ˆ Battle of the Auto__s: Jaguar supercar rumors refuted

tags : jaguar , jaguar f-type , jaguar sportscar , jaguar supercar , jaguar xj220 , jaguarf-type , jaguarsportscar , jaguarsupercar , jaguarxj220

A couple of weeks back we reported on an ongoing debate between British automotive sites Autocar and AutoExpress over the emergence of a new Jaguar sportscar. While the former reported that Jaguar was to supplement the existing XK line with a smaller variant, likely named XE, the latter issued claims that the new model would be positioned above the XK with an engine placed behind. A third source, AutoWeek, has now thrown its hat into the ring, refuting AutoExpress' supercar reports and running instead with Autocar's idea of a smaller sportscar. According to AutoWeek's man in the UK, rumors of a successor to the XJ220 are purely fantastical speculation, citing unnamed inside sources while noting quite rationally that something closer to the Porsche Boxster would make more business sense than a supercar in the Audi R8 mold. Who'll be vindicated in the Battle of the Auto___s? Time will tell, while here at Autoblog we'll contribute this much: why not build both? Wishful thinking to be sure, but if Jaguar hopes to take on Germany's best, they're going to need a wider range – and a halo car – to do it.

posted : 4/11/2009 @3:53:17 AM

ˆ New renderings of Jag's hush-hush supercar

tags : jaguar supercar , jaguar xe , jaguar xj220 , jaguarsupercar , jaguarxe , jaguarxj220 , mid engine jaguar , mid-engine jaguar , mid-enginejaguar , midenginejaguar , xe , xj220

Will Jaguar's XJ220 supercar finally have a successor? Although Jaguar denies it, Auto Express thinks so, and we hope they're right. While rumors have suggested the return of the F-type as Tata's next project, Auto Express expects Jaguar to show an all-new mid-engine supercar concept within the next year. And they even have some rather artful renderings to back up their claims. This new Audi R8 competitor would use an all-new aluminum chassis, with the XFR's 503-horsepower, supercharged 5.0-liter V8 powering it from amidships. Expect performance similar to the mildly modified XFR that just ran an incredible 225 miles-per-hour at the Bonneville Salt Flats. Figure on a 0-60 mph run of well under four seconds as well. What's more, Jaguar is said to be thinking green with this new model too. The car is said to be capable of running on biofuels with CO2 emissions that should be less than 300g/km. With an alloy skin penned by Ian Callum, it should be a looker too. The supercar, which could be called the XE, could possibly be shown at the Geneva Motor Show in 2010.

posted : 3/28/2009 @5:42:03 PM

ˆ Barrett-Jackson 2009: The Supercars

tags : barrett jackson , barrett-jackson , barrett-jackson 2009 , barrett-jackson2009 , barrettjackson , jaguar xj220 , jaguarxj220 , saleen s7 twin-turbo , saleens7twin-turbo , supercars , vector m12 , vectorm12

Although muscle cars are usually in the spotlight at Barrett-Jackson, there were quite a few interesting supercars that caught our attention as well. First up was a Saleen S7 Twin-Turbo done up in stunning Beryllium custom paint. This particular car served as a press vehicle for Saleen and was featured in the movie Redline (who cares?), and Iron Man (cool!). Did we mention it also has the one-and-only 1,000-horsepower upgrade done by the factory. The winning bidder took the car home for $412,000. For a little more than half that much, another bidder took home one of the ultimate supercars of the last decade, a 1993 Jaguar XJ220. Other examples sold in the past few years have gone for a mere fraction of the original list price, and we think this car was well sold at the coincidental price of $220,000, perhaps due to its DOT/EPA certification. For those looking for a supercar on a budget, there was a 1996 Vector M12, one of only 14 built with just 6,388 miles, that sold for a mere $94,600. Other exotics that crossed the block included a Hennessey Venom 700R that sold for $115,500 and an Ultima Can-Am purchased for $51,700.

posted : 2/9/2009 @7:22:51 PM