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Jaguar teaches Mena Suvari and Sebastian Stan how to drive the F-Type

Automakers conduct driver training programs on racing circuits around the world for a variety of participants: journalists, customers, even celebrities. And at a recent session of the Jaguar Performance Driving Academy at the Circuit of the Americas in Austin, Texas, the Leaping Cat marque had a couple of the Hollywood types in the paddock.
In addition to the various (evidently well-heeled) members of the public, learning how to pilot the new F-Type Coupe R on the track this time around were actors Sebastian Stan and Mena Suvari. You might recognize Stan from his roll as Bucky Barnes in the Captain America movies and Suvari from such red, white and blue favorites as American Beauty and the American Pie franchise, but both got a first-hand taste of one of Britain's finest courtesy of Jaguar.
So how did it go? Well, as one of the less-famous participants put it, it was #awesomesauce." We couldn't possibly reproduce in words her enthusiasm in person and on camera, so you'll just have to watch the video below to see for yourself.

Seven-figure cars highlight day one of RM's Monterey auction

RM Auctions is one of several houses holding auctions during the Monterey weekend, and Friday night's festivities got quite pricey. Seven-figure vehicles were not at all uncommon during the first day of the two-day event, with the 1953 Ferrari 375 MM Spider, seen above, crossing the block for $9,075,000.
Other big earners included a pair of rare Ferraris, a 1950 166 MM Barchetta and a 1955 750 Monza Spider, which took $3,080,000 and $4,070,000, respectively. Outside of the red Italians, a 1939 Mercedes-Benz 540K Special captured $7,480,000 while a stunning, color-appropriate 1955 Jaguar D-Type took $3,850,000. We've got images of these vehicles, and a few other stunning examples of last night's auction, in the gallery above.
Thought it seems impossible, tonight's auction is expected to see even more high-dollar action. The winner of the 2012 Pebble Beach Concours, a 1928 Mercedes-Benz 680S Torpedo Roadster is expected to command over $10 million. Also crossing the block will be a car we reported on a few weeks back - a supremely rare 1967 Ferrari 275 GTB/4 NART Spyder. One of only 10 in the world, it's expected to take anywhere from $14 to $17 million when it hits the stage tonight.

Jaguar XE SV Project 8 now available for Nurburgring rides

There are a number of ways to experience the Nurburgring Nordschleife, including being driven around by a professional driver. Jaguar runs its own program that does just such a thing called the Race Taxi program. It just became even more appealing because Jaguar has added the XE SV Project 8 as one of the available cars. In case you had forgotten, it's a special car for the program because it currently holds the record for fastest production sedan at the track. Even without a record to its fame, the Jaguar XE SV Project 8 is special for other reasons. It's the most powerful production Jaguar with 592 horsepower. That engine can propel it to 60 mph in a claimed 3.3 seconds. Most of the car's exterior is completely unique to the car. It's a rare machine, too, with only 300 sold. If you want to go for a ride, well first you have to get to the Nurburgring. But once you're there, hand Jaguar 199 euros, or about $227 at current exchange rates, and a driver will take you for a lap of the track. The company brags that you'll experience speeds of over 155 mph, and hit 1.8g in the steeply banked Karussell corner. You only get the one lap, but at least you know it will be a roughly 7 1/2 -minute thrill ride. If you can't get into the Project 8, you'll still be able to ride along in the 575-horsepower F-Type SVR or XJR575. Related Video: