THE HISTORY OF JAGUAR

Nick Aylieff blogs about THE HISTORY OF JAGUAR, and the heritage and horsepower of one of the automotive world’s iconic marques.

THE HISTORY OF JAGUAR

 Jaguar, a name synonymous with luxury and performance, began its journey in 1922 as the Swallow Sidecar Company, founded by William Lyons and William Walmsley in Blackpool, England. Initially producing motorcycle sidecars, the company quickly expanded into the automobile market, launching its first car, the SS1, in 1931. The sleek design and superior performance of the SS1 set the tone for what would become Jaguar’s trademark: a combination of style, speed, and sophistication. The company rebranded as Jaguar Cars Limited in 1945, shedding the SS moniker due to its wartime connotations, and began focusing exclusively on automobiles. Jaguar racing & restoration specialists Predator Performance Racing, Largo, FL, top; Jaguar D-Type, right.

The post-war era saw Jaguar rise to prominence with the introduction of the XK120 in 1948, a car that became an instant icon due to its breathtaking design and record-breaking speed. Powered by a newly developed 3.4-liter straight-six engine, the XK120, below, set a new standard for sports cars and established Jaguar as a force to be reckoned with on the global stage. THE HISTORY OF JAGUARThe 1950s and 1960s were golden years for THE HISTORY OF JAGUAR, with models like the C-Type and D-Type, above, dominating Le Mans and securing the brand’s place in motorsport history. This period also saw the launch of the legendary E-Type, below, in 1961, a car so beautiful that Enzo Ferrari himself famously called it “the most beautiful car ever made.”

Throughout the 1970s and 1980s, Jaguar faced challenges as it transitioned through various ownerships and economic downturns. Despite these hurdles, the brand continued to produce remarkable vehicles, including the XJ series, which combined luxury with high performance. Jaguar’s commitment to innovation was evident with the launch of the XJ220 in 1992, a car that briefly held the title of the fastest production car in the world. However, financial struggles led to Jaguar being acquired by Ford in 1990, marking the beginning of a new chapter in its storied history. Ford developed the 5.0-liter engine, supercharged and naturally aspirated for the XK/XKR, below, series of GT/Sports cars.THE HISTORY OF JAGUARIn 2008, Jaguar was sold to Tata Motors, an Indian conglomerate, alongside Land Rover. Under Tata’s ownership, Jaguar experienced a resurgence, returning to its roots of blending performance with elegance. The introduction of models like the F-Type, below, which paid homage to the E-Type, and the all-electric I-PACE demonstrated Jaguar’s ability to innovate while respecting its rich heritage. Today, Jaguar continues to be a symbol of British automotive excellence, with a commitment to luxury, craftsmanship, and cutting-edge technology that remains as strong as ever.THE HISTORY OF JAGUAR author Nick Aylieff, specializes in the marketing of collector cars @
https://www.classicmotorsforsale.com/home/

sales@classicmotorsforsale.com

‘24 JAGUAR F-TYPE R75 MOVES LIKE A SCALDED CAT!

Farewell, sweet cat – lithe, powerful, and yet subtle in its snarl until played with. The ‘24 JAGUAR F-TYPE R75 MOVES LIKE A SCALDED CAT! writes Dan Scanlan.

‘24 JAGUAR F-TYPE R75 MOVES LIKE A SCALDED CAT!

This ‘24 Jaguar F-Type R75 AWD convertible and its 570-horsepower supercharged V-8 are almost the last of this line of gas-powered Jaguars It’s a heritage begun 75 years ago (hence the R75designation) with the 1948 Jaguar XK120. But with EVs now superseding gas engines, and that means this 5-liter V-8 cat is Jaguar’s last gas – sports car that is – before batteries fuel its successors. At least we gave Britain’s answer to the Corvette – albeit the last-gen front-engined C7 – one last prowl through the asphalt jungle.

This supercharged V-8 ladles out a decent 516 foot-pounds of torque through an 8-speed ZF transmission and into on-demand all-wheel drive, with Normal or Dynamic drive mode and a Sport shift setting. Tap the pulsing red Start/Stop button and it literally barks to life from quad exhausts, then settles into an angry purr. No matter if Active Exhaust mode is on or off, it spits and pops as you blip that gas pedal. And fire up that mode, and the soundtrack adds crackles and pops even more delicious and anti-social on overrun as the ‘24 JAGUAR F-TYPE R75 MOVES LIKE A SCALDED CAT!

Even in Normal mode, our 6,000-mile-old ragtop leaps off the line with supercharger whine and exhaust growl to hit 60 mph in 3.7 seconds as all four paws dig into the tarmac. Tap on Dynamic Mode – sharper throttle response, quicker shifting and a rip/snarl exhaust bark at upshift to second – and 60 mph arrives in 3.5, with 100 mph in 8. We pulled a decent .80Gs on launch. And each downshift was rev-matched.

Taken on a day trip to Jekyll Island, Normal drive mode gave an acceptable 20 mpg. To compare, a coupe we tested with same engine hit 60 mph in 3.7 seconds. In Dynamic with Sport shift – 60 mph in 3.3 seconds, and 100 in 7.8. And, a 2017 F-Type SVR we tested then with the same engine hit 60-mph and 100-mph in the same times.

That bodywork is all aluminum – our 3,760-pound convertible is 240 pounds more than the coupe – and hides a forged aluminum double wishbone front suspension, plus multilink in back with adaptive damping that reads the car’s motion, roll and pitch to firm up or soften as needed. In Normal mode, the ride was taut but nicely buffered on rebound, firm but comfortable. In Dynamic mode, we felt lightning-fast damped rebound, with a firm, quick nudge at full compression, and still well buffered. But these tires are noisy at highway speed.

Commuting in Dynamic, the Jag was glued to corners with a taut yet livable ride, even with cobbled roads and cracked asphalt. With all-wheel-drive offering a bit more rearward bias, we had flat cornering in turns, eagerly maintaining poise powering out. Steering was nicely weighted and direct, allowing us to point and shoot this agile ragtop – it was a delight on the road tour as we went through sweeping coastal Georgia roads. On the skid pad, there was initial understeer. But power on and it’s neutral, then we nudged a hint of power oversteer with throttle as a rear electronic active differential handled torque distribution between the front and rear axles, and across the rear wheels. The result – the G-force meter showed it pulling a super-grippy 1.12 Gs in hard cornering! All-wheel-drive gave solid footing on the run, even in the wet. And the brake pedal had a nice bite high up, with great control as you feel big (15-inch front/14.8-inch rear) disc brakes grab. The Jag stopped clean and straight from any speed, hard repeated use seeing no fade or apparent nosedive, pulling 1.09Gs at full stop.

‘24 JAGUAR F-TYPE R75 MOVES LIKE A SCALDED CAT!As for looks, our F-Type sure pays homage to Malcolm Sayer’s original ‘61 E-Type. Debuted in 2014, its nose and front fenders redesigned for the 2021 model, the F-Type nails that sleekly aggressive look with serious, mostly modern edges, still retaining hints of classic – long hood and rounded rear fender E-Type.

Touring around historic Jekyll Island’s 19th Century architecture, holiday lights glowed off its very aggressive face with wide gloss black meshed intake, black cat’s face growling dead center. Slim LED headlights slash out from that knee-high grille. The lower grille gets aggressive side inlets flanking a lower center intake over big air dam.

There’s a subtle center power bulge on the long bonnet, flanked with inset vents. Flat-edged flares frame low-profile P265/35ZR20-inch front/ P305/30AR20-inch rear Pirelli P-ZERO rubber on 10-spoke gray and silver wheels framing huge disc brakes with red calipers. Then my favorite E-Type homage – rising rear fender haunches that flare wide before wrapping around the short tail. The neatly rounded black cloth roof, with decent-sized glass rear window, drops in 15 seconds at speeds up to 30 mph. The short rear deck has a pop-up spoiler over slit LED taillights and four huge polished steel tips, flanking a lower aero piece with diffuser.

Inside, this F-Type’s cockpit is a cozy-yet-stylish place to drop low into with just enough space for two, surrounded by quilted tan leather under black with contrasting stitching. It’s finely done and luxurious. Inviting sports buckets get full power adjustment and three memory presets each, highly bolstered and mostly grippy. They still lack the extra half-inch of legroom I’d like.

‘24 JAGUAR F-TYPE R75 MOVES LIKE A SCALDED CAT!In the 2021 redesign, Jaguar replaced analog gauges with digital – 200-mph speedometer and 7,000-rpm tach with configurable display showing navigation, radio, economy, map and more. The center touchscreen takes a while to cycle on, and it’s a slightly dated look. The entire screen briefly went black one afternoon. And there’s no voice command of anything. The cozy cockpit leaves no place to put a cellphone other than a cup holder, and Apple CarPlay and Android Auto aren’t wireless. There’s a small-but-deep trunk – we had to pack smart to fit. It is a cozy, cool place to curl up for a prowl top down – decent wind resistance at speed – but more tech could have been updated.

To prowl in this last of the breed, $77,900 gets you an F-Type P450 RWD with 444 horsepower, while our F-Type R75 AWD starts at $115,000; with leather upgrade; paint; and Nubuck leather-trimmed mats clawing the final price to $119,875.

Check out Dan Scanlan’s ‘24 JAGUAR F-TYPE R75 MOVES LIKE A SCALDED CAT! videos: https://youtu.be/bYq9cNWJdG0  ; https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=C606NbRjo5o

For more information about the latest Jaguar luxury-performance vehicles, please visit https://www.jaguarusa.com/all-models/index.html?gad_source=1&gclsrc=ds

JAGUAR C-TYPE & D-TYPE CONTINUATION CLASSICS

Laguna Seca and The Quail will showcase JAGUAR C-TYPE & D-TYPE CONTINUATION CLASSICS during Monterey Car Week!

JAGUAR C-TYPE & D-TYPE CONTINUATION CLASSICS

Jaguar Classic is continuing its global tour of its authentic luxury collectibles, the C-type and D-type Continuations. The official classic division of JLR will be exhibiting at this year’s Monterey Car Week in California for the first time since 2018, at both The Quail, and in a debut for the brand, the Rolex Motorsports Reunion at Laguna Seca. This comes after JAGUAR C-TYPE & D-TYPE CONTINUATION CLASSICS have been impressing clients and car fans alike, in the UAE, Japan, and Switzerland.

From Wednesday 16th August, Jaguar Classic will have three vehicles on display at Laguna Seca for the Rolex Motorsports Reunion, two of which are the C-type and D-type Continuation projects. This annually held event sees approximately 550 classic race cars descend upon it and is the largest event during Car Week.

On Friday 18th August, C-type and D-type Continuations will be presented at The Quail, an exquisite showcase of the finest automobiles in the world, where a 1956 Jaguar D-type was named Best of Show in 2022.Jaguar Classic will showcase the craft, skill, and passion that goes into each of these luxury limited editions. Each Continuation takes over 3,000 to build by hand, by experts at JLR Classic’s Coventry based Works facility in the UK. They are new versions of some of the most iconic and pioneering racing cars engineered to exacting standards to ensure authenticity.

Paul Barritt, Director, Jaguar Classic, said: “We are immensely proud of the work everyone at Jaguar Classic Works have put – and continue to put – into these exquisite Continuation vehicles. They are true masterpieces with exceptional stories behind them. It is very special to bring these stories of Jaguar’s incredible heritage to life through the work of passionate and talented individuals, and to be able to share them with the world at events like Monterey Car Week.”

JAGUAR C-TYPE & D-TYPE CONTINUATION CLASSICSRevealed in 2021, the Jaguar C-type Continuation is a strictly limited run of vehicles built to celebrate the iconic C-type’s trailblazing heritage, and its numerous landmark victories. Each example can be specified in one of 12 heritage exterior colours and eight interior colours and is powered by a 3.4-litre straight-six engine producing 220 horsepower. Jaguar Classic will build no more than sixteen examples.Built to the 1953 Le Mans-winning works team car specification, the C-type Continuations have been painstakingly researched and developed using an advanced combination of modern technology and archived Jaguar materials. It is the first Jaguar Classic vehicle to be reproduced fully utilising 3D CAD, using modern JLR facilities, feeding in original period source data for absolute authenticity.The D-type Continuation restarted production of the iconic D-type racing car 64 years after the first examples were racing in 1954. Originally, in the 1950s, a run of 100 D-types was supposed to be built, but only 75 were completed. Restarting production after more than 60 years, Jaguar Classic is finishing the production run with 25 exclusive vehicles, meticulously crafted to an authentic, period-correct specification.

Jaguar Classic’s unique access to original engineering drawings and records ensures the experts at the Classic Works in Coventry accurately reproduce each vehicle. Clients can choose either 1955-specification Shortnose or 1956-spec Longnose bodywork.

For more information about JAGUAR C-TYPE & D-TYPE CONTINUATION CLASSICS, please visit  http://www.jaguar.com/classic

JAGUAR TCS RACING ELECTRIC I-TYPE 6

The most advanced all-electric Jaguar racecar ever, the JAGUAR TCS RACING ELECTRIC I-TYPE 6 has a top speed of 200 mph!

JAGUAR TCS RACING ELECTRIC I-TYPE 6

The new Jaguar I-TYPE 6 is the most advanced and efficient electric Jaguar racecar ever; designed to win the 2023 ABB FIA Formula E World Championship. Lighter, more powerful and faster, the Jaguar I-TYPE 6 will set new performance benchmarks for an all-electric racecar. It features regenerative braking so powerful it has no conventional rear brakes!

Technology transfer from the Jaguar I-TYPE 6 will support reimagining Jaguar’s future as an all-electric modern luxury brand starting in 2025. All-new asymmetric livery from Jaguar’s creative team means unique cars for drivers and a distinctive new identity for the Gen3 era. After Jaguar TCS Racing’s highest ever points haul in Formula E last year, returning drivers Mitch Evans and Sam Bird bring vital continuity and consistency to the series.Jaguar TCS Racing enters Season 9 with FIA Three-Star Environmental Accreditation, the highest possible rating, illustrating the team’s commitment to sustainability. New season welcomes a new partner, with Wolfspeed joining the team as Official Power Semiconductor Partner. Jaguar TCS Racing will race in Mexico City on January 14th 2023 for first of 17 races in 12 cities. With Jaguar TCS Racing’s Mitch Evans finishing runner-up in the Drivers’ World Championship, the British team is working hard to once again fight for the World Championship title in 2023.

For more information about the JAGUAR TCS RACING ELECTRIC I-TYPE 6 and its racing program, please visit https://www.jaguarusa.com/jaguar-racing/index.html

Wimbledon stars and their cars

Novak Djokovic – an ambassador for PEUGEOT

With Wimbledon fast approaching, all eyes are on the world’s elite players as they battle for one of the sport’s most lucrative prizes.

Overall, there’s £40.35 million worth of prize money to play for, spread out over four rounds, the semi-finals and the finals.

The 2022 Wimbledon winners will win £2m each and the runners-up get a cool £1.05m, with much more to be earned via sponsorships.

As a result, the most famous tennis players boast some of the world’s best car collections.

Prestige car experts Anglo Scottish Asset Finance know a thing or two about luxury cars, and they’ve taken a look at some of the car collections of some of tennis’s most famous players to find out who’s got the biggest and best car collection.

Novak Djokovic
Estimated value of car collection: £830,000
Six-time Wimbledon winner and holder of 20 Grand Slam Men’s singles, Serbian legend Novak Djokovic is a well-known petrolhead. A brand ambassador for Peugeot, Djokovic is the owner of numerous electric cars, one of which is a limited edition E-208 bestowed on him by Peugeot. He is also the proud owner of a Tesla Model X.

As well as his electric cars, Djokovic’s collection includes a series of sportier motors, including an Audi R8, Aston Martin DB9 (worth over £200,000), and Bentley GT Continental. For everyday use, where a more understated car is required, he also has a Fiat 500.

With Djokovic’s Aston Martin retailing for over £200,000, and his Bentley, Audi R8 and Mercedes S500 all retailing for over £100,000, his collection will be the envy of petrolheads around the world.

Rafael Nadal
Estimated value of car collection: £836,000
With 21 Grand Slam titles and two Wimbledon wins, Nadal holds the most Men’s singles titles in history. Having faced Djokovic 58 times, their rivalry is considered one of the greatest ever – and their car collections rival each other too.

Sponsored by Kia, Nadal was gifted their most exciting sports car – the Kia Stinger GT, boasting 365hp and twin-turbo V6 engine. Nadal clearly feels the need for speed, as the owner of an Aston Martin DBS and Ferrari 458 Italia, the fastest car in his collection, with a top speed of 203mph. He even owns a Mercedes AMG GTS, adorned with an eye-catching tennis ball paint job.

When it comes to cars, Nadal might just edge Djokovic out. With the Aston Martin and Ferrari alone worth almost £500,000, the estimated value of his collection just pips that of his competitor.

Serena Williams
Estimated value of car collection: £637,000
Winner of 23 Grand Slams, Serena Williams is one of the most decorated women’s players of all time, and has the car collection to match! Williams owns an Aston Martin Vanquish, having been previously sponsored by the British car manufacturer, and is also the owner of a Bentley Continental GT.

Williams is the owner of a Mercedes G-wagon, and her garage is also home to some slightly more accessible ‘everyday’ cars, like a 2016 Mini Cooper, and a Lincoln Navigator. Upon becoming the face of Lincoln in 2018, Williams immediately got behind the wheel of a Navigator, which she had owned as her first car years prior – her beloved SUV was back.

Williams’ Aston Martin Vanquish, worth over £300,000, is the figurehead of her collection, which is estimated to be worth well over £600,000.

jaguaripace.

Andy Murray
Estimated value of car collection: £444,000
Having passed his driving test just five months before, Scottish hero Andy Murray ditched his understated VW Polo for a bright red Ferrari 430 – quite the improvement! However, after admitting that he felt like ‘a bit of a prat,’ Murray switched the Ferrari for a classier Aston Martin DB9, made famous by James Bond.

In 2015, Murray won the Munich Open, his first title on clay. A BMW i8 was included as part of his prize, and he also became the owner of a Jaguar I-Pace as a result of a sponsorship deal with Jaguar. Despite his ever-growing car collection, Murray still owns his original VW Polo, stating: ‘I enjoy driving it. It was my first car and I’m attached to it.’

Murray’s understated British charm extends to his car collection – whilst not as lavish as Nadal or Djokovic, his garage oozes class.

Roger Federer
Estimated value of car collection: £638,000
Suave Swiss player Roger Federer has developed a stunning car collection over the years, having held a lucrative contract with Mercedes-Benz since 2008. Federer owns at least six different models.

Federer is famously the owner of a sunburst-yellow Mercedes AMG GTS, as well as an AMG G63, more commonly known as a G-wagon. Boasting a Mercedes for every occasion, Federer has a convertible SL AMG for a sunny afternoon and a 4×4 Mercedes AMG GLE 63 S – there’s plenty of horsepower in his garage. He also owns a Range Rover – a staple of the pro sportsman’s car garage.

Though we’re sure Federer will have paid nothing for his car collection, it’s still the envy of car owners around the world, worth well over £600,000.

Naomi Osaka
Estimated value of car collection: > £250,000
A four-time Grand Slam singles champion, Naomi Osaka secured a sponsorship with Nissan in 2018 after beating Serena Williams in the U.S. Open. As part of their partnership, Nissan released a series of limited edition GT-Rs.

Osaka helped pick the colour combinations for the new GT-Rs, which she described as her ‘dream car.’ Available in Midnight Opal, Brilliant White Pearl and Meteor Flake Black Pearl, the production run of the new GT-Rs was limited to 50, making Osaka the owner of one of the rarest cars on this list. 

Whilst we don’t know much about Osaka’s other motors, you can expect her uber-rare limited edition GT-R to fetch at least £250,000!

From powerful sports cars to G-wagons and luxury 4x4s, tennis’s biggest stars rightly own some of the best cars on the planet – which will maintain their value on account of being owned by a famous tennis player!

Despite having the option of owning any car on the planet, it’s nice to know that there’s still room in Andy Murray’s garage for his old VW Polo.

“Many of the world’s top sportspeople pride themselves on their car collection, and tennis is no different,” said Allan Hetherington, Head of Prestige Car Finance at Anglo Scottish.

“However, with personalised prestige car finance options available, you need not feel priced out of affording your dream car.”