Jaguar team up with skier Graham Bell for Record attempt

Jaguar and Olympic skier Graham Bell have teamed up to try and break a Guinness World Record.

The technical partnership is aimed at setting the World Record for the fastest man on skiis in 2017. Bell, now a TV presenter on the TV show ‘The Jump’, hopes to achieve the record with the support of Jaguar Land Rover engineers, facilities and expertise in aerodynamics.

Working with Jaguar to develop a unique ski suit and harness containing twin micro jets, he hopes to reach speeds of over 160mph – setting a new World Record. He has already begun training for the record by ski-joring behind a Jaguar XE AWD at over 100mph in the Austrian Alps.

Graham Bell said “I approached Jaguar to become my lead technical partner due to their experience in aerodynamics and love of all things involving speed. As lead technical partner in the attempt, Jaguar will provide the aerodynamic expertise to develop the Iron-Man-style suit I need, as well as helping me acclimatise to speed and external forces using high performance vehicles including the Jaguar XE AWD - designed to provide maximum traction in adverse conditions including snow and ice.”

Ian Anderton, thermal and aerodynamics manager, Jaguar Land Rover, said: “As engineering challenges go it doesn’t get more unique than this, so the next few months are going to be very exciting. We kick-started the technical partnership by ski-joring with a Jaguar XE AWD to determine what factors should to be taken into consideration when designing his suit, such as wind, skiing position and chill – especially in minus conditions.”

The Jaguar XE has been optimised for 'ultimate aerodynamic efficiency and stability'. It is the the only car in its class to use an aluminium-intensive body structure, making it the lightest, stiffest and most aerodynamic Jaguar yet. The XE AWD enhances vehicle dynamics and provides greater traction in intense weather conditions.

The record attempt will take place at Jaguar’s cold weather testing facility in Sweden in early 2017. Although there is no comparable record, the current World Downhill Speed Skiing World Record is currently held by Simone Oregone at 156mph.

Eagle adds Jaguar Spyder GT to range

Renowned Jaguar E-Type specialists ‘Eagle’ has announced the third in their trilogy of special edition E-Types - the new Eagle Spyder GT.

The British company has conducted complete and compromise free restorations on original Jaguar E-Types for over thirty years - aiming to ‘refine, develop and deliver exceptional engineering for the Jaguar E-Type while remaining true to the spirit of this extraordinary car’.

The Spyder GT combines the style and dynamics of the previous Eagle Speedster with the high performance touring capability of the Eagle Low Drag GT- and incorporates a folding roof for practicality.

The first car from the East Sussex company was the Speedster, which was developed from a client request and then feted around the world. It starred on Top Gear in 2011. The Eagle Low Drag GT - inspired by Malcolm Sayer’s Low Drag Coupe developed for Jaguar in 1961 - followed soon after.

With the ‘poise and performance’ of the Low Drag GT and the styling of the Speedster - the Spyder GT’s raked windscreen and folding roof offer the best of both worlds – whatever the weather.

An all-aluminium E-Type lightweight roadster based around an original 1960s classic, every line and detail is honed to perfection and performance is greatly enhanced says Eagle. Each of the very few produced will have an entirely bespoke specification dependent of the specific desires of each client.

Paul Brace, Design Director at Eagle said: “Development of the Spyder GT began soon after the launch of the Speedster in 2011 and, like everything we produce, we wanted to ensure that we got as close to perfection as humanly possible. We’re renowned for being perfectionists and our clients are too - so we took the time to develop and deliver an E-Type that stands proud alongside the Speedster and the Low Drag GT.”

Henry Pearman, Eagle Founder and MD commented: “Like many, my love of the E-Type set hold at a very young age and has become a lifetime's dedication. The team here at Eagle have taken this love of E-Types to a new dimension by creating the ultimate trilogy of special edition E-Types - complementing the beautiful originals that form the backbone here at Eagle. I am incredibly proud of what we have achieved together over the last thirty years - and excited about what we’ll do in the future!”

The first Eagle Spyder GT will be presented to the commissioning customer during the Summer of 2016. Eagle will be exhibiting at the London Classic Car Show 18-21 February, showing ten E-Types.

Scottish Motor Show E-Type restored

The E-Type that turned heads at the 1961 Scottish Motor Show has been brought back to its former glory and will feature at the London Classic Car Show 2016.

Chassis No. 15 was the fifteenth right hand drive fixed head coupe E-Type to leave Jaguar’s production line in 1961 and was used as a press car at the Scottish Motor Show held at the Kelvin Hall, Glasgow, in November that year. The car then moved on to private ownership and went missing for decades until Classic Motor Cars discovered it in a barn in Cernay, France, in late 2013. Since being found, CMC has carried out a full restoration of Chassis No. 15.

Exactly 2,956 hours were spent restoring every nut and bolt of this E-Type at CMC’s workshops in Bridgnorth, saving as much of the original car as possible and bringing back its show-stopping condition. Nick Goldthorp, Managing Director of Classic Motor Cars, said: “We found Chassis No. 15 in Cernay, a French town close to the border with Germany. It had been owned by the same person since 1976, who dismantled it probably some twenty years ago and that is as far as he got. The car was underneath some covers in a garden, very rusty and corroded – there was even a bird’s nest in the rear quarter! We carried out a full nut and bolt restoration, which proved to be quite a challenge due to the sorry state in which it was found.”

Goldthorp added: “No detail was too small and extensive work has been carried out in the paint and trim shops so that the car can now boast its original colour combination of pearl grey exterior and light blue interior, being the only one produced in those colours in 1961. This was one of the six E-Types on display at the 1961 Scottish Motor Show. After restoring it to its former glory, we thought it was only fitting that the car returned to the centre stage 55 years later and what could be better than the London Classic Car Show.”

The London Classic Car Show at the ExCeL exhibition centre runs from February 18-21.

Mourinho keeps his cool as he masters ice driving

José Mourinho has been mastering the art of high speed drifting and ice driving on a 60km frozen lake at Jaguar Land Rover's extreme testing facility in Arjeplog, Sweden.

 The ex-Chelsea football manager was testing a high performance Jaguar F-PACE S prototype as part of an extreme driver training experience just 40 miles from the Arctic Circle.

In temperatures as low as -30 degrees, Mourinho's driving skills were tested to their extreme limit in the Jaguar F-PACE by Finnish professional driver, Tommi Karrinaho. 

Mourinho said: "The flying lap with Tommi sent my adrenaline soaring. It's something I've only ever experienced before when I have walked out in front of 80,000 football fans."

The three-time Premier League-winning manager is experiencing widespread interest about his future right now, but he was philosophical about his next move. 

"I have worked for as long as I can remember as a manager and this is now the second time I have stopped in 16 years. So it's not a drama, but for sure I will be back soon... I don't know where football will take me because in football you never know, but for sure as a family our home will still be in London." 

Customer deliveries for the new F-PACE are set to kick off in late spring 2016, and Mourinho, who already owns an F-TYPE Coupé, is among the first to have placed an order.

Jaguar will be rolling out the Ice Drive Experience to customers from all over the world in 2017.

200mph Jaguar F-Type SVR to debut in Geneva

Jaguar has shown a new F-Type SVR - Special Vehicle Operations - ahead of a Geneva Motor Show global debut. 

The new F-Type SVR is the first Jaguar from the SVR department and is developed to exploit the two-seat aluminium sports car’s full potential while retaining its day-to-day usability. Capable of 200mph, the F-Type SVR is lighter, faster and more powerful. Jaguar says it takes performance, dynamics and driver involvement to a new level ‘yet retains the comfort and duality of character inherent to all Jaguar cars’.

“The new F-Type SVR is the first series production Jaguar to be developed by Special Vehicle Operations and benefits from everything we know about precision engineering, performance and design. The result is a 200mph, all-weather supercar that you can drive every day – we even made a Convertible version so that enthusiasts can revel in the sound from the new titanium exhaust system” said John Edwards, Managing Director, Jaguar Land Rover Special Operations.

Further details will be revealed in Geneva.

The new Jaguar F-Type SVR will go on sale in summer 2016.

Jaguar unveils F-TYPE British Design Edition

The Jaguar F-TYPE British Design Edition

Jaguar has launched an exclusive British Design Edition of its F-TYPE sportscar.

Based on the F-TYPE S Coupe and Convertible, and featuring a range of visual enhancements and additional equipment, the special edition is offered either in an Ultimate Black finish, or in one of three colours from a palette inspired by the Union Jack: Caldera Red, Glacier White and Ultra Blue.

Further enhancements come from the Sport Design pack, Satin Grey 20-inch Cyclone wheels and discreet British Design Edition badges front and rear, with unique branding on the centre console, headrests and the stainless steel tread plates.

The Jet leather interior is finished with contrast stitching in a choice of three colours - Red, Ivory or Reims Blue - with carbon fibre trim around the centre console. Jaguar’s InControl Touch and InControl Touch Plus infotainment systems support a range of apps to improve driver connectivity, and are offered with upgraded Meridian audio equipment.

Power comes exclusively from the 380PS/ 460Nm supercharged 3.0-litre V6 petrol engine, matched to the eight-speed Quickshift transmission with all-wheel drive. 

The F-TYPE British Design Edition is available to order now at Jaguar UK retailers priced from £75,225 for the Coupe version and £80,390 for the Convertible.

Customer deliveries are set to begin in the Spring.

Jaguar XE gets AWD and new engine option

Jaguar XE gets AWD and new engine option

Jaguar XE gets AWD and new engine option

Jaguar XE gets AWD and new engine option

Jaguar XE gets AWD and new engine option

Jaguar XE gets AWD and new engine option

Jaguar XE gets AWD and new engine option

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The 2016 Jaguar XE will be available with all-wheel drive (AWD) and with a new 2.0-litre 180 PS diesel engine.

Shown at the LA Auto Show, the latest XE has been upgraded with InControl Touch Pro - Jaguar's next-generation infotainment system, as well as torque on-demand all-wheel drive, F-Type-derived Configurable Dynamics and a wider range of advanced driver assistance systems.

Available exclusively with the 180PS Ingenium, the all-wheel drive enhances vehicle dynamics and provides greater traction. Torque is only transferred to the front wheels when needed, maintaining the XE's inherent agility and rear-wheel drive character. Adaptive Surface Response (AdSR) makes the AWD system even better by changing the mapping of the powertrain and Dynamic Stability Control system according to the conditions.

Together with 'class-leading' chassis design, the combination of AWD, AdSR and the All Surface Progress Control system gives the driver greater confidence in adverse conditions.

InControl Touch Pro is designed around a tablet-style 10.2-inch touchscreen featuring highly responsive, high quality graphics. With intelligent navigation that can tell others if you're running late and a Wi-Fi hotspot for up to eight devices, the XE ensures connectivity.

Configurable Dynamics, first developed for the F-Type sports car, is now offered in the XE and enables the driver to tailor the car's character by selecting individual settings for the throttle response, transmission shifts and the Adaptive Dynamics continuously-variable damping system.

The XE also benefits from an enhanced range of assistance systems including Lane Keep Assist and Driver Condition Monitor - a feature which can detect and warn against driver fatigue. The Jag also offers the Adaptive Speed Limiter: an intelligent technology which can support the driver by increasing or decreasing vehicle speed when speed limits change.

The new Jaguar XE range will consist of XE SE, XE Prestige, XE R-Sport, XE Portfolio, XE S with prices starting at £26,990 OTR.

Jaguar to feature at WIRED2015

Jaguar to feature at WIRED2015

Jaguar to feature at WIRED2015

Jaguar to feature at WIRED2015

Jaguar to feature at WIRED2015

Jaguar to feature at WIRED2015

Jaguar to feature at WIRED2015

Jaguar has confirmed it will showcase its technologically-advanced XF saloon car at WIRED2015.

WIRED magazine's annual two-day flagship event brings the WIRED world to life, and is recognised as the multimedia authority on the future, in print and digital. The XF will be joined by the C-X75 concept hypercar, shown for the first time in the UK - which features in the new Bond adventure, SPECTRE.

Senior Jaguar executives Kevin Stride (XF Vehicle Line Director), Adam Hatton (Creative Director, Jaguar Exterior Design), Alister Whelan (Creative Director, Jaguar Interior Design) and Peter Virk (Head of Connected Technologies and Apps) will support the presentation of the all-new XF at WIRED. Jaguar Land Rover (JLR) will also offer exclusive workshop sessions at the WIRED conference.

The appearance of the new XF will focus on the car's 'inherently innovative' technologies including InControl Touch Pro (offering door-to-door navigation, iOS and Android connectivity and Meridian digital surround sound), Jaguar Configurable Dynamics, All-Surface Progress Control (enabling smooth, drive-away on low friction surfaces such as snow and ice), laser head-up display, autonomous emergency braking, adaptive cruise-control with queue-assist, lane keep-assist, intelligent speed limiter and semi-automated parking.

Chaired by WIRED UK Deputy Editor, Greg Williams, and supported by additional speakers from WIRED2015, two 30 minute thought-leadership sessions will cover topics designed to stimulate discussion and debate by experts in their field. The first session is scheduled for Thursday 15th: 'Humanity in the digital age', with the second scheduled for Friday 16th: 'Integrated innovation: Car design and Engineering'. Both sessions will be filmed and published by Jaguar and WIRED at the event.

In addition, Jaguar Land Rover will show some of the company's future technologies and research projects, including: Mind Sense - Jaguar's research project to see if a car could effectively read the brainwaves and monitor if the driver is alert and concentrating on driving. The most common method for monitoring brainwaves is close to the source using sensors attached to a headband, to circumvent this requirement, Jaguar Land Rover is investigating methods in use by NASA and the US bobsleigh team to develop pilots' concentration and focus. Mind Sense will detect brainwaves through the hands via sensors embedded in the steering wheel, with software adopted to amplify the signal and filter out the pure brainwave from any background noise between the driver's head and the wheel. If brain activity indicates a day dream or poor concentration, the steering wheel or pedals will vibrate to raise the driver's awareness to the lapse. User trials are underway, supported by leading neuroscientists to verify the results.

JLR is also researching how a car could heat or cool an 'air bubble' inside the vehicle, and maintain temperature and air quality using innovative new heating, ventilation and air-conditioning (HVAC) technologies.

Cargo Sense is an idea for a trailer monitoring system designed to optimise cargo loading for safer towing. As well as helping users load cargo evenly and efficiently, the pressure sensitive mat would detect if a load, be it solid (boxes, furniture, car) or alive (horse), is moving around in an unexpected or abnormal way whilst traveling. The project includes the development of an App that allows drivers to monitor the status of a trailer and its cargo remotely via smartphone.

WIRED2015 takes place from 15 - 16 October at Tobacco Dock, London E1.

New Jaguar F-Pace tested to the extreme

New Jaguar F-Pace tested to the extreme

New Jaguar F-Pace tested to the extreme

New Jaguar F-Pace tested to the extreme

New Jaguar F-Pace tested to the extreme

New Jaguar F-Pace tested to the extreme

New Jaguar F-Pace tested to the extreme

New Jaguar F-Pace tested to the extreme

New Jaguar F-Pace tested to the extreme

Jaguar has been busy testing its new F-Pace in extreme conditions - from -40 degrees to plus +50.

Taking the new SUV to the searing heat and dust of Dubai as well as the ice and snow of Northern Sweden, the new F-Pace has been subjected to one of the most demanding test programmes the company has ever devised ensuring that every system functions perfectly, even under the most extreme conditions.

At Jaguar Land Rover's test facility in Arjeplog, Northern Sweden, average winter temperatures rarely exceed -15 degrees and often plummet to -40 degrees. The 60km of purpose-built handling tracks, mountain climbs, inclines, split-friction straights and off-road areas are ideal for optimising the calibration of the all-wheel drive system, Dynamic Stability Control and technologies such as Jaguar's revolutionary All-Surface Progress Control. The work done here makes sure that, whether on asphalt, snow or ice, the F-Pace delivers the connected steering feel and agility 'fundamental to Jaguar dynamics DNA'.

In Dubai, ambient temperatures can exceed 50 degrees in the shade. When vehicles are left out in direct sunlight, cabin temperatures can soar to 70 degrees - exactly what's needed to ensure that everything from climate control systems to infotainment touchscreens function perfectly in extremes of heat and humidity. And while the test engineers can relax in air-conditioned comfort as they drive in city traffic, this part of the test cycle is designed to place the cooling systems under very high load through a combination of high ambient temperatures and low airflow.

Andrew Whyman, Vehicle Programme Director, Jaguar F-Pace said: "We developed the F-Pace to offer the ride, handling and refinement demanded from a Jaguar, together with exceptional levels of ability and composure on all surfaces and in all weathers. Just as we paid obsessive attention to detail over the engineering of every single component, we've exhaustively tested the F-Pace in the most challenging conditions to ensure that it will exceed the expectations of our customers around the world".

The SUV has also been driven over gravelled mountain passes, marking the first time that a Jaguar test programme has included this uniquely challenging environment.

The new F-Pace will debut at the Frankfurt motor show in September.

New Jaguar F-Pace breaks cover

New Jaguar F-Pace breaks cover

New Jaguar F-Pace breaks cover

New Jaguar F-Pace breaks cover

New Jaguar F-Pace breaks cover

New Jaguar F-Pace breaks cover

New Jaguar F-Pace breaks cover

New Jaguar F-Pace breaks cover

New Jaguar F-Pace breaks cover

The new Jaguar F-PACE appeared in public for the first time on Saturday 4 July as it supported Team Sky on Stage One of the Tour de France in Utrecht.

The F-Pace shed its hard camouflage for the first time - in front of an estimated live audience of one million people, with over two billion more estimated to have watched on television or online around the world - instead sporting a specially created wrap, hinting at the final design of the vehicle, which will be fully unveiled later this year.

Five Team Sky riders - Ian Stannard, Luke Rowe, Peter Kennaugh, Leopold Konig and Chris Froome - were supported by the F-Pace during the Grand Depart, providing a real world test of Jaguar's first performance crossover.

A special bike rack, designed with an innovative telescopic clamp by Jaguar Land Rover's Special Vehicle Operations, was developed specifically for the stage and carried two Team Sky Pinarello Bolide Time Trial bikes.

Team Sky Head of Technical Operations & Commercial, Carsten Jeppesen, said: "The atmosphere in Utrecht was incredible. The Netherlands has a huge passion for cycling and right from the moment we arrived at the start line, you could feel the excitement. The appearance of Jaguar's F-Pace prototype definitely added to the hype today - you could see it made a big impact with the crowds."

Jaguar has produced a short film capturing all the F-Pace (#FPACE) action as the gruelling Tour began in the Netherlands: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nC3woUBN6Dg

The world premiere of the Jaguar F-PACE will be at the Frankfurt Motor Show in September and will go on sale from 2016.