the perfect chance to see just what the company is changing.
We spotted the refreshed XJ testing last year, and it hasn't evolved much since then. The updated model sports clear turn signals and a slightly revised front air dam. The modifications are similarly minor at the rear. The bumper appears to dip down slightly further on the new sedan. Thankfully, those gorgeous taillights are still draped over the back of the car. The exhaust outlets have switched to oval shapes rather than the current parallelograms. This alteration could just be chalked up to it being a test car, but the previous tester we saw had a similar design. It's possible that the camouflage could be hiding other revisions, but don't expect anything radical from the facelift.
Our previous report indicated that Jaguar is also planning some interior upgrades with new infotainment and ambient lighting. The company seems to feel that there isn't a point in messing with the XJ's design just yet, since all of the changes we see here are very subtle. No problems, here - to our eyes, the big Jag is still one of the prettier sedans on the road today.

Could Jaguar become an EV-only brand?

Just yesterday we wrote about the Heisenbergian uncertainty surrounding the future of the Jaguar F-Type. A new report in Autocar prompts us to consider extending that ambiguity to the entire Jaguar brand. The UK magazine reports the automaker's product planners have devised a ten-year plan to switch to a pure EV lineup of cars and crossovers. According to Autocar's sources this is a planning exercise and doesn't have the green light, but it's "fairly advanced" and has adherents inside the company. The first shot fired would be an all-electric XJ replacement. That sedan, a "no-holds-barred luxury car" to challenge the Tesla Model S and Porsche Taycan, would provide emissions-free motoring before the Mercedes-Benz S-Class and BMW 7 Series come with their EV propositions. Around 2023, an EV crossover a touch larger than the full-sized Audi E-tron would replace both the XF and XE sedans. Two years later, a new mid-sized I-Pace would debut as both the F-Pace and E-Pace fade out. And two years after that, around 2027, the J-Pace luxury crossover would sigh its last ICE gasp. And what about the F-Type? The report says "with no replacement for F-Type in the works," an electric sports car "is also a possibility." There's no mention of the XK revival. Right now, Jaguar sells seven models - four sedans and three crossovers. As the Autocar article's written, come 2027 Jaguar would have an electric XJ sedan, a full-sized EV crossover, the I-Pace, and perhaps an electric sports car. That's a brave new world - one we're not sure Jaguar dealers could survive in. Problem is that Jaguar and its dealers are having plenty of problems now. Chinese-market volatility, the cloud around diesels, and Brexit uncertainty have contributed to a sales slump so dire that Jaguar's Castle Bromwich plant is going to a three-day week for the rest of the year. The sales flu has spread to Land Rover, too, the brand's Solihull plant closing for two weeks to realign dealer inventory. Considering all that, and with no easy relief in sight, the product planners are apparently debating whether a new, traditional three-model sedan range is worth the investment. The upside of going all-electric is said to be higher sales, with internal estimates supposing 300,000 units annually. Last year Jaguar sold 178,500 units. The marque could rake in larger profit margins on those sales, too, thanks to premium buyers being ready to shell out big ducats for EVs.

Jaguar prices 2020 F-Pace range, starting at $46,225

The 2020 Jaguar F-Pace lineup includes two new limited-edition models, and every model comes with Android Auto and Apple CarPlay standard. The crossover has finally acquired its most crucial numbers, the MSRPs. Starting price for the entry-level F-Pace 25T, powered by the lesser 2.0-liter turbocharged four-cylinder Ingenium engine begins at $45,200. Add the unchanged $1,025 destination charge and the total comes to $46,225, which is $400 more than the 2019 model. The Premium, Prestige, and R-Sport trims go up by the same amount for both the 25T and the 30T models — the 30T powered by the 296-hp version of the 2.0-liter Ingenium turbo four. Premium increases by $550, Prestige by $350, and R-Sport by $300. That makes the least-dear 25T Premium a $48,825 affair. The 30T Portfolio model costs $64,625 for 2020, a $300 bump over 2019. The S raises the stakes by the same amount, to $63,125. The flagship F-Pace SVR with its 5.0-liter supercharged V8 and 550 hp tacks on the largest price jump of $620, for a total of $81,625. The limited edition trims are the previously announced 300 Sport and Checkered Flag. In the U.S., the 300 Sport comes exclusively with the 296-hp 2.0-liter Ingenium four-cylinder, and exterior revisions like dark satin gray trim on the grille and window surrounds, side vents, mirror caps, rear fascia and door finishers. Inside, yellow contrast stitching on the instrument panel and seats marks the beast, plus embossed logos on the front headrests. The full-fat Touch Pro navigation with Connect Pro comes standard. The crossover sits on 22-inch gray wheels and wears plenty of 300 Sport badges throughout. Three colors are available: Yulong White, Indus Silver and Santorini Black. It takes $63,025 to start the bidding. The Checkered Flag Special Edition is based on the R-Sport and adds plenty of gloss black, including 20-inch gloss black wheels. Color choices here are Yulong White, Eiger Grey and Santorini Black. The 247-hp four-cylinder get the nod, along with 18-way adjustable front seats, the Touch Pro navigation without Connect Pro but with the Meridian audio. It costs $59,4258