Jaguar is to present the XKR Portfolio 2009 at the Geneva Motor Show, a special edition version full of enhancements on the previous model. Available as a coupe or convertible, the Portfolio 2009 is equipped with the 420bhp 4.2 litre V8 supercharged engine coupled with a six-speed automatic gearbox.

Specific additions for this version are the exclusive Shadow Grey metallic paint colour, the new 20” Selena alloy rims and the milled aluminium vents in the side. In addition, the Portfolio will be equipped with the Alcon R Performance braking system, developed on the Nurburgring track, with 400mm six-pot discs at the front. The wheels show off the old Jaguar logo which
reminds us of the tradition and rich history of the British brand.

Continue reading: Geneva 2008: Jaguar XKR Portfolio 2009

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Rumors have been circulating for a while about a replacement for Jaguar’s and Land Rover’s “immortal” 4.2 engine: a new 5.0 V8 engine will soon find a home under the hood of the british marques’ new models. This new engine still remains shrouded in a degree of mystery: with a capacity of 4,997 cm3 it should be able to churn out 350 hp in the normally-aspirated version and around 460 hp in the supercharged one: quite a leap in performance compared to current V8s, with the added bouns of a decrease in emissions. However, this may not be the only piece of motoring news concerning Land Rover, given that the new baby Freelander, inspired by the concept of the LRX, could be equipped with a diesel hybrid drivetrain: what is more, it has been let out the bag that the 2009 Freelander will be geared with Stop-Start technology.

Via | Car

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Artists have been waiting for the moment of truth, whether an official approval or at least some sort of acknowledgment from Jaguar regarding their much-talked about new project, and indeed a project that has not exactly been kept under wraps. Were Jaguar to officially approve its ‘911 Fighter’ as it has come to be known, a battle would soon break out between artists trying to second guess the new design.

There would certainly be a difference of opinion between those enticed by the car’s technology and trying to follow current stylistic trend, and those who simply laud the sleek curves of the classic F-Type show-car. Nonetheless, the word on the street is that the new project will apparently combine the classic nose of the F-Type with a wheelbase more akin to the current XK coupè. A match made in heaven some would say, even if the XK would be more in keeping with the immortal spirit of Jaguar. In any case, considering the project has been given “top priority” status according to certain Jaguar workers, something will have presumably already been approved; perhaps the choice of platform, which according to rumour will be based around a shortened version of the XK chassis.

Via | Leftlane News

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Our friends over at Autoblog.nl tip us off to a nice image gallery of the new Jaguar XF on the site of the english magazine Autocar. The images are low-res only (356×236 pixels), so we’ll have to wait some more days to better appreciate Jaguar’s new premium saloon (the official announcement will be on august 28th).

At launch the Jaguar XF should have two 4.2 liters V8 engines, both naturally aspirated and supercharged. The supercharged should output 420 ps.

Continue reading: Jaguar XF preview

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We had to take down the “almost” official images coming from Car & Driver, but fortunately Edmunds’ Straight Line has a nice batch of photos of the Jaguar XF Concept, in which we can better appreciate the complete break from the Jagar past represented by its styling.

The design was cured by Ian Callum, responsible for the current Aston Martin range (hence the very Rapide look of the tail of the XF) and of the current Jaguar XK.

Go on to the Straight Line blog and read all about the C-XF: the lucky guys from Edmunds even got a live preview of the concept car.

Continue reading: Jaguar XF Concept - more photos

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Update: photos taken down, as requested by C&D. Luckily, other photos of the XF Concept have surfaced.

The febrary issue of Car & Driver has a couple of official looking photos of the Jaguar XF Concept, the car that will be shown at next month’s Detroit auto show and that should prefigure the heir of the S-Type.

If truly it is the XF, the styling is a complete break from all that has been the Jaguar look up to now: gone are the four round headlights, gone is the classic Jaguar grille, gone are the smooth and round lines, substitued live corners and slits. There’s nothing “english” in the classic sense, it seems more a mash-up of themes from Aston/Ford/Volvo: the a-pillar, the hood and the front from an S40, the back from the Rapide, the flank and the sculpted lateral line from the new Mondeo.

Via | Carspyshots

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After the Jaguar XKR Coupè, it’s the Convertible’s turn. An incredibly elegant profile, with the roof down.

Un auto da grandi emozioni. Fortunati quelli che potranno permettersi i 110.000 € necessari per comprarla.

Performance is just a bit down compared to the Coupè (5.3 seconds from 0-100 km/h against 5.2 for the Coupè), but it will be an incredibly emotional car, for those lucky enough to afford the 105.000 € it will cost (92,000 $ in the US).

Continue reading: Jaguar XKR Cabrio - official pics

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More official photos of the new Jaguar XKR Coupè. It is about 70-100 kg lighter than her predecessor, and like the XKR it is very elegant, even if not everyone will like the sporty accents (the 4 big, chromed exhaust tubes, or the air inlets on the hood).

Nothing to say about performance: the supercharced 4.2-liters V8 engine outputs 416 ps, maximum torque is 560 Nm. It accelerates from 0-100 km/h in 5.2 seconds, top speed is electronically limited to 250 km/h. The price in continental Europe is around 95-100,000 € (available from July), in the US it will be 85.000 $.

Continue reading: Jaguar XKR Coupè - official pics

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World Car Fans has soome spy-shots of the new Jaguar XK-R, the souped-up version of the sleek english convertible.

As for the previous generation, for the XK-R Jaguar takes the 4.3 liters V8 engine (298 hp) of the XK and adds a super-charger. The result is a 400 hp engine, with which the XK-R should be capable of a 0-100 km/h sprint in little more than 5 seconds.

The XK-R should be shown at the Paris auto show and should be on the market in early 2007.

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Leftlane News reports a news item from the french financial newspaper L’Expansion: among the secret plans of Carlos Ghosn, Renault’s CEO, would be the acquisition of the Jaguar brand.

It seems that back in october Ghosn tried buying Volvo from Ford (the two brands had collaborated before), but Ford rebuffed his avances, since Volvo isn’t one of the money losing pits of the group, like Jaguar, which has been in the red since it was acquired in 1989.

So: with Jaguar, Renault would acquire a Luxury division, while Ford’s PAG division could be profitable as soon as next year. It remains to be seen whether Jaguar’s long suffering fans would see the brand being sold to Renault as the last blow.

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