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Jeremy Clarkson's Jag going up for auction

Fans of Top Gear host Jeremy Clarkson might want to make plans to be in the UK next weekend. On August 24, Anglia Car Auctions in King's Lynn is auctioning off Clarkson's black 1999 Jaguar XJR as part of its classic sale. According to the auction house, the Jag was "originally the daily drive" of Clarkson and has had one registered owner since.
Clarkson's former ride clocks in at 93,000 miles and has an estimated price of 2,500 to 4,000 pounds. At roughly $3,300 to $5,300 in US dollars, that could be quite a steal for a hardcore Jeremy Clarkson fan. And with a supercharged 4.0-liter V8 engine and lavish interior, it's a luxury sport sedan lover's dream.
This isn't the first time Clarkson has crossed paths with Anglia Car Auctions. Back in 2009, he and fellow Top Gear stars James May and Richard Hammond made an appearance at another vintage auction to buy vehicles for a future segment of the show.

Watch a Jaguar tow a man on skis to 117 mph

Jaguar wagons are fun. Skiing is fun. Combine the two, and you get the above, which looks extra fun. Apparently there is a Guinness world record for top speed skiing while being towed by a vehicle. According to the video, that record was just under 70 mph. While we're not experts on high-speed skiing, that actually seems a little low, and so did Jaguar and Olympic skier Graham Bell. So Jaguar and Bell went to an undisclosed location in the Arctic Circle to break the record. Jaguar brought along an XF S Sportbrake, a 380-horsepower wagon that is now available in America (yay!). They hooked up a line to the back, Bell suited up, held on, and rode along to a final speed of about 117 mph, a full 47 mph faster than the last record. Frankly, we found this to be a pretty cool activity (no pun intended). We think maybe it should be considered for a new Olympic sport. Sure would be better than ice dancing. It could look something like the Bonneville Speed Week, with a big multi-mile stretch of snow to be towed along. Think about it, International Olympic Committee, you still have time before the 2018 Winter Olympics. Related Video: Image Credit: Jaguar Jaguar Wagon Luxury Videos jaguar xf sportbrake skiing

Jaguar's ambitious turnaround plan will put a big focus on the American market

Land Rover is on a roll, but it's been awhile since we've heard from sister company Jaguar. The company is concocting yet another turn-around plan, and recently-appointed CEO Adrian Mardell provided several details about what's in it and it means for the American market. Speaking to industry trade journal Automotive News Europe, the chief executive conceded that mistakes have been made. "[Jaguar] was incredibly successful in North America 25 years ago, before we took the compromises and the decisions we made," he explained. He stopped short of providing specific details but pointed out that Jaguar's best days have been "lost within Ford Motor Company data." If you need a crash course in Jaguar history, Ford bought the brand from British-Leyland in 1990 and sold it to India-based Tata in 2008. Mardell, who joined Jaguar Land Rover in 1990 and watched the group embark on a roller-coaster ride, sees big potential for growth on Ford's home turf. "There are 20 million millionaires in the United States alone. So, a lower volume [and a] higher price positioning is absolutely the right position for Jaguar today," he opined. In contrast, Jaguar has largely aimed for mainstream segments in recent years. The publication added that Jaguar's master plan calls for moving upmarket to fight in the same arena as Bentley and Porsche. As of writing, most buyers and journalists consider Jaguar an alternative to brands like Audi, BMW, and Mercedes-Benz, and its current portfolio reflects this positioning: The XF competes in the same segment as the 5 Series, for example, while the F-Pace goes head-to-head against the X5. Moving upmarket is easier said than done, and there's no word yet on precisely how Jaguar will pull it off. We know that it's starting from scratch; it canceled the new XJ months before the big sedan's unveiling. Automotive News Europe learned that one of the models being designed to jump-start the brand is an electric four-door GT that will cost about GBP100,000 (around $128,000) when it goes on sale in 2024. Looking further ahead, the brand will continue to expand by launching two additional electric models. Their design will "split opinion." "What we will not worry about is being loved by everybody, because that is the kiss of death. That is what put Jaguar in the situation it is in today, which is with no equity whatsoever," outspoken JLR chief creative officer Gerry McGovern recently told a group of investors.