LiNk Cars

Jaguar’s revised for the 2012 model year XK series in Coupe and Convertible form made its world premiere alongside the refreshed XF and XFR sedans at this week’s 2011 New York International Auto Show. The changes on the XK are more subtle than on the XF and are purely cosmetic.

The mild redesign shares many elements with the flagship 550-horsepower XKR-S revealed at the Geneva Motor Show in March.

The most significant changes are found at the front of the XK that gains new and slimmer by 15mm headlamps that incorporate LED signal functions and running lights. There’s also a larger oval grille and new bumper design, while the XKR is distinguished by a black mesh grille.

The new model year brings a refresh for Jaguar’s XF and XFR sedans, which were both revealed in a world premiere today at the New York Auto Show. The British firm’s BMW 5-Series rival receives restyled front and rear bodywork, along with some subtle changes inside and for certain markets including Europe, the introduction of a new four-cylinder turbo diesel engine.

On the outside, Jaguar tried to bring the XF into line with the new XJ, though some may also see common themes with the original C-XF Concept, especially up front with the new and sleeker headlamp designs that incorporate LED daytime running lights arranged in a distinctive Jaguar ‘J-Blade’ signature.

The 2012 XF benefits from revisions to the grille, hood, and front fenders, which incorporate new triangular side vents, while Jaguar also added larger tail lamps with full-LEDs for stop, tail light and turn signal functions. In addition, the trunk lid trim has been redesigned. The XFR’s newly styled bumpers and alloy wheels complete the exterior makeover.

2011 Jaguar XJ Reviews

The sportier, more contemporary design direction that revealed itself in the latest Jaguar XK Coupe and Convertible, then the XF Sedan, has now been applied to Jaguar's flagship sedan.
Jaguar is still nagged by historically sub-par resale values and spotty reliability records, so the 2011 Jaguar XJ isn't among the category's smartest buys.

The 2011 Jaguar XJ is available in standard and long-wheelbase versions, with XJL models offering an additional five inches of legroom (but less parking-lot maneuverability).

The old Jaguar XJ was a perfectly modern automobile under the skin, but that skin was nothing more than a rehash of Jaguar's previous 30 years. With the 2011 Jaguar XJ, something radical is exactly what the world gets.

The rear of the 2011 XJ looks like no other rump on the road. The "base" XJ produces 385 horsepower while the supercharged XJ cranks out up to 510 horses.

The 2011 Jaguar XJ is a large luxury sedan available in regular and long-wheelbase (L) four-door body styles. Both are available in three trim levels, which correspond with an engine: XJ, XJ Supercharged and XJ Supersport.

Standard equipment on the XJ includes 19-inch wheels, an adaptive suspension, a panoramic sunroof, automatic xenon headlamps, auto-dimming mirrors, a power-closing trunk lid, keyless ignition/entry, front and rear parking sensors, a rearview camera, dual-zone automatic climate control, power front seats (16-way driver and 12-way passenger) with memory functions, heated and cooled front seats, heated rear seats, a power tilt-and-telescoping steering wheel and leather upholstery. The XJL features different 19-inch wheels than the XJ, plus four-zone automatic climate control, a power rear sunshade, 20-way power front seats with massage function, heated and cooled rear seats, extended leather trim and faux-suede headliner. The XJ Supercharged and XJL Supercharged add to the XJL's equipment 20-inch wheels, adaptive headlights and a 20-speaker Bowers & Wilkins premium surround-sound system. The XJ Supersport and XJL Supersport add different 20-inch wheels and upgraded leather upholstery. Its standard adaptive cruise control, wood-trim wheel and rear seat entertainment system are optional on the other trims.

The 2010 Jaguar XJ is powered by a 5.0-liter V8 that produces 385 hp and 380 pound-feet of torque. As with all XJ models, a six-speed automatic with manual shift control is standard. The 2010 Jaguar XJ Supercharged features a (surprise!) supercharged 5.0-liter V8 good for 470 hp and 424 lb-ft of torque. Jaguar estimates a 0-60 time of 4.9 seconds and combined fuel economy of 18 mpg.

Every 2011 Jaguar XJ comes standard with antilock brakes, stability and traction control, front side airbags, side curtain airbags, active head restraints and a blind spot warning system. Front seat active seatbelts are optional on the XJ and XJL, and standard on the others.

The Jaguar XJ's interior is exquisite; there's really no other way to describe it. As before, the regular-length XJ's backseat is on the small side. Few cars strike such an excellent balance between ride comfort and sporty handling as the 2011 Jaguar XJ.

Poised to pounce and newly transformed, the Jaguar XJ four-door sport sedan screamed out some power chords as we throttled it around Rock and Roll-ish West Hollywood, California.
Penned by Jaguar Director of Design, Ian Callum and his team of designers in Coventry, England, the new XJ draws visual cues from a wide variety of sources. Jaguar Cars managing director Mike O’Driscoll, explained the company’s recent return to the sporting style and culture: “We lost touch with our soul. For forty years, the XJ has served as the quintessential Jaguar. If the outgoing XJ had a North American counterpart, perhaps it would be the Lincoln Town Car. That’s hardly what we call sporty, but neither was the outgoing XJ.

Jaguar’s base offering is a naturally-aspirated engine producing 385 horsepower and 380 lb-ft. of torque. That’s a 28 percent increase over the outgoing 4.2-liter engine from the previous XJ. Finally is the special-order Supersport XJ Supercharged model, making 510 horsepower, and 461 lb-ft. of torque for pure kitty-scaring grunt.

Both supercharged models are on 20-inch tires and governed to 155 mph top speed. Curb weight of the short wheelbase naturally aspirated XJ is 4,045 lbs., while the supercharged models tip in at 4,281 lbs. Add 42 lbs. additional for a long wheelbase model. The base V8 is rated at 16 mpg in the city and 23 mpg on the highway, while the huffed versions are all rated at 15 mpg city and 21 mpg highway. Although the new XJ appears long and lanky like a Rock Star’s girlfriend, its wheelbase is only an inch longer than the model it replaces. Able to constantly change for the different road conditions we encountered, the XJ lived up to Jaguar’s traditional mantra of providing a cossetting ride with a performance touch.

The variable ratio power-assisted steering did a remarkable job of keeping the XJ pointed true especially with the changing road conditions and imperfections.

Jaguar director O’Driscoll smilingly told us that at Jaguar, there is a feeling that “we are that small specialist company who will be known for their sporting cars once again.”
Smooth and capable, this isn’t the Jaguar of yore.

2011 Jaguar XJ base price, $72,500.
2011 Jaguar XJL base price, $79,500.
2011 Jaguar XJ Supercharged base price, $87,500.
2011 Jaguar XJL Supercharged base price, $90,500.
2011 Jaguar XJ Supersport base price, $112,000

Jaguar has admitted that it is currently working on a new sedan that will be the entry-level model of the range. Smaller than the XF, the new model is expected to have a starting price of around £28,000 (€31,850/$45,685). According to Adrian Hallmark, Jaguar's global brand director, the sub-£30,000 premium car market is four times larger than that of sedans priced above £30,000 (€34,120), so developing a cheaper, smaller Jaguar makes a solid business case.

Undeniably, the XF is one of the most important models in Jaguar’s recent history, as it turned a new design page for the British carmaker at a time the company changed ownership, from Ford to India’s Tata Motors. Now, three years after its market launch in 2008 following a debut at the 2007 Frankfurt Motor Show, Jaguar is preparing a facelift version of the XF that will receive its world premiere at next month’s New York Auto Show.

The facelift model will receive a makeover that includes a new front fascia with new lights, a redesigned front grille and reshaped bumper, which oddly enough, bring it closer to the original C-XF Concept that previewed the car. The XF will also benefit from tweaks to the interior and the overall quality, the introduction of new tech systems and an upgraded suspension for improved ride and handling.

Perhaps the biggest news for buyers across the pond is the introduction of a new 2.2-liter four-cylinder turbo diesel engine. The oil-burner is a development of the Ford unit found in the Land Rover Freelander and the European-market Ford Mondeo, however, given that the XF is rear wheel drive, it sits in a north-south configuration so Jaguar had to make several changes to the engine.

We just got word that Jaguar has released a recall notice today that affects certain 2010MY XF saloons and XK sports cars over a potential issue with the power assist steering system. In a document filed with the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration [NHTSA], Jaguar said that the power assist steering (pas) pipes have been assembled with zinc-nickel plating that may not provide corrosion protection.

What you see pictured here is the creation of a relatively unknown Italian tuning firm called Panzani Design. Named the Vintage GT, it’s an extreme take on the Jaguar S-Type R, which was the flagship version of the series powered by a 4.2-liter supercharged V8 kicking out 400HP.

Whether you like Panzani Design’s styling approach or not, one thing is for sure: there’s no way you can ignore it. The tuning company starts with the exterior of the Jaguar S-Type R by adding a new wide body kit with prominent wheel arches that house 20-inch alloy wheels shod in tires size 255/35 R20 up front and 305/30 R20 at the back.

Is the Jaguar XK8 not good enough for you? Then how about turning it into something with a bit more pizazz like an Aston Martin DBS? At least that’s what an eBay seller is proposing in our latest replicar find. The DBS doppelganger is based on a 1998 Jaguar XK8 and was up for sale on eBay with a ‘Buy it Now’ price of $50,000, but received no bids.

Not surprising, given the fact that you can find examples of the XK8 for as low as $8,000, with KBB suggesting a retail value of around $12,000 for a pristine 1999 model with the same mileage (95,000 miles). Heck, for under 50 grand you can actually get a real Aston Martin as we found 2002/2003 DB7s going for around $45,000 on eBay. Photos and video follow after the break.

According to Jaguar, the new XKR-S is the most powerful and fastest mass production sports car the company has ever built. The hardest-looking version of the XK series gets an uprated supercharged V8 direct-injection engine churning out 550-ponies and 680Nm of torque, good enough to propel the sports coupe from 0 to 60 (96km/h) in 4.2 seconds and on to a top speed of 186mph (300km/h).

Following last week’s reveal at the 2011 Geneva Motor Show, the Indian-owned British carmaker released the first footage of the sports coupe being put through its paces on the road as well as on the track. Unfortunately, Jaguar also covered the supercharged V8 engine’s howls with some annoying music beats… Watch the video for yourself right after the break.

One of the highlights of this year's Geneva Motor Show was the B99 design study for an entry-level Jaguar sedan by Bertone. The concept car was created independently by the Italian design house, without the involvement of Jaguar. Therefore, the B99 does not preview the design of the future X-Type, as confirmed by a top Jaguar executive.

“It is not our concept. We appreciate the fact that Jaguar is interesting enough for people to do a concept around. It's not that we are offended by it, or against it - it is just not for us," Adrian Hallmark, Jaguar's global brand director, told Automotive News at the Geneva Motor Show.

One of the most talked about prototype models at this year's edition of the Geneva Motor Show is Bertone's concept for an entry-level Jaguar sports sedan called the B99. While the British automaker has turned a new page with the designs of its latest XF and XJ saloons, Bertone proposes a modernized version of the classic Jaguar three-box saloon. For some it works fine, for others it's an unnecessary throwback to old times. Watch the video after the break and tell us what you think in the comments section below.

Bertone and Jaguar have joined forces again, and the result is this lovely little concept called the B99. Celebrating 99 years of existence, Bertone's B99 is meant to showcase what a Jaguar 3-Series could look like (and thankfully there's no silly black C-pillar as found on the XJ). While some may disagree with this design's placement in the lineup, one thing is certain: an X-Type this ain't.

The B99 measures 4.5 meters long, 1.35 m tall, and 1.95 m wide with a 2.8 m wheelbase. As befits all Jaguars, there's a leaper on the hood; this time, though, it uses some snazzy pedestrian safety sensors that can retract it at airbag speeds should an impaling be imminent. Think of it as dab of Rolls with your Jaguar.

There's more retraction action at the trunk end of things, too, with a speed-sensing spoiler in the trunk.

In 2010, Indian-owned British car maker Jaguar introduced the XKR Speed Pack: the fastest XK yet built. Twelve months later and the Big Cat is back in the form of the XKR-S with even more power and a slicker, more track-focused profile. Carscoop has all the pics and details on the brand’s 550 hp behemoth.

With a top speed of 186 mph (300 km/h) and a 0 to 60 mph (96 km/h) time of just 4.2 seconds, the XKR-S is the most powerful mass production vehicle Jaguar has ever built. It’s expected to carry a price tag of £97,000 (US$157,926 / €114,265) when it launches in September of this year.

In all honestly, I really struggle to see how the Bertone B99 fits into Jaguar’s past and current design lineage and line-up. The new generation of Jags – the XF and the XJ – are sleek, risqué and look like nothing else on the market. On the other hand, the B99 could just as easily be badged as a Lincoln, a Rolls-Royce or a Maserati. If you squint at the pictures you’ll see my point. It’s anonymously styled, as if Bertone used a book called, “Luxury Concept Cars 101” as a template. And that grille! It just screams, “Dodge Caliber!” Read more »

2011 Jaguar XF
Introduced two years ago, the Jaguar XF lineup started a clean break from the overtly traditional Jaguar shapes of the past. Last year, new XF Supercharged and XFR high-performance models were added to the lineup; now for 2011 the XF gets a very substantial 85-hp boost, with a new standard 5.0-liter V-8 replacing the previous 4.2-liter one. Overall, there's nothing heavy-handed or retro about the look of the 2011 Jaguar XF. Stealthy, gripping performance is the XF's calling card. That said, the XF's powertrain itself is sneaky. This year even the base-model 2011 Jaguar XF gets a 385-horsepower, 5.0-liter V-8, while the high-performance XFR and XF Supercharged models get a 5.0-liter supercharged V-8—making 470 hp in the Supercharged and 510 hp in the XFR. Light, direct steering and capable brakes add up to a joyful driving experience, and with 20-inch tires and electronic systems like Active Differential Control and Adaptive Dynamics shuffling power between the rear wheels and adjusting suspension and steering firmness, the 5,000-pound Jaguar XF out-nimbles some of the less weighty sedans in its class. Leather trim is double-stitched, and LED lighting mixes with choice wood and metallic trim to turn the cabin into a most atmospheric space. The Jaguar XF is a sport sedan, with all the features of a luxury sedan.

The Jaguar’s classing V8 engine is availabe in four choices on this model: the 4.2-liter 300 horsepower; the 5.0-liter, 385 horsepower V8; the 5.0-liter, 470 horsepower supercharged V8; and the 5.0-liter, 510 horsepower supercharged V8.

The 2011 model will have loads of standard features, such as a sunroof, rear parking sensors, and rain-sensing windshield wipers.
The interior of the Jaguar is no less opulent. In test drives, the 2011 Jaguar performs admirably. With its unique six-speed automatic transmission, the Jaguar takes corners easily, has great stopping power, and a smooth, suspension-aided ride.
The 2011 Jaguar XF is a rear-wheel drive only vehicle that comes with a six-speed automatic transmission.

The "2011 Jaguar XF" is not your grandmother’s Jaguar. This vehicle is a car that has great handling, and if you’re in the market for a car in this segment, is well worth a test drive. The Jaguar has enough standard and optional luxury features to satisfy the most discriminating taste.

If there is a drawback to this vehicle, it is probably interior room.
The 2011 Jaguar XF is a midsize luxury sedan available in four trim levels: base XF, XF Premium, XF Supercharged and XFR. Standard equipment for the base XF includes 18-inch wheels, halogen headlamps, rear parking sensors, a sunroof, automatic headlights, automatic dual-zone climate control, keyless ignition, leather upholstery and heated 10-way power front seats with driver memory functions. The window shade, heated steering wheel and 19-inch wheels are among the stand-alone options on the base XF.

The XF Supercharged comes standard with a supercharged V8, 20-inch wheels and quad tailpipes. The "2011 Jaguar XF "features three engines in four models, each with a corresponding trim level. The base XF and the XF Premium sport a 5.0-liter V8 that produces 385 hp and 380 lb-ft of torque. Estimates for the supercharged XFR engine are 15/21/17.

Standard safety features include antilock disc brakes with brake assist, stability and traction control, front-seat airbags, front-seat side airbags, side curtain airbags and active front head restraints. A rearview camera and a blind-spot warning system are optional on the base XF and standard on the XF Premium, XF Supercharged and XFR.

Braking performance for the XF lineup is particularly noteworthy.

Exactly one year after the introduction of the updated XKR, Jaguar is returning to the Geneva Motor Show with its most potent mass production car ever, the new XKR-S which comes with an uprated supercharged V8 engine, overhauled suspension and new aerodynamic enhancements.

At the 1961 Geneva Auto Show, Jaguar stunned the automotive world with a timeless design that is still regarded as one of the finest in history. That car was none other than the E-Type. The company said it will mark the E-Type's 50th birthday at this year's Geneva Motor Show and at other events such as the Pebble Beach Concours d'Elegance, Goodwood's Revival and Goodwood's Festival of Speed, without going into any more details.

[Updated with high-res pictures] After the teaser image we showed you earlier today, the first three images of Bertone's design study for a compact Jaguar, hit the web. Dubbed B99 (for the 99th anniversary of Bertone) the eye-catching concept car has a sleek coupe profile, even though it's a four-door sedan. The suicide doors give it a distinctive appearance, but if Jaguar were to build a production model, it's unlikely that they would remain.

While it might look like a long limousine, the Italian design house's B99 concept is just 4.5 meters long. Combine this with the very low height (1.35 meters) and the pretty wide body (1.95 meters) and you have a small sedan looking like a much bigger and more luxurious model, whose profile brings to mind the classic Jaguar XJ.

Whispers of a new design study for a Jaguar model from Bertone have been going around lately, but today, a teaser image surfaced online providing us with our first peek at the car, which is named B99 (Bertone 99) and is set to premiere at next month's Geneva Motor Show.

The B99 is a conceptual proposal for a 'baby' Jaguar model targeting the likes of the BMW 3-Series and Mercedes C-Class saloons. The concept will feature a traditional four-door sedan body with more classic proportions and styling cues than the XJ and XF.

Perhaps best known for its work with models from the Volkswagen Group, Germany's Hofele Design has now revealed a new styling program for the first generation of Jaguar's XK coupe and convertible series built between 1996 and 2005.