Expert motoring fans including Brian Johnson of rock band AC/DC, Goodwood's Lord March and Jaguar's Director of Design Ian Callum have chosen their 'perfect ten' - the most important and iconic Jaguar cars of all time. The list comes ahead of the worldwide reveal of Jaguar's all-new sports saloon, the Jaguar XE.

The Perfect 10 includes:

1. SS100: Jaguar’s first 100mph production car.

2. XK120 - registration NUB 120: Perhaps the most famous XK120 in the world. Driven by Ian Appleyard and Pat Lyons (daughter of Sir William Lyons) to numerous rally wins in the 1950s, including the Alpine Rallye des Alpes in 1950 and 1951.

3. C-type, registration NDU 289: Original entry in the 1953 Mille Miglia, and one of just 54 cars built.

4. D-type, registration 393 RW: This penultimate D-type won the 12 hours race at Reims driven, by Hamilton and Bueb, and was sixth at Le Mans with the same driver pairing.

5. MK II: A great example of the legendary sporting saloon for which Jaguar has become globally renowned, and the genesis of the brand-new XE.

6. E-type, registration77 RW: The Jaguar ‘Works’ press car, famously driven overnight by Norman Dewis to Geneva for its Motor Show debut to great fanfare. This was the first production Jaguar to reach 150 mph, and is the earliest surviving E-type Roadster

7. XJ13: Only one example of this car was built, being the first Jaguar to use the V12 engine. The XJ13 was built for - but never raced at - Le Mans, and was designed by Malcolm Sayer.

8. XJ6 S1: Car of the Year when launched in 1968, this particular XJ6 was Sir William Lyons’ personal car.

9. TWR XJS: Tom Walkinshaw was very successful in motorsport for Jaguar in the 1980s and returned Jaguar to the podium with the racing version of the legendary XJS winning the European Touring Car Championship.

10. XJR-9. Tom Walkinshaw won Le Mans in 1988 with this very car, in one of Jaguar’s seven victories in the famous endurance race

Jaguar has revealed the prototype of its 'new' Lightweight E-type - a further six of which will be built and sold.

Jaguar announced in May 2014 that it would recreate six new Lightweights, each built by Jaguar Heritage, part of Jaguar Land Rover's new Special Operations division.

Each of the six cars will be built to a specification originated from the last Lightweight E-type produced in 1964 and will be hand-crafted at the original home of the E-type, Jaguar's Browns Lane plant in Coventry, England. The cars will be sold as period competition vehicles and all will be suitable for FIA homologation for historic motorsport purposes.

The new cars are the 'missing' six vehicles from the 'Special GT E-type' project, which originally started in February 1963 with the objective of building 18 cars. Only 12 of the aluminium-bodied Lightweight E-types were eventually built and the remaining six designated chassis numbers having lain dormant, until now. The six new cars will carry those original, historic Lightweight E-type chassis numbers.

A race winner in the hands of a variety of famous drivers during its short competitive career, the car has achieved worldwide fame and original examples are now valued in the many millions. In recreating the Lightweight E-type, Jaguar Heritage has been able to call on the superlative skills and experience of many talented engineers and technicians already working in a variety of departments within Jaguar.

All, when offered the chance to assist with this unique project, leapt at the opportunity. Some even have an indirect link with the E-type when it was new: one master technician calculated that his family - including his grandparents, his father and his uncle - had a collective 170 years' service at Jaguar stretching back to the early 1960s.

The expertise and attention brought to bear on this recreation project is staggering, with the full resources of Jaguar being applied to ensure that the six new Lightweights will not only be authentic, but will also be built to the highest quality standards.

So the six chosen customers will each receive the rarest of things - a brand new Lightweight E-type, hand-built at Browns Lane and just as desirable as one of the originals.

"Operating from a brand new workshop at Browns Lane - now open for the restoration and servicing of customer cars - the building of six new, meticulously crafted Lightweight E-type period competition cars by Jaguar Heritage is testament to the unique skills within the team. To know those same skills can also be utilised to the benefit of existing classic Jaguar owners means this is a very exciting time for Jaguar Heritage."

Derek Weale, Director, Jaguar Heritage Business

THE LIGHTWEIGHT E-TYPE PROJECT IN DETAIL

Engineering

The bodyshell

The core component of the Lightweight E-type is its aluminium bodyshell. This material replaced the steel of the production E-type in the quest to shed weight - some 250lb (114kg) were saved compared with the standard car.

Despite the 50-year gap, the aluminium build of the six new Lightweights gives them an immediate affinity with the current Jaguar range, the F-TYPE and XJ models being built to exacting standards with aluminium bodies for exactly the same reason. In fact, Jaguar is now the world's leading manufacturer of aluminium-bodied cars and the company has unrivalled experience in the relatively new field of applying aluminium technology to volume production cars.

So when tasked with the job of recreating the Lightweight E-type's aluminium body, today's Jaguar engineers could relate at once to what their predecessors had achieved 50 years before. However, despite the enormous advances in technology since the early 1960s, the decision was taken not to incorporate modern materials or fixing methods. While high-strength aluminium alloys and bonded structures would have been invisible, they would not have been true to the original design - and nor would they have conformed to the FIA's homologation requirements for historic racing.

Instead, today's advanced technology was deployed to ensure the highest quality and most faithful rendition of the Lightweight E-type's open two-seater body components. Using state-of-the-art scanning technology, the inner and outer surfaces of a Lightweight bodyshell were digitally mapped.

The resulting massively detailed scan, which recorded dimensions and shape down to a fraction of a millimetre, was then assessed by Jaguar's technicians to validate how the body was assembled back in the 1960s, how consistent the structure was side-to-side, and how it could be engineered today to produce the highest quality result for the Lightweight E-type project.

As this digital capturing process gave Jaguar's engineers complete control over the Lightweight E-type body's 230 individual components, their shapes could then be optimised before the data was sent to the tool room at Jaguar's Whitley engineering centre. Even panels which are unseen within the structure have been faithfully reproduced. To ensure absolute symmetry, one side of the scanned body was used as the datum, this being 'flipped' to produce an identical condition on the opposite side.

Additionally, before being signed-off, the outer 'A-surface' CAD scan was transferred to Jaguar's design department where the surface geometry was finalised. All this work ensured that the tooling from which the majority of the new body parts are produced is as accurate as possible.

Approximately 75 per cent of the panels are made in-house at Whitley, just a few very large pressings being supplied by external specialists using Jaguar-designed tooling. The grades of aluminium used for both the under-structure and surface panels are almost identical in mechanical properties to those used for the original 1963 Lightweight E-types. The body is completed to original Lightweight E-type Chassis no. 12 condition, by which time Jaguar had added some additional strengthening in key areas of the shell. The aluminium body is then completed by the addition of an aluminium bonnet, doors and trunk lid. As with the original cars, an aluminium hard top is standard.

The development of the body-in-white tooling was undertaken by the same department that builds all Jaguar Land Rover prototype vehicles, so the expertise applied to the project was world-class. The build process and assembly procedures were initially proved out on Car Zero; this is effectively an engineering prototype and will not carry one of the six Lightweight chassis numbers.

For the Lightweight E-type project, Jaguar's engineers created a 'grey book' of the type used during the development of new production Jaguars. This internal document sets out the required quality standards in terms of bodyshell fit-and-finish and ensures a consistency of build quality for all six new Lightweight E-types.

A roll-over cage is fitted as standard, and the body includes mounting points for a detachable front extension which is available as an extra. The cars are built in a form suitable for FIA homologation for historic motorsport purposes.

The engine and drivetrain

The Lightweight E-type was powered by a highly developed version of Jaguar's straight-six XK engine which, with its chain-driven twin overhead camshafts and aluminium head with hemispherical combustion chambers, remained highly advanced in 1963 even though it had first been seen in the XK 120 as far back as 1948.

It was this engine that had powered the C- and D-types to five Le Mans victories in the 1950s, and the unit developed for the Lightweight E-type is based on the 3,868cc (236 cu in) engine which, in the D-type, had won Le Mans in 1957. A similar big valve 'wide angle' cylinder head is used, but in place of the D-type's cast iron block, Jaguar introduced an aluminium block for the Lightweight E-type which substantially reduced the amount of weight over the front wheels. This also features in the present-day car, with pressed-in steel liners.

Another major feature transferred from the D-type is the dry sump lubrication system. This uses a scavenge pump to collect oil from the sump and return it to a separate oil tank in the underbonnet area. This eliminates oil surge during fast cornering and consequent risk of damage to the engine's bearings, and also allows a greater quantity of oil to be carried.

The compression ratio is 10:1 and today's car is supplied with three 45DCO3 Weber carburettors. These were homologated by Jaguar for the Lightweight E-type in addition to a Lucas mechanical fuel injection system - which is being offered to customers as a cost-option (and which is fitted to Car Zero). The exhaust manifold is a steel fabrication and leads the exhaust gasses into twin pipes which take them through a centre silencer box to the rear of the car, where the exhaust system ends in twin polished tail pipes.

Whether carburettors or fuel injection is specified, brake horsepower is well over 300, and with torque in the region of 280lb ft at 4500 rpm, the car is endowed with rapid acceleration from comparatively low engine revs - a traditional feature of Jaguar racing engines.

A 12 volt negative earth electrical system is used, and the engine benefits from a modern inertia-type starter motor. The water and oil radiators are in aluminium alloy, there is an aluminium expansion tank for the coolant, and the fuel tank is mesh-filled for safety.

The power is transferred to the road via a lightweight, low inertia flywheel, a single-plate clutch and a Jaguar close-ratio, manual four-speed all-synchromesh gearbox as used by the Lightweight E-type in period. A variety of final drive ratios are available, all with the Powr-Lok limited-slip differential, but a 3.31:1 ratio is supplied as standard.

Suspension, steering and brakes

The twin wishbone front suspension and independent wide-based wishbone rear suspension (where the drive-shaft serves as the upper link) are set-up according to period racing practice, with uprated shock absorbers controlling the torsion bar springs (front) and the four coil springs (rear).

The steering is the excellent standard E-type rack-and-pinion, with a traditional wood-rim wheel for the driver. Larger (12.25in) brake discs are fitted at the front, with the rear brakes being standard E-type. No servo is fitted.

The 15in diameter wheels are period type in the correct 'perforated' style, and like the originals are cast in magnesium alloy. Rim width is 7in front, 8in rear. Dunlop racing tyres are fitted, 6.00 section front, 6.50 section rear, both in CR65 compound.

Final assembly

The monocoque bodyshell is built at Whitley where it is mated to its tubular engine sub-frame - which is stiffened with gussets as for the original Lightweight - and then shipped to Jaguar's Gaydon facility for painting. From there it is then taken to Jaguar Heritage at Browns Lane where the car is built up with powertrain, suspension, brakes, steering, electrical items, instrument panel and soft trim.

This process takes place in a dedicated area close to where the original Lightweight E-types were assembled in 1963/64, and the work is undertaken by highly skilled technicians used to assembling extremely complex JLR prototypes.

It is at this stage that personal consultation with the customer dictates the final specification for each individual car - no two of which are expected to be identical.

Car Zero underwent a 15-day shake-down period at Jaguar Land Rover's test facility at Gaydon to prove out the car's dynamics and establish optimum suspension settings. This involved Mike Cross, Jaguar's Chief Engineer, Vehicle Integrity. Jaguar's engineers even established a 'design verification plan' for the car, just as they would do for an entirely new model. Each of the six new Lightweights will go through shake-down tests to ensure that they meet the required standards in terms of braking, handling and steering.

"In our contemporary Jaguar sports cars our aim is always to achieve an immediacy of response to all driver inputs - and the goal with Lightweight E-type was the same. For me, its response to steering, brake and throttle inputs - along with the terrific noise it creates - is what makes it such an engaging machine from the driver's seat."

Mike Cross, Chief Engineer, Vehicle Integrity, Jaguar

Design

Jaguar's Advanced Design Studio has been involved in the project from an early stage, charged with arriving at the appropriate level of trim for the new car, together with selecting the materials used and the nature and colour of finishes.

"With the Lightweight E-type, our focus as a design team has been to ensure justice was done to the original work of Sir William Lyons and Malcolm Sayer. Meticulous attention to detail has been everything to us in re-creating this car, just as it is in our contemporary Jaguars. I believe the result is a new Lightweight E-type that is as stunning now as the originals would have been when they were new."

Ian Callum, Director of Design, Jaguar

Connolly leather is used, supplied by Jonathan Connolly with hides produced to the same specification as those used by Jaguar in the 1960s. This leather is used to trim the competition-type aluminium bucket seat base. The centre console covering is also leather, and there is a choice of seven trim colours.

As befits a thoroughbred GT car where weight saving in all areas is demanded, interior trim is minimal. However, the customer can opt for a more fully-trimmed car and the Jaguar team can devise bespoke trim packages. This may include door cards, headliner for the hardtop, removable custom saddle-leather floor mats, and a cover for the transmission tunnel.

Much of Car Zero's interior - floorpan, sills, rear areas - have intentionally been left unpainted, to emphasise the car's aluminium bodywork.

The studio has also selected a palette of six 'heritage' paint colours recommended for the exterior: Carmine red, opalescent grey metallic, silver metallic, opalescent blue metallic, British racing green, Old English white. However, various colour and trim alternatives are available, as each car is built to the personal specification of each individual customer, who can discuss options with Jaguar's Director of Design, Ian Callum, in person.

In celebration of the new Lightweight E-types, Jaguar has also furthered its relationship with the Bremont Watch Company. Bremont will create six bespoke 'E-type' watches, each of which will be offered to customers of the six new Lightweight E-types.

LIGHTWEIGHT E-TYPE SPECIFICATION*

Engine System

Engine: Aluminium six-cylinder block, wide-angle cylinder head, dry sump lubrication, lightweight low-inertia flywheel

Displacement: 236.0 cu in (3,868cc)

Bore/Stroke: 3.46in/4.17in (88.0mm/106.0mm)

Valvetrain: 2 valves per cylinder, DOHC

Compression ratio: 10:1

Carburettors: Triple 45DCO3 Weber

Injection (optional): Lucas mechanical, 6.25in (158.7mm) butterfly trumpets

Crankshaft: Steel with steel H-section con rods

Power: 340hp/253.5kW @ 6500rpm

Torque: 280lbs ft/380Nm @ 4500rpm

Fuel tank: Mesh-filled 14-gallon (64-litre) capacity

Fuel pump: Standard E-type

Transmission and Driveline

Transmission: Jaguar 4-speed all-synchro close-ratio gearbox

Final drive casing: Cast iron, Powr-Lok limited slip differential, axle ratio 3.31:1

Gearbox oil: Castrol

Clutch: Single dry plate

Suspension and Steering

Front: Double wishbone, LWE torsion bars, uprated anti-roll bar

Rear: Jaguar independent rear suspension lower wishbones/driveshaft links, radius arms, anti-roll bar (C/O Standard E-type rear springs with uprated damper assemblies)

Steering: Standard E-type rack-and-pinion, adjustable steering column

Brakes

Brake discs (front): 12in Dia (305mm)

Brake discs (rear): 11.25in Dia (286mm)

Handbrake: Production E-type

Wheels and Tyres

Magnesium disc wheels: Front: 15in x 7.0J, Rear 15in x 8.0J

Tyres: Dunlop (Front - 6.00L15 CR65, Rear - 6.50L15 CR65)

Electrical

Battery: 12v - 62 amp / hour

System: 12v negative-earth

Lighting: Tungsten headlamps and standard rear tail-lamps

Ignition: Electronic

Instruments: Smiths Industries

Generator: Production E-type

Starter: Production E-type

Control Box: Production E-type

Wiper motor and blades: Production E-type

Exhaust and Cooling

Exhaust: Fabricated steel manifold, steel exhaust system with centre silencer box and twin polished tail pipes

Cooling: Aluminium E-type radiator, aluminium expansion header tank, engine oil cooler, oil sump tank

Overview

Length: 175.3in (4,453mm)

Width: 66.9in (1,700mm)

Height: 46.5in (1,181mm)

Weight: 2204.6lbs (1,000kg)

Wheelbase: 96.1in (2,440mm)

Front Track: 50.0in (1,270mm)

Rear Track: 55.0in (1,397mm)

BODY TRIM & HARDWARE

Body in white & closures

Aluminium monocoque with stiffened front sub-frame for race engines above 300bhp

Riveted and welded aluminium construction

Aluminium body closures (bonnet/doors/trunk-lid)

Aluminium detachable hard top roof

21 louvre bonnet air intakes

Black powder-coated roll cage

Front brake cooling ducts integrated with bonnet structure

Exterior trim

• Side bonnet-release handles
• 'Long range' aluminium quick release fuel cap
• Body colour cabin ventilation air intakes
• Protective car cover (non-waterproof)
• Centre bonnet catch
• Oval door mirror upgrade

Interior Trim

• Aluminium bucket seats with increased backrest angle and padded cushions
• Rear-view mirror
• Leather selection from Connolly palette
• Wood-rimmed steering wheel
• Aluminium gear knob and standard hand brake
• Machined metal toggle and push button starter
• Five-point seat belt
• Black instrument panel with glove box
• Bonnet and boot stands

Glass house

• Clear laminated front screen
• Perspex side windows and rear screen
• Manual slide side windows

*Figures are manufacturer's estimates, subject to change according to customer specificatio

Purr-fect!

Jaguar Land Rover has today announced that it has purchased the largest privately owned collection of British cars. The collection assembled over many years by British enthusiast James Hull, includes 543 mostly British classic cars and features many significant Jaguar models including XK SS, C, D and E-types. The acquisition underscores Jaguar Land Rover's increased support and focus on heritage. The cars in the collection will be actively used to support brand and experiential marketing to develop the brands and business in existing and emerging markets.

The collection which has been painstakingly assembled and restored by James Hull, British car enthusiast, entrepreneur and philanthropist, has at its core over 130 Jaguars. These include early Swallow Sidecars and Swallow coachbuilt Austin Sevens, plus a full and diverse range of pre-war SS models, 7 XK 120s - including a rare alloy-bodied example, C- and D-types, an XKSS, 8 E-types, 30 classic Jaguar 'Mark' model saloons plus 19 XJS models and over 20 XJ saloons with interesting and famous previous owners. The majority of these cars are in truly outstanding condition, with many having fascinating histories behind them. The collection also features many other iconic and famous British cars and models.

This acquisition is part of an increased commitment by Jaguar Land Rover to protect and nurture the rich heritage possessed by both brands. It follows the recent creation of Special Operations, which has been established to develop and oversee heritage and the creation of special vehicles, such as the recently announced Jaguar Project 7. The Project 7 is a limited edition F-TYPE, which takes its inspiration from the legendary D-type. The Project 7 name refers to the seven outright Le Mans victories scored by Jaguar and is highly appropriate given this is the 60th Anniversary of the creation of the D-type.

The Jaguar Heritage business, part of Special Operations, recently announced the build of six perfect recreations of the original, race-bred Lightweight E-type that was created in 1963. The new Lightweights will hand-built by highly skilled Jaguar craftsmen in a new Jaguar heritage facility at Browns Lane, less than a hundred yards from where the original cars were assembled in 1963. This new facility will utilise those same skills to offer Jaguar warrantied servicing and restoration of the company's classic models.

The cars in the collection will be actively used to support experiential marketing with customers and for global brand events. A good example of this will be the global launch of the Jaguar XE in early September together with many other events and activities in new and emerging markets. It is in these newly developing markets that heritage can play a key role in establishing and developing the brand.

John Edwards, Managing Director of Special Vehicle Operations commented. "We are delighted that Jaguar Land Rover has come to an agreement with James Hull to secure the future of this very significant collection of Jaguar and British cars. We share the same objective as James to keep this unique collection in British hands and we are delighted this agreement secures their custody for the future. We look forward to continuing to work with James going forward as we develop our heritage activities.

Heritage is becoming an ever more important differentiating factor when it comes to experiential customer marketing and in developing our brands in new and emerging markets. Jaguar and Land Rover have a combined "back catalogue" of over one hundred and forty years to draw upon and some of the most iconic vehicles in the industry. In addition with the explosive growth and interest in classic car events worldwide and the increase in the size and value of the market, there is a strong brand and business rationale underpinning this agreement."

James Hull commented, "Travelling all over the world to build the collection over the years has been a labour of love and a life's work, so my primary motivation was not to get the maximum price but rather to secure the future of the collection in this country with the right custodian. I have got to know Jaguar Land Rover well in recent years and they have borrowed cars from the collection for events such as the Mille Miglia and supporting Jaguar in China. They are the perfect custodians to take the collection forward and I know it is in safe hands."

F-TYPE Project 7, the latest model in Jaguar's acclaimed F-TYPE sports car range, made its debut at the 2014 Goodwood Festival of Speed last weekend 26 June.

F-TYPE Project 7 is the first Jaguar performance vehicle from Jaguar Land Rover's Special Operations team, and will be produced in an exclusive, limited-edition run of up to 250 units. Its distinctive roadster body, introduced in concept form last summer, pays tribute to one of the most famous and iconic racing Jaguars: the three-time Le Mans winning D-type, which in 2014 is celebrating its 60th anniversary year. F-TYPE Project 7's name pays homage to Jaguar's seven outright Le Mans wins.

The 2014 Jaguar F-TYPE Project 7 is not only the most focused derivative of the award-winning F-TYPE range, but is also the fastest and most powerful production Jaguar ever built.

F-TYPE Project 7's power comes from Jaguar's 5.0-litre supercharged V8 engine, now in 575PS/680Nm form, enabling the all-aluminium-bodied car - which weighs 1585kg - to achieve acceleration from 0-60mph in 3.8-seconds (0-100km/h in 3.9-seconds) and an electronically-limited top speed of 186mph (300km/h). F-TYPE Project 7 is fully road-legal, with a removable roof and 196-litre stowage space.

Power is sent to the rear wheels through Jaguar's eight-speed Quickshift transmission and second generation Electronic Active Differential (EAD). Carbon Ceramic Matrix (CCM) brakes, available as an option on the F-TYPE R Coupé, are fitted as standard on F-TYPE Project 7, offering powerful, consistent, fade-free braking. Another standard feature is Torque Vectoring by Braking (TVbB) which, working in conjunction with the EAD, enables extremely precise handling. Bespoke carbon-fibre aerodynamic aids and a unique suspension set-up enable F-TYPE Project 7 to deliver a truly engaging driving experience.

While F-TYPE Project 7 features performance-focused engineering by Special Vehicle Operations - the engineering and vehicle division of Special Operations - its design has been kept true to the head-turning lines of the original Project 7 concept, which was unveiled last summer.

Key design elements include the D-type-inspired fairing behind the driver's head, shorter windshield, new front bumper, and downforce-increasing aerodynamic modifications - including a carbon-fibre front splitter, side skirts, rear diffuser and adjustable rear spoiler. However, the single-seater concept has been transformed into a two-seater, with rollover hoops for both driver and passenger now integrated into the design.

2014 JAGUAR F-TYPE PROJECT 7: IN DETAIL

Engineering

The 2014 Jaguar F-TYPE Project 7 is a product of pure passion, and the pinnacle of Jaguar's performance sports car range. The most focused derivative of the highly acclaimed F-TYPE range, it is the fastest and most powerful production Jaguar ever made.

The Special Vehicle Operations-engineered F-TYPE Project 7 is powered by Jaguar's 5.0-litre supercharged V8 engine, as seen in the F-TYPE R Coupé, but in an even further enhanced form: it produces 575PS (an increase of 25PS over the F-TYPE R Coupé) and 680Nm of torque. Power is delivered to the rear wheels through Jaguar's eight-speed Quickshift transmission and second-generation Electronic Active Differential. Special Vehicle Operations engineers have developed a bespoke transmission calibration for the F-TYPE Project 7, with revised shift points and characteristics.

This enables the lightweight, all-aluminium bodied roadster - which, at 1585kg, weighs 80kg less than the F-TYPE V8 S Convertible - to accelerate from 0-60mph in just 3.8 seconds (0-100 km/h in 3.9 seconds), with an electronically-limited top speed of 186mph. The increased performance, combined with the handling and aerodynamic enhancements, make F-TYPE Project 7 the new benchmark in high-performance Jaguars.

F-TYPE Project 7 features a switchable Active Sports Exhaust system with quad, matt-black ceramic coated, outboard-mounted tailpipes. The system uses electronically-controlled bypass valves in the rear section of the exhaust which are mapped to open according to a range of parameters, effectively altering the exhaust gas routing into a free-flowing straight-through arrangement to both reduce back pressure and enhance sound quality.

F-TYPE Project 7 rides on 20-inch Storm alloy wheels in gloss black, which customers can opt to have fitted with high-performance Continental ForceContact tyres. Carbon Ceramic Matrix (CCM) brakes - with 398mm front and 380mm rear discs allied to six- and four-piston monobloc calipers respectively - are fitted as standard.

Made from a matrix of carbon-fibre and ceramic, which is extremely hard and highly resistant to wear, the CCM system offers consistent performance and excellent fade resistance even during sustained extreme driving conditions. Jaguar's CCM brakes feature a pre-fill system function that applies a low brake pressure to all four calipers when the throttle is released - and before the brake pedal is pressed again - to ensure consistent brake pedal feel.

F-TYPE Project 7 benefits from bespoke, Special Vehicle Operations-engineered front suspension knuckles which give increased negative camber, revised top mounts and new front/rear anti-roll bars. The front and rear spring and damper units are height adjustable, and both spring rates and damper internals have been tailored specifically to F-TYPE Project 7.

Jaguar's Adaptive Dynamics system actively controls vertical body movement, roll and pitch rates by continuously monitoring driver inputs and the attitude of the car on the road, adjusting damper rates accordingly up to 500 times a second to optimise stability. The Adaptive Dynamics controlling software has been precisely re-calibrated to suit F-TYPE Project 7, the Dynamic Stability Control system also having a unique state of tune.

Engaging Dynamic Mode delivers enhanced body control through firmer damping rates, increased steering weighting, faster gear changes and sharper throttle response. Dynamic Mode is configurable as standard via the central 8-inch touchscreen, allowing the driver to select and save settings according to their preference.

Torque Vectoring by Braking (TVbB), which intelligently and rapidly applies precise amounts of braking force to individual wheels to accurately sharpen the car's line through a corner, is standard. TVbB works in conjunction with the Electronic Active Differential (which can go from open to full locking torque in 200 milliseconds) and the car's Dynamic Stability Control system to optimise traction, cornering ability and, most importantly, to maximise steering feel and agility.

"Above all - F-TYPE Project 7 is fast… It uses all the key technologies we've proven on F-TYPE R Coupe to deliver absolute immediacy of response to all driver inputs, yet its focused nature has given us the opportunity to go further still. The result is a driving experience that's pure and involving in every sense."

Mike Cross, Chief Engineer - Vehicle Integrity, Jaguar

Design

The Jaguar F-TYPE Project 7 retains the distinctive, minimalist design of the original 2013 concept. That design study was penned as a spare-time experiment that blended Jaguar's rich racing heritage with its then-new, groundbreaking sports car line, the F-TYPE. Under Jaguar Director of Design, Ian Callum, the sketch - of a single-seater sports car with a swooping profile, muscular stance and cut-down windscreen - went from paper to digital model to the Goodwood hillclimb in the space of just a few months, and has now become a production car.

"F-TYPE Project 7 is the perfect example of how, as a design team, we can move quickly with our engineering colleagues to go from concept vehicle to production reality - we've pushed the boundaries of what's possible without losing any purity of form.

Modern, purposeful and with a stance that screams intent, F-TYPE Project 7 is the perfect contemporary embodiment of the D-type that inspired it."

Ian Callum, Director of Design, Jaguar

F-TYPE Project 7's key 'heartlines' remain those of the World Car Design Award-winning F-TYPE sports car. They effortlessly blend with the D-type-inspired rear fairing section that incorporates a rollover hoop and swoops rearwards and down from behind the driver's head. Being a two-seater, F-TYPE Project 7 features a second rollover hoop, behind the passenger seat.

Extensive aerodynamic modifications on F-TYPE Project 7 include an all-new front splitter which utilises an upper section in carbon-fibre. Additionally, the side skirts, rear diffuser and adjustable rear spoiler are all made of carbon-fibre. These components together mean F-TYPE Project 7 generates 177% more downforce than F-TYPE Convertible at its top speed of 186mph.

The rear deck, bonnet vents, side vent louvres and mirror caps are also all made of carbon-fibre. The windscreen length is reduced by 114mm, reducing overall height by 30.5mm, with new side windows to match the profile. A Bimini roof has been specially designed for F-TYPE Project 7. It clips on to the convertible header rail, and can be conveniently folded and, when not in use, stowed in the boot area - which offers 196-litres of load space.

The driver and passenger of F-TYPE Project 7 sit in lightweight race-inspired bucket seats, which are finished in a quilted racing-style diamond pattern. Four-point racing harnesses are available as an accessory. The interior features carbon-fibre veneer inserts on the console, an Alcantara steering wheel (with leather option), machined aluminium gearshift paddles and bespoke treadplates with the Project 7 logo.

Enhancing its unique appeal, the 2014 F-TYPE Project 7 will be hand-built to exacting standards by Special Operations, and offered in an exclusive, limited-edition production run of up to 250 units globally. Each car will sport a specially numbered plaque, located between the two seats, signed by Ian Callum.

F-TYPE Project 7, whose name acknowledges Jaguar's seven historic Le Mans race wins, will be offered in five metallic colours: Ultra Blue, Caldera Red, , British Racing Green (all with white decal options), Ultimate Black and Glacier White (both with grey decal options).

2014 JAGUAR F-TYPE PROJECT 7: TECHNICAL SPECIFICATION*

*All figures are manufacturer's estimates and subject to final confirmation ahead of production

ENGINE & TRANSMISSION

Engine capacity (cc)

5000

Cylinders

8

Valves per cylinder

4

Compression ratio

9.5:1

Bore/stroke (mm)

92.5/93.0

Bore/stroke (inches)

3.64/3.66

Transmission

8-speed 'Quickshift'

PERFORMANCE

0-60mph (sec)

3.8

0-100km/h (sec)

3.9

Top speed (mph)

186, electronically limited

Top speed (km/h)

300, electronically limited

Power (PS@rpm)

575@6500

Power (kW@rpm)

423@6500

Torque (lb ft@rpm)

502@2500-5500

Torque (Nm@rpm)

680@2500-5500

Wheels

20-inch 'Storm' alloy,

in gloss black

Tyres - size

255/35/20 (front)

295/30/20 (rear)

Tyres - make

Standard:

Optional:

Pirelli P Zero

Continental ForceContact

DIMENSIONS

Length (mm)

4519

Length (in)

178

Width excl (mm)

1923

Width excl (in)

75.7

Height (mm, without roof)

1277

Height (in, without roof)

50.3

Wheelbase (mm)

2622

Wheelbase (in)

103.2

Fuel tank capacity (litres)

72

Fuel tank capacity (gallons)

15.8

Weight (kg)

1585

Weight (lbs)

3495

Fantastic story on Jay Leno's Garage where Jay gets an in-depth tour of the King of Cool's "Green Rat."

Jaguar has returned to the Nürburgring Nordschleife with two new prototypes of the 2015 Jaguar XE.

Judging by the sound it is running the same engine as the V6 F-Type, rumours suggest the XE will have a four-cylinder engine, but will also be offered in a performance version as well. The performance version is roumerd to have the supercharged 3.0 litre V6 from the F-type, that is what we believe is being tested here.

Remarkable detail is that one of the 2 prototypes had a little incident on the track. At the start of the day it had 2 side mirrors, but later on it was missing one and the camouflage was also a bit damaged.

Jaguar is to build six perfect reproductions of the original, race-bred Lightweight E-type that was created in 1963. The new cars are the 'missing' six vehicles from Jaguar's Lightweight E-type project, which originally started in February 1963 with the objective of building 18 'Special GT E-type Cars'.

Only 12 of the aluminium bodied Lightweight E-types were eventually built, the last in 1964, the remaining six designated chassis numbers having lain dormant, until now.

The new cars will be hand-built in-house by Jaguar's finest craftsmen. Each car will be constructed to the exact specifications of their original 1960s forebears - including the 3.8-litre straight-six engine.

The Lightweight carried approximately 114kg (250lb) less weight than a standard E-type, thanks to its all-aluminium body and engine block, a lack of interior trim and exterior chrome work and a host of further weight-saving features including lightweight, hand-operated side windows.

Jaguar expects a high demand for the six Lightweight E-types. Established Jaguar collectors, especially those with historic race car interests, will be prioritised amongst those potential customers who express interest.

For customer enquires contact:

Derek Weale. T: +44 (0) 7764 377265 email: dweale@jaguarlandrover.com

Above watch amazing footage of Alex Buncombe at full noise qualifying the awesome 5.3 Litre TWR XJS V12 Chassis No.005 at the 2013 Donington Historic meeting. Purr-fect!

• Jaguar announces the name of its all-new mid-sized premium sports sedan as the Jaguar XE
• The Jaguar XE will be the first aluminium monocoque product in the segment and is set to be the most advanced, efficient and refined sports sedan in its class
• This will be the first product from the new advanced aluminium architecture which was showcased for the first time in the C-X17 concept car at the Frankfurt Auto Show in 2013
• The new family of high-output, fuel-efficient petrol and diesel engines will be named Ingenium. The Jaguar XE will be the first user of the Ingenium engines in four-cylinder two-litre petrol and diesel variants. They will be built at Jaguar Land Rover's new UK Engine Manufacturing Facility
• The full engine line-up will enable Jaguar to offer vehicles with class-leading performance, including top speeds of over 300km/h (186mph), and emissions lower than 100g of CO2 per km

Below: first image of the all ne Jaguar XE

Geneva, 04 March 2014: Today Jaguar confirms that it will bring an all-new mid-size sports sedan to production; the Jaguar XE.

Speaking at the Geneva Auto Show Dr Ralf Speth, Chief Executive Officer, Jaguar Land Rover, confirmed: "We announced just a few weeks ago that our new Engine Manufacturing Centre would produce a new family of premium, lightweight, low-friction, low emission four-cylinder petrol and diesel units. The first of our Ingenium engine range will be used in our all-new mid-sized Jaguar sports sedan. That car will be called the Jaguar XE, and it will be unveiled in production form later this year."

The XE will be the first product from the new advanced aluminium architecture which was showcased in the C-X17 concept car in 2013. Its global rollout will begin in 2015, and it will be the first aluminium monocoque vehicle in the segment. It brings our customers all the benefits of aluminium: lightness and stiffness for unbeatable handling, performance, refinement and efficiency. The new engine and aluminium chassis complement each other perfectly.

Power will be provided by engines with a wide range of capacities and output, all delivering inspirational performance and offering the latest innovations in fuel-efficient technologies without sacrificing drivability.

Utilising the most flexible engine architecture ever produced by Jaguar Land Rover, with an advanced design configured to suit in-line and transverse installations for rear-wheel drive and all-wheel drive configurations, the new engines will be both efficient and powerful - including top speeds of over 300km/h (186mph), and emissions lower than 100g of CO2 per km.

Kevin Stride, Jaguar's Vehicle Line Director for XE, said: "The engineering development of the XE has focused on delivering customers with the most advanced, efficient and refined sports sedan in its class. We are excited about our progress to date and are looking forward to soon being able to demonstrate what we have achieved."

Ian Callum, Director of Design, said: "The new Jaguar XE is every bit a modern Jaguar; more compact in size but visually striking. Customers will expect a great deal from a mid-size Jaguar - it must be practical but premium. We never forget we are designing a Jaguar and that means it must be as exciting to look at and drive as it is brilliant to run and practical to own. We believe we've done just that with the Jaguar XE."

The name of the Jaguar XE follows a logical progression, positioned alongside the XF and XJ saloons in the range. Full XE technical and range details will be announced later in 2014. The global roll-out will begin from mid-2015.

Purr-fect

From real-world efficiency to Autobahn-storming performance, Jaguar's 2015 model year XF range caters to every sensibility, without compromising on the luxury, refinement and versatility expected of a Jaguar

The XF R-Sport is available in Saloon and Sportbrake variants

The XFR-S Sportbrake is the first high-performance R-S branded sports estate car

to be produced by Jaguar, with 550PS on tap and 1675 litres of rear load space

The XFR-S Sportbrake's 5.0-litre supercharged V8 delivers 550PS and 680Nm of torque, while the XF R-Sport is available with Jaguar's new four-cylinder, 2.2-litre diesel 163PS engine, making the R-Sport capable of achieving 57.7mpg

with a CO2 figure of just 129g/km

The new Jaguar XF R-Sport is the first Jaguar to adopt the company's new R-Sport branding

"The 2015 XF model range has an incredibly wide breadth of capability. From a blistering 0-60mph time of only 4.6 (4.4 for the XFR-S Saloon) seconds to emissions figures of just 129g/km from the XF R-Sport 2.2 Diesel - with 1675 litres of loadspace for all Sportbrake models - there's a Jaguar XF to suit every taste."

Ian Hoban, Vehicle Line Director, Jaguar

JAGUAR'S 550PS XFR-S SPORTBRAKE: POTENT PERFORMANCE MEETS EVERYDAY PRACTICALITY

At-a-glance…

The XFR-S Sportbrake is the first high-performance sports estate car to be produced by Jaguar

The XFR-S Sportbrake builds on the already acclaimed XFR-S saloon - boasting the same power figures and levels of agility - with increased versatility and practicality

Its 5.0-litre supercharged V8 delivers 550PS of power and 680Nm of torque with the added benefit of 1675 litres of rear load space when the rear seats are folded flat

The XFR-S Sportbrake will sprint from zero to 60mph in 4.6 seconds (0-100km/h in 4.8 seconds) and on to an electronically limited top speed of 186mph (300km/h)

An eight-speed transmission with 'Quickshift' functionality enables optimal acceleration throughout the speed and rev ranges

The XFR-S Saloon's chassis has been specifically retuned for the XFR-S Sportbrake

Active electronic differential and Dynamic Stability Control systems from the XFR-S Saloon enhance the XFR-S Sportbrake's handling characteristics

Aerodynamic changes reduce lift compared to the standard Sportbrake and give the

XFR-S Sportbrake an assertive appearance

20-inch 'Varuna' forged alloy wheels - the same as those fitted to the XFR-S Saloon - are shod with bespoke tyres to maximise grip

Exclusive interior materials include carbon leather and contrasting highlight micro-piping and stitching

"Combining real-world versatility with electrifying performance, the XFR-S Sportbrake brings Jaguar's sporting character to life in a truly engaging car that will satisfy the most demanding of drivers while fitting into the most active of lifestyles."

Dean Murden, Vehicle Programme Director, Jaguar

Summary

The third model in Jaguar's ultra-high performance R-S range, the XFR-S Sportbrake joins its XFR-S saloon sibling in the exclusive 300km/h club and is a vivid expression of Jaguar's longstanding and legendary sports saloon lineage. The XFR-S Sportbrake incorporates engineering features from both the XKR-S and the all-new F-TYPE two-seater sports car to create the most driver-focused, agile and responsive iteration of Jaguar's award-winning XF model range.

The XFR-S Sportbrake's R-S powertrain, chassis and body enhancements enable the car to push the performance boundaries.

Electrifying performance is provided by the 5.0-litre supercharged V8 petrol engine, which now boasts 550PS and 680Nm - up 40PS and 55Nm respectively over its XFR installation. The increases have been achieved through revisions to the engine management system and optimisation of the flow of air both into and out of the engine.

Fitted with an eight-speed transmission incorporating Jaguar's 'Quickshift' technology (developed for the F-TYPE), the increase in engine output allows the XFR-S Sportbrake to accelerate to 60mph in 4.6 seconds (0-100km/h in 4.8 seconds) and on to an electronically limited top speed of 186mph (300km/h).

In order to manage the extra rear mass of the XFR-S Sportbrake while retaining the sharp turn-in and response of the XFR-S Saloon, the Sportbrake's rear suspension has been modified with revisions to both rear spring rates and the adaptive damper tune. These revisions work together to increase the feeling of connectivity with the road surface, allowing for confidence-inspiring handling and a supple, controlled ride. Recalibrated active electronic differential and Dynamic Stability Control settings have been tuned to work with the XFR-S Sportbrake's modified rear suspension to allow the enthusiastic driver to make the most of

the car's huge potential.

Design

Reflecting the changes under the skin, the appearance of the XFR-S Sportbrake has been subtly modified in order to allow the car to achieve its full potential. As with the standard Jaguar Sportbrake, the combination of a flowing rear window graphic, rising waist and estate roofline lends the XFR-S Sportbrake a dynamic, broad-shouldered stance, while the extended roofline affords rear-seat passengers an additional 48mm of headroom and the seats offer both a 60:40 split fold function and integral ski hatch. Remote-fold levers inside the load-space opening allow the seats to be stowed flat quickly and easily, creating a cargo volume of up to 1675 litres. Rear lift has been reduced through the fitment of a spoiler mounted on the top of the rear hatch to manage the airflow off the top rear surface of the car.

The new, deeper front bumper incorporates larger lower central and side air intakes - the former framed in carbon fibre - in order to provide adequate airflow into the engine bay. A front splitter at the lower edge of the bumper provides the first of a number of aerodynamic changes designed to smooth the passage of the car through the air at very high speeds. The extended side sills and aeroblade mouldings behind the front wheels serve to create a sharp break-off point between the lower bodywork and the road surface in order to keep the airflow attached to the car's sides for as long as possible.

The same thinking dictated the deeper side mouldings behind the rear wheels. This extended rear bumper also incorporates a central, carbon fibre diffuser, deeper than the item found on the XFR and which travels further under the rear of the car to reduce lift.

The wider, six-spoke, 20-inch lightweight Varuna forged alloy wheels provide the XFR-S Sportbrake with a purposeful, broad-shouldered stance and come as standard with a dual finish. A ceramic polish is applied to the outer surfaces, its eye-catching appearance contrasting with inner gloss black areas. As an option the wheels can be supplied in either full gloss black or technical grey finishes.

The assertive appearance of the XFR-S Sportbrake is further enhanced through the use of gloss black trim in place of chrome around the grille, within the side vent, around the front and rear screens, windows and across the bootlid. The mesh in the front grilles is also a purposeful gloss black.

XFR-S Sportbrake customers can choose from an exterior palette comprising five colours: Ultra Blue, Ultimate Black, Stratus Grey, Polaris White and Italian Racing Red.

This colour palette is complemented inside the XFR-S Sportbrake with Warm Charcoal leather trim on the seats and doors enhanced through the use of carbon effect leather. Exclusive to R-S cars, this is used on the seat bolsters and arm rests and reflects the use of exotic carbon fibre on the aerodynamic elements of the car. The seats themselves are embossed with the R-S logo and can be finished with a choice of contrast colour micro-piping and stitching in either red, blue or ivory. The same subtle enhancement runs across the top of the dashboard, the fascia of which is finished in a Dark Aluminium unique to the R-S, complete with badging.

Performance

The XFR-S Sportbrake features Jaguar's acclaimed 5.0-litre supercharged V8 petrol engine in its most potent form matched to an eight-speed transmission with Quickshift functionality. This all-new combination provides a visceral blend of vivid acceleration, driver involvement and control plus entry to the exclusive 300km/h (186mph) club of ultra-high performance cars.

The all-aluminium quad-cam engine delivers not only extreme performance but also tremendous efficiency thanks to the technologies incorporated into it, including spray-guided direct injection (SGDI) and dual independent variable cam timing (DIVCT).

The high-pressure die-cast lightweight aluminium block is stiffened with cast iron liners and cross-bolted main bearing caps, providing refinement to match its power. The four-valve cylinder heads are constructed from recycled aluminium, between them sitting the Roots-type twin vortex supercharger fed by two intercoolers. These feature their own water-cooling circuit to reduce the temperature of the pressurised air to optimise power and efficiency.

In order to help liberate the additional 40PS and 55Nm of torque over the standard XFR, larger front air intakes in the lower bumper of the XFR-S allow greater volumes of air to be fed into the engine. The intake system also features a symposer that channels more of the induction noise into the cabin, adding to the aural excitement of the XFR-S Sportbrake.

The result is a 0-60mph time of 4.6 seconds (0-100km/h in 4.8 seconds) and an electronically-limited top speed of 186mph (300km/h).

The exhaust system has been optimised in order to channel the waste gases away from the engine with the greatest efficiency. The central silencer has been replaced with an X-piece and near straight-through rear pipes combining to provide an enhanced exhaust note with the added benefit of a motorsport-style crackle on the overrun.

Maximising the benefit of the engine recalibration is the eight-speed automatic transmission with Quickshift technology. Developed for the F-TYPE sports car, Quickshift ideally suits the XFR-S Sportbrake's focused and involving remit. When the enthusiastic driver changes up a gear manually by using the steering wheel-mounted paddles, the Quickshift technology ensures the quickest, crispest shifts via rapid and precisely timed engine torque intervention.

When downshifting (either manually or when in Sport mode) the engine management system automatically blips the throttle to ensure the XFR-S Sportbrake remains balanced and composed, particularly important on entry to a corner. This function also allows the transmission to perform multiple and very rapid downshifts during hard braking. When operating in automatic mode, the transmission can detect the manner in which the car is being driven by monitoring acceleration and braking, cornering forces, throttle and brake pedal activity, road load and kickdown request. On detecting a more enthusiastic driving style, the transmission will automatically make the gearshifts more aggressive and move the shift-up point higher in the rev range.

Corner Recognition senses when the car is negotiating a bend, the transmission holding the correct gear for the exit. The transmission will also recognise when the car is performing a series of overtaking manoeuvres requiring rapid changes in throttle position and, rather than change up, remain in a lower gear ready for the next demand for acceleration.

Dynamics

The dynamic characteristics of the XFR-S Sportbrake were informed by the engineering development of both the XKR-S and the F-TYPE, the result being an incredibly agile, responsive and involving car. For the XFR-S Saloon both front and rear suspension systems were uprated and carefully tuned over tens of thousands of miles at Jaguar's testing centre at the legendary Nürburgring, the high-speed bowl at Nardo in Italy and the engineers' favourite roads around the Gaydon Research and Development centre and in north Wales.

The main challenge in the development of the XFR-S Sportbrake was to manage the extra rear mass of the car while retaining the sharp turn-in and response of its saloon cousin. In order to achieve this, Jaguar engineers tuned the XFR-S Sportbrake's rear active suspension to cope with the extra weight of the car's increased rear mass, with the dampers and springs adjusted to match the mass distribution of the car. The anti-roll bars have been changed and the rear axle has been modified, while the rear brakes have been tuned to work in conjunction with the car's ABS system.

Overall lateral suspension stiffness has been increased by 30 per cent front and rear, with front and rear spring rates increased by the same amount.

As on the XFR-S Saloon, the front suspension knuckles have been revised in line with those found on the XKR-S to achieve the increased camber and castor stiffness which, along with new wheel bearings, optimise steering and handling precision. The steering system has additionally benefited from the fitment of the valving developed for the F-TYPE.

The rear subframe has enabled revisions to suspension geometry which, allied to stiffer bushes - new rear knuckles and working in tandem with the stiffer springs - increase stability and response over standard XF Sportbrake models.

In order to achieve the maximum benefit from the suspension revisions, the XFR-S Sportbrake has lightweight, forged 20-inch 'Varuna' alloy wheels. These are half an inch wider at the front and an inch wider at the rear in comparison to the wheels found on the XFR but their construction means there is no weight penalty to be paid.

The tyres, developed in conjunction with Pirelli exclusively for the XFR-S Sportbrake, are 10mm wider all round, being 265/35 and 295/30 front/rear. The difference between the wheel rim and tyre width increases has the effect of pre-loading the sidewall to improve handling and steering response without adversely affecting refinement.

Working in harmony with the uprated suspension, wheels and tyres are revised electronic programmes controlling the Adaptive Dynamics, active electronic differential and Dynamic Stability Control systems.

Jaguar's Adaptive Dynamics system actively controls vertical body movement, roll and pitch rates through the use of continuously variable dampers. The system monitors driver inputs and the road conditions, adjusting damper rates in response up to 500 times a second to optimise stability and agility. The driver's selection of Dynamic Mode offers enhanced body control through moving the damping rates to the firmer end of the available range.

The Jaguar active electronic differential - which can apply full locking torque almost instantaneously when necessary - has been recalibrated in order to exploit the greater grip offered by the wider rear tyres, the more precisely controlled suspension and the engine output. Working in parallel with the differential, the 'Trac DSC' setting of the Dynamic Stability Control system now offers the enthusiastic driver more opportunity to explore the outer edges of the handling envelope while nevertheless providing a discreet safety net.

Providing equal levels of confidence is Jaguar's High Performance Braking System, which offers an unmatched combination of power, stability and fine modulation. The 380mm front and 376mm rear discs are internally ventilated for assured repeated stopping power and on XFR-S benefit from additional cooling provided by under-body air channelling.

The XFR-S Sportbrake is fitted as standard with a 380W, 12-speaker sound system from British audio experts Meridian. Recognised by audiophiles as a leader in audio reproduction and fidelity, the system uses digital signal processing to create a sound field that is second to none. An optional 825W, 18-speaker system features Meridian's proprietary Trifield System that places every occupant at the centre of their own perfectly focused surround-sound arena.

XFR-S Sportbrake Technical specification*

XFR-S SPORTBRAKE

Engine

5.0-litre V8 supercharged petrol

Capacity (cc)

5000

Bore/Stroke (mm)

92.5/93

Peak Power (PS@rpm)

550@6500

Peak Power (kW@rpm)

405@6500

Peak Torque

(lb/ft @rpm)

502@2500-5500

Peak Torque (Nm@rpm)

680@2500-5500

Transmission

Eight-speed 'Quickshift' automatic

0-60mph (secs)

4.6

0-100km/h (secs)

4.8

Top Speed (mph | km/h)

186 | 300 (electronically limited)

Combined Economy

(EU mpg | l/100km)

22.2 | 12.7

CO2 Emissions (g/km)

297

*Manufacturer's figures

JAGUAR XF R-SPORT: LUXURY, PERFORMANCE AND PRACTICALITY COMBINED WITH HIGH EFFICIENCY AND ULTRA LOW EMISSIONS

At-a-glance…

The new Jaguar XF R-Sport adds real-world efficiency and a raft of exterior enhancements to the XF range without compromising on the luxury, performance and refinement expected of a Jaguar saloon

Available in Saloon and Sportbrake guise, the Jaguar XF R-Sport is the first Jaguar to adopt the company's new R-Sport branding and is available with Jaguar's four-cylinder, 2.2-litre diesel 163PS engine, making the R-Sport capable of achieving 57.7mpg with a CO2 figure of just 129g/km

The XF R-Sport is offered with an Intelligent Stop-Start system that uses a Twin Solenoid Starter (TSS) to shut down the engine when the car comes to a halt, helping to reduce emissions and improve fuel consumption

An eight-speed automatic transmission enables optimal acceleration through the rev range while still maintaining the composed character of the XF saloon

The R-Sport model features unique badging for the side power vent, steering wheel and new R-Sport branded tread plates, while adopting the XF Sport front bumper, 'R' style side sills and a unique rear spoiler give the car an assertive appearance on the road

17" Ursa alloy wheels, available in a new Gloss Anthracite finish, are fitted with 17" low rolling resistance tyres which help to further reduce emissions

The car is available with an optional Black styling pack for additional on-the road presence

The enhanced R-Sport charcoal-on-charcoal interior features Suedecloth seats with Dove contrast stitch with optional Red or Tan contrast stitching further complemented with a choice of Dark Oak, Piano Black or Carbon Fibre veneers.

"The XF R-Sport opens up the unique Jaguar ownership experience to a whole new group of customers. Business users and fleet managers will be able to enjoy the seductive design

from the high performance 'R' models, while benefiting from the low emissions and high fuel efficiency of the powertrain. In short, Intelligent Performance taken to the next level."

Steven De Ploey, Jaguar Global Brand Director

Summary

The first Jaguars to wear the new R-Sport badge, the XF R-Sport Saloon and Sportbrake represent a compelling combination of elegance and real-world efficiency, helping to reduce the tax burdens on drivers and fleet managers alike while still retaining the luxury and refinement already associated with the XF range. The 2.2-litre four-cylinder engine is offered in combination with Jaguar's Intelligent Stop-Start system and an eight-speed gearbox, enabling the XF R-Sport to deliver the performance and driver appeal expected of a Jaguar along with reduced emissions and greatly improved fuel consumption. A range of exterior and interior enhancements lend the car an assertive appearance on the road and a sporty, cosseting feel within the cabin.

Turbo diesel engine

Jaguar's four-cylinder, 2.2-litre diesel 163PS engine, which works in combination with an eight-speed automatic transmission, has new larger Exhaust Gas Recirculation valves and a revised cooling assembly which combine to reduce emissions figures by a further 6g/km of CO2 over the 2013 Jaguar XF. The R-Sport is capable of achieving 57.7mpg with a CO2 figure of just 129g/km. An appealing proposition to company car drivers and fleet managers, the XF R-Sport represents all the benefits of driving a Jaguar along with greater fuel economy and reduced emissions.

TSS/Stop-Start system

The XF R-Sport's low emissions figures are helped further by Jaguar's Stop-Start system, which uses a Twin Solenoid Starter (TSS) to shut down the engine when the car comes to a halt and restarting it in less time than it takes for the driver's foot to move from the brake to the accelerator. The system also offers 'change of mind' functionality, enabling the engine to quickly restart even during its rundown phase to allow the driver to, for example, exploit a gap in traffic at a junction. An illuminated 'ECO' symbol appears on the Instrument Panel when the engine has been stopped by the system. Stop-Start can be turned off manually, but it will automatically be turned on again for the vehicle's next journey with every ignition cycle. The system operates in all modes apart from Reverse.

The XF R-Sport has a secondary battery fitted specifically for engine re-starting, meaning that all the normal car systems - such as the entertainment system, the ventilation and lights - continue to receive power from the standard car battery and are unaffected by the re-start. In addition, a complex control system ensures that the Stop/Start operation only occurs when the car does not require the engine for other functions.

Design

Launched in 2008, the XF introduced a coupe-like profile to the sporting saloon template and received plaudits worldwide for its seductive combination of dynamics, performance, quality, design and luxury. A saloon with the soul of a Jaguar sports car, the XF has won accolades and enthusiastic fans across the globe for its dynamic abilities and dramatic looks.

The 2015 model year XF R-Sport model features a Sport front bumper, 'R' style side sills and a unique rear spoiler which combine to give the car an assertive, purposeful appearance on the road. 17" Ursa alloy wheels, fitted with 17" low rolling resistance tyres to help further reduce emissions, add to the XF R-Sport's sporting profile, as do the optional Black styling packs which lend the car additional on-road presence. The R-Sport interior features a new charcoal on charcoal interior, including Suedecloth seats available with contrast stitching in either Dove, Tan or Red. The interior is further complimented with a selection of Dark Oak, Piano Black or Carbon Fibre veneers to choose from. A Jet Morzine headlining comes as standard while a Dove headliner is available as an option and also for when a sunroof is specified. There is also the option of upgrading to a Jet Suedecloth headlining. Bright stainless steel foot pedals and unique badging for the side power vent and the steering wheel set off the XF R-Sport's purposeful intent. Gloss black window surrounds are standard for the XF R-Sport while an extended black pack is also available which includes full gloss black grille surround, gloss black lower bumper inserts, gloss black trunk lid finisher and gloss black roof rails for Sportbrake.

XF R-Sport Technical specification*

XF R-Sport 2.2 Diesel

Engine

2.2-litre in-line 4cyl diesel

Capacity (cc)

2179

Peak Power (PS@rpm)

163@3500

Peak Torque (Nm@rpm)

400@2000-5500

Transmission

Eight-speed automatic

Intelligent Stop/Start

Yes

0-60mph (secs)

9.8

0-100km/h (secs)

10.5

Top Speed (mph | km/h)

130 | 209

Combined Economy

(UK mpg)

57.7w/ 17" wheel

55.4w/ 18" wheel

CO2 Emissions (g/km)

129 w/ 17" wheel

135 w/ 18" wheel

*Manufacturer's figures