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Jaguar XE hits the 'Ring wearing swirly camo

Jaguar is happy to show off its new XE sedan on its social media sites, but when testing at the Nürburgring, it's a very different story. These spy shots show the new model in camouflage to make it much harder to discern, but there are still some intriguing details to pick out.
These photos give us a really good look at the XE's quirky rear end. The sedan has a super short trunk that almost fools you into thinking its a notchback, but the top edge of the trunk is clearly visible. It's a somewhat odd-looking design with the rear glass running underneath the roof's overhang to create an integrated spoiler. Despite the camo, the front end is the same as ever with a blunt edge and sharp headlights. Jag certainly isn't afraid to try something a little different compared to the XE's competitors, notably the BMW 3 Series and Audi A4.
Some technical details about the XE are already established. This 3 Series-fighter is slated to go on sale in foreign markets in 2015 and in the US in 2016. We know that it ride's on Jag's new aluminum platform that also underpins the C-X17 crossover concept, and power comes from a pair of 2.0-liter turbocharged four-cylinder engines, available in petrol- or diesel-fueled configurations.

90th Anniversary Edition signals end of Jaguar F-Pace in Europe

Jaguar is gradually paring down its global range of models as it prepares to start from scratch in a bid to move upmarket. After the XE and the F-Type, it's the F-Pace's turn to sign off in many countries. Launched in 2016, the company's first SUV — and one of its all-time best-selling models — will retire from the European market later in 2024 with a limited-edition model called 90th Anniversary Edition. No, the F-Pace isn't turning 90; the name is a reference to nine decades of Jaguar's internal-combustion engines. Based on the R-Dynamic version, the commemorative SUV gets an edition-specific exterior emblem on the hatch and not much else. It features the same blacked-out trim as the R-Dynamic, and Jaguar notes that buyers have several options to choose from including a panoramic roof and tinted windows. Inside, you'll find sport seats for the front passengers, contrast stitching, and aluminum trim. The S, SE and HSE trim levels can be ordered with the 90th Anniversary package, and the SUV is on sale now in several global markets. We won't get it in the United States, however. "We have not announced end of production or the final model year [for the F-Pace on the American market]. [Production of] the F-Pace will continue in our Solihull plant for the foreseeable future," a spokesperson for the British company told Autoblog via email. Now what? We'll need to be patient to find out what's next. Jaguar has announced plans to shift up a notch or two in the industry's pecking order to take on Bentley, among other brands; as it stands, it's positioned on about the same level as BMW and Mercedes-Benz. This bold move will be accompanied by a shift toward an electric-only range of models. Earlier rumors have detailed three models: a sporty sedan aimed at the Porsche Taycan, a more luxury-focused sedan about as long as the now-retired Bentley Mulsanne, and a big SUV aimed at the Bentayga. If everything goes according to plan, the first of these three models will land in 2025 on a new, purpose-designed architecture. Until then, with the F-Pace nearly out of the picture the global Jaguar range will consist of the electric I-Pace, the E-Pace crossover and the XF sedan. Related video: Featured Gallery 2024 Jaguar F-Pace 90th Anniversary Edition, official images Jaguar SUV Luxury

Jaguar Land Rover planning to allow owners to earn cryptocurrency

Jaguar Land Rover, Britain's largest auto manufacturer, said on Monday it is testing software that will allow drivers of its cars to earn the IOTA cryptocurrency as a reward for sharing data. The company is developing what it calls "smart wallet" technology to be installed in its automobiles. This would reward Jaguar car drivers with IOTA coins for actions such as enabling their vehicles to automatically report useful data, such as traffic congestion or potholes to navigation providers or local authorities. Drivers could also earn rewards if the car participates in a ride-sharing program, Jaguar said. The tokens earned could be used to pay for tolls, parking and charging for electric cars. The overall goal was to "achieve zero emissions, zero accidents, and zero congestion," the company said. Global car companies are exploring blockchain applications, figuring out different ways in which they can leverage the technology to suit their different needs. Blockchain, the system powering cryptocurrencies like bitcoin, is a shared database that is maintained by a network of computers connected to the internet. The British car company is testing the technology at the new Jaguar Land Rover software engineering base in Shannon, Ireland, where engineers have already equipped several vehicles, including the Jaguar F-PACE and Range Rover Velar, with "smart wallet" features, the company said. It does not yet have a timetable for when it will be commercially available, said Jaguar, a subsidiary of Tata Motors. The IOTA token is based on a distributed ledger technology that enables people and machines to transfer money and data without any transaction fees. IOTA trades on digital asset exchanges and was last at 27 U.S. cents per token. "The smart wallet technology ... can be easily adapted into all new vehicles," Dominik Schiener, IOTA co-founder and co-chairman of its board, told Reuters on Friday. "IOTA wants to enable interoperability with all these different players. So there is no Jaguar coin, no BMW coin, but one universal token for this machine economy," he added.