Posts Tagged wheels
New Jaguar XFR Roars at Rivals
Posted by in Uncategorized on November 13, 2009
I plonk myself down in the driver’s pew of the new Jaguar XFR. The start button is pulsing red. I push it and the circular, rotating gearshift wheel rises like a phoenix from the console. It is somewhat symbolic for Jaguar. The air vents, which were no where to be seen, are suddenly open across the dash. The new 2010 year model XFR is open for business. I rotate the gearshift to `D’ and depress the right pedal to start the road test. From the four exhausts there’s a roar … a deep throated snarl that only a performance V8 produces.
I listen carefully. I think I hear it say ‘AMG E63 I’m coming to get you.’ The revs rise and again it speaks, ‘BMW M5 … I’m here.’ Jaguar are calling it the start of the ‘revitalisation.’ Jaguar doing what Jaguar do best: high performance saloons, although the XF at times looks more like a coupe than a four door. XFR is the latest addition to the XF range. A potent, high-end flagship. A car to take on the Germans: Mercedes-Benz, BMW and Audi.
The XF range was launched in 2008 with Jaguar’s familiar 4.2 litre V8 along with a V6 petrol and 2.7 litre V6 diesel. Two of those engines have not made the cut in this makeover. The 4.2 litre has been replaced by an all-new Jaguar-designed 5.0 litre V8 belting out 283 kW of power (up 23 per cent) and 515Nm of torque (up 12 per cent). The XFR gets special treatment via an Eaton supercharger with new intercooler and this lifts it to 375 kW and a cool 625 Nm.
The highly fancied 2.7 litre diesel also gives way to a vastly improved 3.0 litre which boasts a different, and improved, dual turbocharger system than found on the 2.7 litre. The Supercharged V8 propels the XFR to 100 km/h in 4.9 seconds, a cat’s whisker behind the E63 AMG and a similar whisker in front of the M5. It is keeping good company.
We take our road test out from Sydney on to twisting roads, interspersed with long straights. The big cat grips the damp roads with surprising ease. Not only new engines are on board the XF, but also new technology. The Adaptive Dynamics System monitors body movements 100 times a second, and wheel positions 500 times a second to instantly adjust for optimum handling and ride. It inspires driver confidence. There’s also active differential control which limits slip between the rear wheels.
Unlike the direct competition the Jaguar does not sacrifice ride and comfort for handling. It has both. We hit a long straight, up a steep hill, and a slow truck. We are out, past the truck, and back in before you can say ‘God Almighty’. It takes 1.9 seconds to rocket from 80 km/h to 113 km/h. The King of Australian Rugby League football, Wally Lewis, would be proud. A perfect pass. For those who like having gear control the XF range features F1 style paddles on the steering wheel. One on the left for downshift and one on the right for upshift, compensating for the lack of a lever. The six speed transmission is the proven ZF gearbox which handles the task of harnessing the grunt with consummate ease and smoothness.
The XFR is conservative in appearance. It’s alloy wheels are 20 inch, and the only reference to being supercharged is written subtly on the wheels and bonnet louvers. The XFR gets unique exterior and interior design features including revised bumpers and lower front air intakes, sill extensions, bonnet louvers, four tail pipes and boot lid spoiler. It is the first XF to carry the `R’ badge, Jaguar’s sign of a performance model.
While the XFR lived up to high expectations, the surprise packet in this latest XF range is the 3.0 litre turbo diesel. It is simply stunning in its lack of diesel noise, economy, emissions and out and out performance. While getting economy of 6.8 litres/100 kms, this super-quiet oil burner will kick you from 0-100 km/h in just 6.4 seconds.
To put that in perspective the naturally aspirated XF 5.0 V8 will get from 0-100 in 5.7 seconds and the 3.0 diesel will be breathing down its neck all the way. Jaguar did away with the twin turbo set up of the 2.7 litre and replaced it with primary and secondary turbo chargers working in parallel aimed at eliminating turbo lag. The diesel has 202 kW of power, but the important figures is torque: 600 Nm on tap from just 2000 rpm. At 1500 rpm the 3.0 litre diesel has 61 per cent more torque than the 2.7 litre, meaning the car sears off the line. It slashes the 0-100 km/h time of the 2.7 litre by 1.8 seconds or more than 20 per cent.
The current XF model has already made an impact on Jaguar. In Australia 511 XF’s were sold lifting Jaguar sales by 27 per cent in 2008. More importantly the average age of Jaguar buyers plummeted from 55 years to 49 years since the XF launch, with the median age of XF buyers being 44, with 50 per cent of buyers new to the Jaguar brand. In effect this means Jaguar is throwing off the tag of being an ‘old’ man’s car.
FIRST DRIVING IMPRESSIONS
In this update Jaguar have concentrated on the drivelines and suspension improvements and that stands out dramatically. In our road test we drove the XFR for more almost 360 kilometres across a range of roads. We spent covered 140 kilometres in the diesel, which is badged with a simple ‘S’.
They are different cars for separate buyer profiles, but have common attributes: superb handling, effortless performance and the luxury expected from a Jag. The most viewed part of any car is the boot and Jaguar have placed a ‘leaper’ a chrome leaping Jaguar, across the middle of the boot. The grille and steering wheel centre feature the ‘roarer’, the roaring Jaguar emblem, leaving you in no doubt of the marque you are driving.
The XFR is scintillating in its performance, but this is at little cost to comfort. The ride is slightly firm, but luxuriously comfortable, even across uneven country roads. The ‘S’ has an even softer ride. High performance cars can be a pain in the urban jungle. The XFR Jaguar is just at home on the open road as it in the suburbs with the driveline smooth and contented with cruising in peak hour traffic as it is eating up the highways.
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2006 Jaguar X Type: Luxury for the Commoner
Posted by in Uncategorized on November 13, 2009
Prices for top selling luxury cars can easily top $50,000 when taxes, destination charges, and dealer prep fees are factored in. Generally, this isn’t a problem as the customer who purchases a vehicle of this renown can afford the big price tag. However, automakers have learned that there is a market for “entry level” luxury cars for up and coming buyers who want the name without paying the steep price. The dilemma for automakers is not to water down the product line, rather to offer a car that upholds the marquee without diluting its value. One such car that has successfully filled that criterion is the Jaguar X Type, the focus of this review.
Admittedly, I am biased toward purchasing American cars even through the ups and downs of the U.S. car industry. Still, I am fascinated by changes that occur in vehicles throughout the world as I know that at some point those changes will be incorporated into cars traversing North American highways. One such feature that I have seen grow more commonplace is the use of all wheel drive to power automobiles. Subaru, for years, has offered all wheel drive across their model line, but few cars – foreign or domestic – have incorporated what has chiefly been the realm of sport utility vehicles.
In 2002 Jaguar introduced its first all wheel drive car, the X Type, a compact sedan. Fresh on the heels of the successful launch of the midsized S Type, the X Type’s base price began around $30,000 well within the range of other entry level luxury cars in its class including the Saab 9-3 and Audi A4. As a “bonus” all wheel drive was made standard supposedly giving the X Type an edge over most competitors. Unfortunately, it did not work out that way.
The original X Type performed poorly against the competition. Published reports stated that the car was too small, less dependable, and not as powerful as other cars in its class. Sales were sluggish for the first three years before Jaguar overhauled the car in time for the 2005 model year. For 2006, these changes were brought forward and include as many as one thousand component changes over the original model.
If you purchase an X Type, there is only one engine that comes with the car: a 24 valve 3.0L V6. Paired with a five speed automatic, the engine kicks out a respectable 227hp, not bad for a car weighing in at just over 3500 lbs.
The interior is atypical Jaguar: beautiful. Bronze Sapele wood, finished chrome, and leather appointments truly make the X Type a car lovely to behold on the inside as well as the outside. Standard interior features include an Alpine® 10-speaker, 320-watt sound system; 8 way power adjustable driver’s seat; tilt/cruise; power everything; are some of the stand outs of the X Type. Optional equipment allows for owners to select Bluetooth® hands-free voice connectivity and SIRIUS® Satellite Radio. For ultimate luxury the Vanden Plas edition, formerly available on only larger Jaguars, is now available on the X Type. Larger wheels and an assortment of trim packages are the hallmarks of a Vanden Plas equipped car.
For the exterior, traction control is mated with the all wheel drive system to give an optimum level of handling and braking performance. Rain sensing wipers, power/heated door mirrors, and automatic headlamps are all features found on the X Type. Of course, one of the most sought after features is its looks: distinctive Jaguar lines, the trademark split grille, and quad round headlamps.
Base price for the X Type starts at about $33,000 for the sedan and is three to four thousand dollars more for the Vanden Plas sedan and sport wagon models, respectively. Roughly half of all Jaguar sales come from the X Type and the entire company’s success in North America is dependent on how well the X Type is received. Judging by the changes put in place by Jaguar, the X Type should continue to carry the lion’s share of the market while keeping the Jaguar name front and center.
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Jaguar XK 140: Filling the Spot Between the 120 and the 150
Posted by in Uncategorized on November 12, 2009
The Jaguar XK 140 has been produced starting from 1954 up until 1957, thus it has lived for only three years. It is a sports car and it holds two doors. This vehicle model from Jaguar arrived on the scene so as to replace the highly successful Jaguar XK 120. The Jaguar XK 140 actually exuded a much heavier appearance than the Jaguar XK 120. It had a wider front grille as well as substantial bumpers in its front and rear. The Jaguar XK 140 made its way to public knowledge during its debut at the 1954 motor show. It was then considered to be an evolution of the Jaguar XK 120.
Looking at its power source, the Jaguar XK 140 has a more powerful engine than the Jaguar XK 120. The engine of the former is a 190 bhp engine. It also holds a rack and pinion steering plus an optional Special Equipment pack that includes wire wheels as well as more power that is actually some 210 bhp. The production for the Jaguar XK 140 ended after three years starting from its production when the newer Jaguar XK 150 arrived at the scene.
The body styles that were available for the Jaguar XK 120 were also made available for the Jaguar XK 140. Since the Jaguar XK 140 is a sports car, the body styles made available for the consumers included the roadster that was a two seater style with side screens, a detachable windshield, and a hood. There also was the Drop Head Coupe, which was also known as the DHC. It had a fixed windshield, wind up windows, 2 + 2 seating, and an attached hood. The last body style for the Jaguar XK 140 was the Fixed Head Coupe. This was also called the FHC. It held a 2 + 2 seating, along with some wind up windows. Like the Jaguar XK 120, the Jaguar XK 149 body styles FHC and DHC still continues to hold dashboards and door cappings covered in walnut wood. The roadster, on the other hand, has a leather covered dash, padding on the top of its doors, and side screens for weather protection. The Jaguar XK 140 was also made available with different color choices for its exterior. The list of colors included suede green, pastel green, British racing green, pacific blue, pastel blue, birch gray, battleship gray, lavender gray, dove gray, pearl gray, red, maroon, cream, and black.
