Jags have been old man cars for most of my adult life. The C-X16 concept, if it makes it to product, will smash that perception, blow up the smashed remains, and then light whatever’s left on fire. This car is absolutely, unequivocally gorgeous. It looks more Aston Martin than Jag, and that’s most definitely a good thing.

It’s not all about looks, though. Jaguar knows better than that these days. The C-X16 packs a supercharged 3.0 liter V6 that’s good for 376 horses and 332 lb-ft of torque. Not bad. But that’s not all, either.

When you need a bit more juice, you simply press the “Push to Pass” button, and a 94 HP / 173 lb-ft electric motor will spring to life, pinning you against your seat as you blow by all the regular cars on the road.

Gorgeous good looks. 0-62 MPH in 4.4 seconds. A hybrid go-fast button. Yes, please. But Jaguar? Give it a good name. This car deserves it.

Jaguar C-X16 Concept Gallery

So long S-Type, hello 2009 XF.  Ok, so the name doesn’t work for me -but none of the Jag names do.  What’s the 2009 Jaguar XF all about?  Style, style, and more style.  The concept made a big splash when it debuted, and the production model stays pretty close to concept.  The front end has been toned down a little, and could probably use a bit more pep.  Both the profile and rear views are fantastic.  From the back, you could easily mistake the XF for an Aston Martin, if it weren’t for the leaping cat.  Speaking of leaping cats, why isn’t there one on the hood? 

But the real story on the Jaguar XF isn’t the exterior.  No sir, it’s the interior.  The interior of the 09 XF is one of the best interiors every put in any car produced.  Yes, it’s that good.  The materials are extremely high quality, the fit and finish fantastic, and the design is clean and functional.  The only gripe I have is half-assed.  The shifter is a sort of strange twist-knob that pops up.  Very strange, and it almost seems pointless to go a different route here.  At the same time, it helps keep the interior looking so clean, modern, yet classy.

Under the hood  you have your choice of a 300 HP 4.2 liter V8 or a supercharged version of the same engine, good for 420 HP.  If you’re thinking the base engine is a little light on power, you would probably be right.  Fortunately the XF isn’t obese ( no lightweight either, at 4017 lbs ), so has no problem getting up and going.  Sure, a V6 could make that same 300 HP easily, but there are two problems with that.  One, this is a car that starts at $50 – hardly territory for a V6.  And two, the sound of this V8 is simply intoxicating.  No way I’m spending $50k plus and don’t get to enjoy a sweet sounding engine.

2009 Jaguar XF Specs

• 300 HP 4.2 liter V8
• Six speed automatic transmission
• Available 420 HP Supercharged 4.2 liter V8
• RWD
• Base price: $49k
• Curb weight: 4017 lbs

2009 Jaguar XF Reviews

TTAC reviews the 2009 Jaguar XF and writes – ‘So much of this car is so right – the interior, the suspension, the engine and the transmission. Killer depreciation aside, the $50k asking price for a fully loaded V8 XF makes a mockery of the similarly-priced, stripped-out 535i. Unlike the Bimmer, Lexus or Audi equivalents, driving the XF makes you feel special.  It’s too bad that the mid-size Jag’s exterior went from a quaint retro curiosity to an OMG concept car to a quintessentially boring sedan. If Jag had found a way to keep the CX-F’s drama, they would have had a huge hit on their hands. As it stands now, all they have is a bit of time to kill before Ford sells Jaguar or, let’s face it, pulls the plug. Even as a swan song, the XF lacks the looks it needs to fly.’

Car and Driver reviews the 2009 Jaguar XF and writes – ‘Choose from two levels of athleticism, the Luxury model on 18-inch wheels powered by a 300-hp, 4.2 V-8 (and there’s the Premium Luxury, same engine, but with 19-inch wheels) or the Supercharged XF on 20-inchers (rears wider than the fronts) with adaptive damping and 420 horsepower at 6250 rpm. Both V-8s partner tightly with the six-speed automatic. Shifts are quick and timely. The paddles get right-now response. The suspension, borrowed from the XK and creamed appropriately for sedan use, is noticeably muscular in the Supercharged model.’

Edmunds reviews the 2009 Jaguar XF and writes – ‘Once you select the transmission’s Sport setting, you can rely on the automatic to give you sure throttle control, as it kicks down a gear so swiftly and intuitively that rarely do you feel obligated to use the steering wheel paddles. And when you get into the brakes (the supercharged model has larger front rotors), there’s enough anti-dive dialed into the front suspension geometry that the car makes the transition into a corner in a coordinated, intuitive sweep to the apex.’

2009 Jaguar XF Image Gallery
 

Meet the 2012 Jaguar XJ.  It doesn’t quite look like an XJ, you say?  What could be the matter?  Well, perhaps it’s the lack of a A FREAKING CAT ON THE HOOD.  The new XJ seems to have taken a cue from the  2009 Jaguar XF.  A Jag is not a Jag without a leaping cat on the hood.  Period.  It’s like a Mustang without a horse.  Or a Viper without a snake.  Jaguar needs a cat on the hood, so it’s instantly recognizable as a Jaguar. 

Enough whining about the (lack of ) any felines.  What else is new?  The current platform is modified, with a wider track.  Powertrain options are unknown, but expect some serious power upgrades for Jag to get competitive again.  Stay tuned for updates – the new XJ is set to debut in early 2011 as a 2012 model.

Source.

Jaguar is a dying brand, and no one can reasonably argue that statement. Sales fall year after year, and the loss widens as time goes on. Something has to be done, and since apparently Ford isn’t interested in selling the marque, new models would seem to be the way to go. Meet the 2009 XF – the replacement for the soon-to-be-gone S-Type. Let me make this clear – I hate letters for names. XF, MKS, MKX, xB, etc – they are all horrible names, and don’t create a memorable brand. S-Type is a better name than XF – period.

The XF has interesting styling – the profile is excellent. It’s almost coupe-like, and very elegant. The front doesn’t interest me. It’s not bad, mind you, but there’s on element missing that irks me – there is no leaping cat. All Jags should have a leaping cat on the hood – it’s part of what makes a Jaguar a Jaguar. The rear end looks nice, but more Ford Mondeo that Jaguar.

Inside the XF you find a very clean, simple, elegant design. Not much to talk about except the gearshift – or lack thereof in this case. Once you start the car, a funny little dial pops up out of the center console. You twist the dial to select your gear. Ford, the gearshift is one of those things that you don’t need to spend time and money on reinventing. Everyone knows how to shift from Park to Drive – changing how this works simply adds a needless learning curve.

No word on pricing yet, or a solid ETA. Stay tuned.

Every once in awhile, I’ll stumble across a car so amazing and beautiful that my jaw just drops for a moment. The 1995 Jaguar XJ220 Pininfarina is one of those such cars.

So what, exactly, is a Jaguar XJ220 Pininfarina? Well, it’s a Jaguar XJ220 that was customized by Pininfarina for the Sultan of Brunei. The regular Jaguar XJ220 was a fantastic looking supercar in it’s own right, but the Pininfarina version simply blows it away, and makes it one of the most amazing looking cars ever built.

And no, this amazing car wasn’t just about incredible good looks. It backed up the fast look with some serious numbers – take a look and see for yourself.

Jaguar XJ220 Pininfarina Specs

• 542 HP Twin-turbo 3.5 liter DOHC 24 valve V6 engine
• Mid-engine design, RWD
• Aluminum frame for light weight
• 154.95 HP per liter
• 7200 RPM redline
• 217 MPH top speed