Gran Turismo 6: The Jaguar XKR-S and the Nissan GT-R

For several years, Jaguar had a long reputation of making comfortable, good-looking saloons only the posh would salivate for but for this Jaguar I tried on Gran Turismo 6, speed is the focus of the game.



This must be the new Jaguar XKR-S, the most powerful production sports car Jaguar has ever made. First of all, the aluminum quad-cam 5.0L AJ-V8 supercharged engine has been recalibrated to produce 542HP of power and 501.2ft-lb of torque. Yummy...

It can do 0-60mph in 4.2 seconds and a top speed of over 300kph, making this the only Jaguar that has been permitted to the elite club of 300kph sportscar. As a matter of fact, that's almost as near as what most Ferraris do, meaning that's on the edge of Ferrari territory.

Then, there's the exhaust note and because of its supercharged V8 engine, it sounds like an American muscle car. So lairy, so crazy, and overall...Oh dear! I like a European V8 sportscar!





Despite sounding like a muscle car, the XKR-S still behaves like a sportscar because of its hard suspension, adaptive dynamics, and the active differential which is programmed to alter slip ratios, differential torque distribution, and intervention levels, letting drivers push this car to the absolute limits. It's all science and maths but still the Jaguar XKR-S is no GCSE or some physics lessons. It feels like it puts the fizz into physics and this car that Jaguar does what nitro does for glycerin.

No wonder some Brainiacs could recite the promo video of the car. Ahem..."This isn't about image. This design is driven by geometry and physics". Oh Benedict Cumberbatch....





To make sure people don't mistake the S for the ordinary XKR, it comes with a carbon rear spoiler, 20-inch alloy wheels, leather that looks like carbon fiber, sports seats, blue ambient lighting, and some added aerodynamics. What annoys me is the red brake calipers because it looks inappropriate for a Jag like this. Aside from the added aerodynamics, the XKR-S looks a bit of a show-off to me. It can be a sportscar but it feels so overrated to me.





I know, I love driving this Jaguar just a bit longer but when it gets too much for me, the XKR-S seems a bit more of an overrated rather than an underrated when it comes to being a show-off car. You can enjoy it a little longer but not at all because there are times you're going to fed up with this car unless if its necessary. Even though it's still overrated, I'm still liking to the XKR-S grit because this is still the Jag I love to drive on Gran Turismo 6.



With the XKR-S, it seems that Jaguar has sacrificed most of its subtlety and good looks in the pursuit of speed but if it's speed, I wonder, how come you're not interested over...the Nissan GT-R?



For years, the flagship of Nissan, the GT-R, had gone through several revisions to make it into the completed piece you see now. Legend has it that this Japanese supercar can outrun numerous sportscars even those that are five times the price such as the Lexus LFA, the Mercedes SLS, or the Ferrari 458. With the GT-R scored numerous awards and the recognition of being the perfect machine, its success prompted Nissan to begin development on the next generation platform but its high hopes can't be contained in the middle of a race.



Sure, I might tell you about how it's made on the hermetically-sealed factory and all of the components are heated to the same temperature before assembly so they're in the same state of thermal expansion and how the tires are filled with nitrogen because it's more stable than air and how it went round the Nurburgring in 7 minutes and 20 seconds but I'm not gonna do that even though I just did.



What I'm gonna do here is doing drag race at a quarter mile straight of the Ascari Race Resort. Anyone familiar with what I just did to these two should better sit comfortably because what I did is simple. Even though the XKR-S has a few more power than the GT-R, the GT-R not only leave the XKR-S to dust, it demolished it.



There is this weird theory about how did the GT-R managed to get off the line quickly and probably because of the Launch Control feature, a feature in a form of a computer that sorts everything out for you so when you plant your foot out, it sets off in a perfect line. Clever but unintelligentable for a Brainiac who wishes to use it. Some say, a Brainiac would have a launch control by himself.



But still, it's a great car. I'm still loving this Japanese supercar a lot. The double-clutch gearbox works seamlessly, the VR38DETT engine is not an engine, it's just like putting ammonal in a gas cooker and then explodes when introduced to a toy robot holding a blow torch, the turning's not so bad, and overall, when you want to let loose in this car, the grip is mind-boggling.



It really is the perfect blend of technological and mechanical engineering. It truly is the best of both worlds and for Brainiacs playing GT6, it's still worth a white-knuckle ride if they're looking for thrills out of this car that always defy the laws of physics.





Despite everything, the GT-R still behaves like a proper saloon. Quiet and comfortable but not at all because it makes the noise that most racing machines produce but they're subdued in the background.



It's hard to fault this car because while the XKR-S was just a brogue that was converted into a training shoe, the GT-R was designed to be a training shoe in the first place for a much less. The GT-R is the ultimate instrument of speed while the XKR-S left me question why would Jaguar want to mimic the hardcore progress that Aston Martin has not to mention they have their own testing facility at the Nurburgring.

Still, with the GT-R, you'll get the impression that this car is very clever but a bit serious. If you have one of these, go out and see if NISSAN's ultimate masterpiece still has the potential to rack up the points!

New Jaguar XJR

The Maserati Quattroporte, the Aston Martin Rapide S, and the facelifted Porsche Panamera aren't the only ones classified as a four-door supercar despite having powerful engines planted on their four-door saloons for businessmen who aren't businessmen at all. In fact, there's another 4-door supercar in the making and this time...what could this be?

2014 Jaguar XJR

At first glance, it looks like a Jaguar XJ, the car Jeremy Clarkson drove in the race against The Creator, The Lord God Almighty, and he won just before the sun rises. Except now, the XJ is getting more aggressive than ever and this time...they dropped a supercharged V8 engine that powered the XKR-S under the bonnet. They named it...XJR.

Yes, the XJR is back and for this new model, I was referring that it can be a potential threat to high-performance flagship saloons especially the upcoming S63 AMG but this is just one of the things that make you go hmmm. Think of the new XJR as the...how can I say this? Oh yeah! Some Brainiac reference! Either the Celebrity Electric Shock or Celebrity Day Job Electrocution but still both of them best sums it up when it comes to the flagship saloon now turned a potential 4-door supercar. Think Tina Turner and her Bunsen Burner meets Diana Ross and her chain reaction. When you put them both and will they fizz or bang? Glow or blow? Fizzle or flash? Either way, this can be a serious threat to its rivals...or is it?

2014 Jaguar XJR interior

Rally up the Brainiacs because there's something more for the gentleman's country club now turned a Brainiac lab for the insane experiments. The V8 engine that powered the XKR-S Coupe delivers 550PS of power and 680Nm of torque. 680Nm of torque...that's 10Nm less than the Ferrari F12 but it's fairly close. With such torque, I wonder, it's more than enough to put a stick of dynamite at the turkey's bum or at the center of the kebab. Yummy.

Then there's the noise that doesn't sound like a supercar but it sounds like an old-fashioned American muscle car. That muscle car-esque vocals really feels like you're a Brainiac piloting a NASCAR in the streets of London and then making a mess at the Wales Millenium Centre, which is near the fictional Torchwood Three HQ which was blown up from the Children of Earth arc. Love it though but I'm afraid there are some demerits out there.

First of all, in the normal XJ, it feels like a gentleman's club. Very classy, very subtle, and very sophisticated. The sooner you had a chauffeur, the sooner you became a lazy man at the back of the car. For the XJR, how can I describe it? Oh wait! I know! Brainiac's Celebrity Electric Shock. It's like you invite a well-loved, well-payed A-list celebrity and then you start to electrocute him or her from remote control soft to TASER GUN INTENSE. The XJR really is TASER GUN INTENSE because when it gets through, your client succumbs, yelling their messages of surrender. I can imagine what it feels like when Vanessa Feltz survived through Level 5 of the electric shock...about the same as a cattle prod.

The 0-60mph time is 4.4 seconds and flat-out it would do about 174mph, that's better than those high-powered German saloons because of their limited set to 155mph. That's seem to be a total advantage for the XJR but there's another disadvantage for the new model...the pricing. It starts at 92,370 British Pounds Sterling, which seems to be less expensive than the XJ SUPERSPORT LWB model even though it packs more power than that but that's more than the rest of the normal premium saloons. Also, it's available exclusively in SWB so that's a big wuss but who cares?

This car doesn't bother with all the demerits because that new XJR is just so stunning to drive at. It's quite civilized on normal roads, more fun in open roads, more head turning than a woman's cleavage from either the buns or the breasts, and best of all, you can enjoy this car all day long until your ribs got relocated to the back. One thing you don't want for the XJR, as a chauffeur's car, is to get a celebrity to the back because by the time you're going bonkers with it...well I said it many times...your client will end up feeling like being electrocuted.

This new model...is HOT STUFF.

Available Colors: Polaris White, Ebony, Rhodium Silver Metallic, Lunar Grey Metallic, Stratus Grey Metallic, Ultimate Black Metallic, Cashmere Metallic, Satellite Grey Metallic, Carnelian Red Metallic, British Racing Green Metallic, Black Amethyst Metallic, and Italian Racing Red Metallic.

Photo: Jaguar Land Rover

Jaguar F-Type

Five decades ago, Jaguar launched what everyone think of it as the most beautiful car ever made in ages, called the E-Type, and with such heritage made the E-Type the last of its kind because its inspirational beauty is what made it unique. Now, the spirit of the classic E-Type rises again in a new Jag that really harks back to the past rather than being more of a nimble sports car made to make drivers feel alive wherever they are.

2014 Jaguar F-Type

Welcome everyone to the brand new F-Type, the most awaited true-blooded Jaguar ever made since the E-Type and by the looks of it, that's simply marvelous to look at. First impressions wasn't really the best one because judging by the design process for te F-Type, it wasn't quite easy for the people behind this new car to capture the essence of the classic E-Type while bringing a modern twist to the most beautiful car ever made. Question is, why would you want to have another convertible from Jaguar? The best open-top Jaguar I'd ever looked up was the XKR-S Convertible. It has the same 550PS Supercharged V8 engine as the hardtop equivalent but with the top opened. Despite being heavier than the hardtop equivalent, it still behaves just like the same thing, sounds more like an American muscle car because of the angry noise. I find it very enjoyable to have an open top version of one of the most enjoyable Jags ever made but now let's talk about the F-Type.

This is no different than the XKR-S Convertible I'd salivated for it. Look at this design; it's oh so attractive. So attractive to look at, you might think for a second thought, you're encountering someone who look like a very attractive schoolgirl with the body of a 25-year old supermodel with a ginger hair and a very impressive bust size fit for a member of a swim club. Yes, seriously. You know what else is attractive? Another young woman who was a member of a swim club except this time, she's the leader with a very short hair and with glasses.

That's the thing about the F-Type, it wants to be as attractive as one of the sexier cars on the market today such as the SLK, Boxster, or the Z4. Apart from a very attractive exterior comes with the interior that is quite typical to the other Jags of today.

2014 Jaguar F-Type interior

I know it looks typical but good thing it wasn't quite as regular as a cartoon show starring a jay and a raccoon buddy easing out their boredom for fun or some sort of a nonsense cartoon comedy with a boy and a dog out for an adventure in a magical land. Sounds familiar? Oh well, let's see what happens when you unleash the F-Type in its righteous glory...

2014 Jaguar F-Type

This car is epic. By the moment you drive the F-Type, everything you thought about Jaguar is gone and feels like you've been time travelling 5 decades ago to find out how as good as the classic E-Type and this new F-Type is now pledging to becoming one of the best British sports car ever made. You can have either a supercharged V6 petrol or the top of the line 5.0L V8 supercharged engine but whichever engine you choose, it completes the F-Type's personality. It's very light, too, and that's because the body of the F-Type is made out of aluminum so such lightweight work really pays off to create the best handling Jaguar in ages. Even when you set this car on DYNAMIC MODE, the F-Type is just feels oh so right! Not too dynamic, not too mild, just the right stuff! It's well civilized either on the road or on the track! It doesn't matter which asphalt you're on! Oh! Oh! There goes the E-Type flashbacks coming through!

There is one bit of an issue here; although this car tickled my fancy, I'd never know prices never went that high so please sit down because I'm gonna say it, okay? Ahem... It costs 58,520 Pounds for the V6 model while the flagship model, the F-Type V8 S, costs around 79,985 Pounds. That's a lot for a toy but for a car proudly handcrafter by the Brits, this is a must have for any British car enthusiasts. The F-Type really deserved to be one of Britain's bests since the Aston Martin Vanquish, the Lotus Exige S V6, the new Range Rover, the Ariel Atom V8, the BAC Mono, whatever British you mention in the list.

So, what can I say about the F-Type? I don't like it. I don't really like it... I LOVE IT!

Available colors: Ebony Black, Polaris White, Salsa Red, Rhodium Silver Metallic, Lunar Grey Metallic, Stratus Grey Metallic, Indigo Blue Metallic, Ultimate Black Metallic, Satellite Grey Metallic, British Racing Green Metallic, Italian Racing Red Metallic, Firesand Metallic, and Black Amethyst Metallic.

Photo: Jaguar Land Rover

North American exclusive XKR-S GT

2014 Jaguar XKR-S GT

Apart from the world premiere of the 2014 Jaguar XJR at this year's New York Auto Show, Jaguar will also be revealing the special edition XKR-S GT, a track-focused, road legal model based on the Jaguar XKR-S, which is limited to 30 cars, all destined for the North American market.

It's a model made to celebrate 25 years of Jaguar's R Performance and with this model, it still comes with the same aluminum quad cam 5-litre V8 supercharged engine that produces 550PS of power  but comes with race-inspired exterior design and enhanced aerodynamics. While top speed is limited to 186mph (280km/h), the 0-60 mph (0-96 km/h) drops from 4.2 to 3.9 seconds.

First time for a JAAAAAG is carbon ceramic brakes and such implementation dropped about 21kg of weight.

Story: http://www.carscoops.com/2013/03/jaguar-celebrates-25-years-of-r.html

Forza 4: 2010 Jaguar XFR

JAAAAAG XFR

The XF is the replacement of the Jaguar S-Type and the most powerful version of the range is the XFR, which was premiered at the 2009 North American International Auto Show in Detroit, Michigan.

It comes with the new 5.0L supercharged V8 engine developed by Jaguar themselves so it develops 503HP of power and 460.7ft-lb of torque. 0-60mph takes about 4.9 seconds and that makes it on par against other middle-class sedans.

The XFR comes with the "Dynamic Mode" that when it's set at the push of the button, the acceleration response becomes sharper, the exhaust note's more accented, and stability controls are cut off, allowing it for more "dynamic" driving feel.

Jeremy Clarkson reviewed this on Top Gear Season 13 and when handed to The Stig, it set a lap time of 1:26.7 round the Top Gear Test Track, slower than its BMW E60 M5 rival it compares.

Forza Horizon: How ALIVE am I in the XKR-S?

A big Jag up against a shiny new Beamer in Beaumont

When I first drive the new Jaguar XKR-S in FM4 a couple of months ago, I was impressed to meet up with the Jag that once said that this is the most powerful model they've ever made, probably because of its 300kph top speed, 5.0L Supercharged V8 engine, or probably because this is the only Jag I like. It should have been a fantastic Jag for track-day use...but it let me down probably because it's not enough to tackle against others, especially the GT-R I sure wish to want...

To ease all of the stress, I decided to drive the XKR-S on Horizon and hey, all that sojourn payed off to make me happy. Happy enough to drive the XKR-S all over Colorado. This Jag made me ALIVE to drive it.

Horizon players who drove a Jag like this made them feel alive to take part in various Horizon races and with such respect, this Jaguar XKR-S is truly a fun car built to do all sorts of fun stuff all over Colorado, except to some parts that the XKR-S isn't capable of, like for instance the golf course which is nearby the Media Center where you can make your car jump and make trouble with your friends at the game of King. I tried putting my XKR-S in a game of King at some golf course nearby the Media Center and it's a disaster, I can't keep up catching the King but never mind. At least, it's well-played for my Jag.

I love this Jag. It has all of the grunt, the power, and the style to woo the crowd and make some trouble in Horizon. And wherever I want this Jag go, it not only made me staying alive but feel alive.

HOW ALIVE ARE YOU?

 

Jaguar Cars Philippines launched the XKR-S!

2012 Jaguar XKR-S

Well, I'm delighted to say that the time is right because I've just heard that Jaguar Philippines finally launched the most powerful Jaguar ever made, known as the Jaguar XKR-S. This model is available in hardtop coupe and soft-top Convertible variants and what you get is the 5.0 litre V8 Petrol Supercharged AJ-V8 GEN III R engine that blows away 550PS of power and 680Nm of torque. It has a 0-60mph time of 4 seconds and top speed limited to 186mph.

Here's an article from TOP GEAR PHILIPPINES:

Over a year after it was launched at the 2011 Geneva Motor Show, the Jaguar XKR-S has finally arrived in the Philippines courtesy of the British carmaker's authorized distributor in the country, Jaguar Cars Philippines.

For the first time with a series production car, Jaguar has broken into the exclusive '300kph club' thanks to the XKR-S's supercharged 5.0-liter V8 engine that has an output of 542hp and 680Nm of torque, allowing it to sprint from zero to 100kph in 4.2 seconds. Putting the power down to the XKR-S's rear wheels is a six-speed automatic transmission.

If the superb power output and sensation of speed aren't enough to excite your senses, then perhaps the car's performance-oriented active exhaust will with its dramatic, motorsport-inspired aural feedback.

Despite the XKR-S's prodigious power output, Jaguar claims that it is the only car in its class to emit less than 300g/km of carbon dioxide.

The XKR-S sports a unique front-end design to differentiate it from the standard XKR with its twin nacelles, side intakes and carbon-fiber splitter. Helping to emphasize the 10mm lower ride height are the extended side sills. Step around to the rear and you'll discover not just the new rear apron and its carbon-fiber diffuser but also the rear wing and its carbon-fiber center section.

Jaguar has also enhanced the XKR-S’s handling by upgrading both its front and rear suspension systems, reprogramming its active differential control, and fitting it with lightweight forged Vulcan 20-inch alloy wheels.

For its interior, the XKR-S has been subtly refreshed with a host of new trim materials, including ebony soft-feel paint for the switches and gloss black finish to the center console. A new leather-wrapped, multifunction steering wheel has also been added, "providing a beautiful, tactile interface between car and driver," while the new carbon leather accents that cover the seats now feature unique contrast micro-piping and stitching combinations.

The XKR-S is now available in either coupe or convertible form through Jaguar Cars Philippines.

Scoop: http://www.topgear.com.ph/news/jaguar-ph-brings-in-most-powerful-production-model-ever

BMW 3-Series Touring F31 vs. Jaguar XF Sportbrake

This is the all new 2013 BMW 3-Series Touring F31...

2013 BMW 3 Series Touring

...and this is the all new 2013 Jaguar XF Sportbrake.

2013 Jaguar XF Sportbrake

Both of them are from Europe, both of them are tourers, both of them are good for everyday uses, and both of them have bigger space on the back which sounds perfect on your next grocery shopping, unless you went out with several reusable bags on your next grocery trip. But what differs them is their characteristics. Sure, it's the battle of Britain once again but which of these is my pick?

2013 BMW 3 Series Touring interior

Sure, the BMW F31 has the same features as the F30 sedan, the same choice of either a Modern Line, Sport Line, or Luxury Line, same eccentric front end that feels like...well, I don't what to say but like an alien predator waiting to kill me, and now has a bigger boot at the back. At the start, the available variants for the 3 Series Touring were the 320d, 328i, and 330d. Other models will follow shortly. First off, the the 320d Touring will cost about 37,100 Euros (about 29,380 British Pounds Sterling) and this comes with the 2.0L diesel engine that takes about 184PS of power. The 328i though, this costs about 39,150 Euros or  30,400 British Pounds Sterling and this comes with the 2.0L petrol engine that generates about 245PS of power. My choice for now is the top of the line 330d Touring, which costs about 46,150 Euros or 34,700 British Pounds Sterling. The 330d though, this comes with the 3.0L turbodiesel engine that generates about 258PS of power. With all that power, the the 330d Touring can go about 0-100kph in 5.6 seconds and the top speed is electronically limited to 250kph, most common to other European cars within this magnitude.

It's all typical BMW interior on this model and seems that the satellite navigation system's too far from my eyes. Because it is rear-wheel drive, I can still respect the German carmaker's Freude am Fahren slogan. It's sharper, it's sleeker, and surprising comfortable. It kinda feels like sipping a cup of delicious 3-in-1 coffee, mmmm....good! With all that German common sense, the Touring version of the new 3 Series feels a bit the same as the normal F30 sedan version with the added space for my groceries.

So...what about the XF Sportbrake?

2013 Jaguar XF Sportbrake interior

Last year, I examined the facelifted version of the XF sedan and with that new "2.2 LITRE i4 DIESEL" engine introduced, the XF's getting a bit more...well I was gonna say eco-conscious but never mind. Unlike the normal XF sedan, the all new Sportbrake doesn't have the fire-breathing V8 engine as well as its hotter version until further notice. That seems to be disappointing because the all new XF Sportbrake is available diesel-only. Much like other Korean SUVs I knew that they're available diesel-only, the XF Sportbrake comes with the 2.2L diesel and the 3.0L V6 diesel engine. The base model though, the 2.2 litre i4 163 Turbocharged Diesel SE, it costs 31,940 British Pounds Sterling, while the most expensive version, which is the 3.0 litre V6 275 Turbocharged Diesel Portfolio, that costs them 51,505 British Pounds Sterling.

Amazingly though, it's more pricey than the F31 BMW 320d Touring but you do get a lot of luxury features and the Bowers & Wilkins audio system of other Jaguars. Also, it may have the same 8-speed AT as the F31 BMW 3 Series Touring and like other Jaguars and Land Rovers, there's no gear lever because what I can only find was a knob that when you twist it clockwise or counter-clockwise, you can set it in either P, R, N, D, or S. It is a very complicating way but I don't care. That complicating knob is not the least of our problems because the handling is a bit too rough and it really bites. No wonder this XF Sportbrake was used   as a support vehicle for Team Sky as they compete in the Tour of Britain. Well, I'm not on Team Sky's side because I don't watch too much Sky and I'm all BBC and no Channel 5 (the one with Fifth Gear on it, which is still the car magazine program I REALLY HATE). He he he he....

The new F31 3 Series Touring is all about keeping yourself cool because the 3 Series is being the yuppie icon of all time but for the XF Sportbrake, this is not the car for the yuppies. This is for those who are a bunch of geography teachers, brokers working for stock exchange, and those who ain't BOVERED. Sorry, if I have to get that Lauren Cooper dialog Ms. Catherine Tate, but anyway, this Jag is a bit more dramatic, a bit more tenacious, not quite a sleeping dog that you can bring it on a dogfighting pen. I would rather bet this car for a winning dog at the pen and take it away when I lost the bet but that's not quite an ideal option if you don't like the XF Sportbrake.

2013 Jaguar XF Sportbrake

2013 BMW 3 Series Touring

Well, I guess this ends here and to sum this up, the BMW 3 Series is a better wagon while the XF Sportbrake is a pricey break that keeps me disappointed why this one has no petrol variants as the normal sedan variant. Sure, both of them might be different from their sedan counterparts but the real ending for this review is simple; best not to buy the Sportbrake until Jaguar decided to put petrol variants on it but because of today's economy, well probably because of the ongoing crisis in the European economy, might be best not to buy either of these until you are ready.

Photo: BMW AG, Jaguar

Welcome Back: 1961 Jaguar E-type S1

E-Type Jags are immaculate to many

The origin of the Jaguar brand traced back in the 1920's when Sir William Lyons gathered together to create a motorcycle sidecar. The E-Type was launched in 1961, making it the premiere British car maker solidifying that position with this 2-seater sports coupe.

Powering the E-Type was its 3.8L DOHC 6-cylinder engine with three SU carbs to generate 265HP of power, 0-100kph in 7.2 seconds and top speed of 210kph. It was the last model with which Lyons would be directly involved with. The bodywork of the E-Type was inspired from the C- and D-Type race cars thanks to its curaceous shap[e and flowing lines. It was available in either a hardtop coupe and convertible.

Right until 1964, about a total of 7,820 E-Types were produced and about 90% of those were landed in the USA.

This car was featured in Top Gear Season 6 Episode 5 and it was driven by Jeremy Clarkson alongside the Aston Martin DB5. In the drag race portion, both the DB5 and the E-Type were lost to a Honda sedan. When handed to The Stig, the E-Type did it in 1:32.8.

2011 marks the 50th anniversary of the Jaguar E-Type and on the Series 17 opener of Top Gear, Jeremy Clarkson pays tribute to it as well as driving the modern take of the E-Type Jag that is worth half-a-million Pounds.

Welcome Back: 1993 Jaguar XJ220

The battle of the fastest Jags

The XJ220 is the Jaguar's first, and the last, mid-engine supercar ever made and it was made in collaboration with Tom Walkinshaw Racing between 1992 and 1994, with 281 units built. The concept version though has a 6.2L V12 engine derived from the XJR-9 Race Car and it comes with the all-wheel drive system produced by FF developments. The production version though, it looks nearly identical at the concept form but it's a mid-engined rear wheel drive exotic that comes witht eh 3.5L V6 biturbo engine that produces about 542 bhp (404 kW; 550 PS) of maximum power at 7000 rpm and 476 lb·ft (645 N·m) of torque at 4500 rpm.

British car magazine Autocar once said that what really liked about this car is its ability to provide such performance in a way that it never, ever intimidates.

In 1992, this was the fastest production car in the world courtesy of Martin Brundle maxed the XJ220 at Nardo, although some tweaks were done on this car, in 217.1 mph (349.4 km/h). It even set a Nurburgring lap time of 7:46.37, by John Nielsen.

Production of the XJ220 ended in 1994.

Blast from the Past: R170 vs. X100

British heavyweight versus German lightweight

By reminiscing  back to the past, or to the late 1990's, I can only remember that both the R170 Mercedes-Benz SLK200 and the Jaguar XK (X100) were just chalk of jeans, back to the days when televisions were standard definition, back when there was my childhood memory of addiction to TV shopping, one when I have to sleep properly when it's 9:00 PM and back when Top Gear was just a boring motoring magazine show with Tiff, Vicki, Quentin, Steve, and other Top Gear presenters from the past, even Andy Wilman who was a presenter back then before he was the producer of the 2002 reboot of Top Gear, which became the flagship of BBC.

In today's world, I have driven the latest versions of the SLK and the XK and I have to say that comparing a car with big power and a lightweight car is a bit of a conundrum for them but looking back to them when they were launched in the late 1990's seems so intriguing. It's like going to the TARDIS to see how are they look like from the past. Anyway, where do we start? The R170 or the X100?

I have a coin. If heads, I'd start with the R170 but if tails, then it's the X100. I spun the coin and I grabbed it, and it was tails so I'd start with the first generation Jaguar XK (X100).

This car tries to stay classy

So, the first generation XK. This was launched in 1996, back when Jaguar is owned by Ford Motor Company, and the first model was dubbed the XK8 in coupe or convertible styles, fitted with a 4.0L V8 engine. Some people said that the XK is more of a modern-day equivalent of the legendary Jaguar E-Type and this was known to be one of the most luxurious high-performance sports cars in the world. It's more of a grand tourer than a sportscar and you can drive it in the winding roads for some rest and relaxation.

The one I have here is the XKR version, the cherry at the top of the cake that what made the XK superb and this powerful version is using the same 4.0L V8 from the original but fitted with an Eaton-developed supercharger, generating 400HP of power and 408ft-lb of torque. Armed with the 6-speed AT, it can go 0-100kph in 5.2 seconds and top speed limited to 250kph.

What made this car unique was the CATS electronic variable damper control system that adjusts the damping force depending in various speed and road conditions and it was perfect when you're driving the twists and turns. Like the original XK8, it's still a gran tourer. With the 6-speed AT, refined suspension, and the luxurious interior, it's just so feels more like a premium sedan in a coupe body. Nice touch to that.

It's cool to drive this car at night....

If power is what comes in my mind on the Jaguar XKR, I have to move on to something a bit lightweight, something that already gave its rivals a headache back in the late 90's. This is the R170 model, the first generation Mercedes-Benz SLK-Class. The SLK stands for SPORT LIGHTWEIGHT COMPACT, meaning that this two-seater roadster is on the lightweight division. As a general rule, it used the platform derived from the C-Class and it has a folding roof, which called them VARIO ROOF back then. With the roof closed, it has the presence of a sports coupe but with the roof off, all that breeze is coming right in front of me.

That reminded me of a prize car of some promo held by some cigarette brand. Is it Philip Morris? Yes it is because back in 2000, there was a promo from Philip Morris where anyone with the Philip Morris 100's won either a 2000 Mercedes-Benz SLK, 80,000 US Dollars, 24K Gold Bars (12,000 US Dollars each), or a trip to Gold Coast, Australia (4,000 US Dollars each). I really wonder what just happened to the guy who won the SLK on that promo? Did he sold off his car from something rubbish or did he crashed? I don't know but I wanna find out soon.

Anyway, what I have here comes with the supercharged 2.3L 4-cylinder engine that generated 193 HP of power and 207ft-lb of torque. It was mated with a 5-speed automatic transmission. 0-100kph in 6.9 seconds and top speed limited to 231kph.

So, now I met those cars from the past, I decided to lap these two round the Top Gear Test Track to find out if a car with bigger power or a lightweight car is proven to be a worthy contender. On the Jaguar XKR Coupe, I did it in a measly 1:24.652. Kinda love the exhaust sound though as for the cornering, it was fine for a car with big power and noise.

Then, I got off from the XKR and into the SLK230K. The handling's not bad for a car that weighs less than the XKR but it did it in 1:33.529, slower than the XKR Coupe! Huh, it's still the power over displacement principle that makes all cars competitive. The XKR is powerful than the SLK230K but the SLK230K's lighter but doesn't matter to me because these two are more like bowties and fezzes. The XKR is more of a bowtie but the SLK230K....that's like fezzes. They're cool though, don't worry about it.

A more powerful version of the XFR is coming?

2012 Jaguar XFR

We heard the news that there's going to be a more powerful version of the Jaguar XFR sports saloon coming at the 2012 Los Angeles Auto Show this fall.

Some say, it could be called the XFR-S, which is weird because our favorite Jaguar XKR-S was the powerful version of the XKR and it's going to happen to the XFR.

No further details for now but once it's here, we think that this could be Jaguar's answer to the BMW M5 F10 and the Benz E63 AMG 5.5L V8 BiTurbo.

Scoop: http://www.autoblog.com/2012/07/09/jaguar-xfr-s-to-debut-at-la-auto-show/

The car that defeated the steam train from Top Gear...

In Series 13 opener of Top Gear, a letter from a viewer was sent to Top Gear and says here that what would Top Gear be look like when they were in 1949 and yep, Jeremy, Richard, and James take up for the big challenge. It's the 1949 episode. An epic 1949 race between the Jaguar XK120, the world's fastest on that time, the Vincent Black Shadow, which is the fastest motorbike on that time, and something that is bit 1949-ish but modern, a Peppercorn Class A1 60163 Tornado steam train. Jeremy Clarkson took part on the A1 Tornado while James May is in the Jaguar XK120 and Richard Hammond, in his leather romper suit, rides on the Vincent Black Shadow in a race from King's Cross, London, to a bar in Edinburgh. In the end, the Jaguar XK120 defeated the A1 Tornado steam train while the Vincent Black Shadow motorbike is dead last because of problems.

The world's fastest car from the late 1940's

This is how Forza feels like when it's 1949

So, the Jaguar XK120, what made it very special that when this car was launched in 1948, it hailed as the world's fastest car from that era. The roadster version as seen at the 1948 London Motor Show was actually a pre-production model and its positive reception propelled Jaguar founder and design boss William Lyons to put it into production. As the name implies, it is capable of 120 mph (193 km/h) of top speed, which in 1948, hailed as the fastest car in the world courtesy of its 3.4L DOHC Straight-6 engine that generates 160 bhp (119 kW; 162 PS) @ 5000 rpm of power.

Back then, this car costs 1200 Pounds in 1948 but in today's world, that's about 35,000 Pounds. It's a Bugatti Veyron with the price of the 5 Series.

In the old days, XK120 units with standard 8:1 compression ratio were exported to the world market but in Britain, a 7:1 low compression version was provided with decreased power because of the post World War II austerity measures.

Most of the XK120's come with the independent torsion bar front suspension, semi-elliptic leaf springs at the rear, recirculating ball steering, telescopically adjustable steering column, and all-round 12 inch drum brakes that can be easily broken or Alfin (ALuminium FINned) brake drums that has low chances of getting it broken. 

In 1951, an improved version, the XK120 SE (Special Edition) was launched with wire wheels, increased power, stiffer suspension and dual exhaust system. Therefore, the SE model produces 180 bhp (134 kW; 182 PS) of power but the one we have on Forza Motorsport 4 via the July Car Pack was actually the XK120 SE (C-Type Head) that comes with the improved 3.4L engine that churns out 210 bhp (157 kW; 213 PS) of power.

Off to kick some steam train rails...

During its tenure, the XK120 was heavily involved in motorsports beginning with its first victory at the Daily Express-sponsored One-Hour Production Car Race held on 30 August 1949 at Silverstone Circuit, England. From 1949 to 1954, the XK120 shines through various races such as the Le Mans, Targa Florio, Mille Miglia, Silverstone Production Car Race, Tourist Trophy, Mount Druitt 24 Hours Road Race, and we're not joking, NASCAR where Al Keller won the first NASCAR road race, held at Linden Airport, New Jersey, on June 13, 1954.

Nice view with this car!

Even in old days, cars are better than trains. Most Top Gear episodes always proving that cars are better than trains. The Aston Martin DB9 is better than the train heading to Monte Carlo, the Nissan R35 GT-R is better than the Shinkansen, and this...the Jaguar XK120 is better than the Peppercorn Class A1 60163 Tornado steam train. I'm glad that this car showed up on Forza Motorsport 4 and I'm loving it not only because of the noise and its heritage but this really is the car that this shows that even six decades ago, in post-WW2 era, cars are better than trains! It pays to be a Top Gear fanatic.

BEAT THAT, CATHEDRALS EXPRESS!!!

Come and meet your new XKR-S!

The old Jaguar XKR-S in action

This is the old 2009 Jaguar XKR-S in action. There was just one problem about this; IT'S GREAT!

When it came out in the summer of 2008, this is Jaguar at its best. The 4.2L Supercharged V8 produces 420HP of power and 413 lb-ft of torque. Stuff I can find mostly on the XKR-S includes S Alcon R Performance braking system with 400 mm diameter front and 350 mm rear discs, six-piston front callipers and four-piston rear callipers, recalibrated suspension, Ultimate Black body, XKR-S badge on the rear of the car, 10 mm lower ride height, 20-inch Vortex forged alloy wheels with bespoke tyres, Active Exhaust System, leather upholstery with Charcoal with Ivory twin-needle contrast stitching, Piano Black veneer, Charcoal Alston luxury headlining. However, only 200 units were made and it's available only in Europe. So the question now is, where will it heading next?

Come and meet your idol! Same as your old idol!

Well, this is where they'll heading next. It's the brand new 2012 Jaguar XKR-S, the most powerful Jaguar ever made. This new one is part of Forza Motorsport 4's April Alpinestars Pack, now on sale. For starters, the old 4.2L V8 supercharged engine from the old XKR-S has been replaced by a more powerful supercharged AJ-V8 Gen III R direct-injection engine. When you put your feet on the pedal, your body will become hideously drunk with speed. Just because being the most powerful Jaguar ever built doesn't mean it should deserve fear and respect among car enthusiasts. There are still more evidences to find for the new XKR-S. Surprisingly though, the new XKR-S has a much better face than the old XKR-S, which is somewhat too rubbish. Anyway, the old XKR-S was sold only to the European market but now this new one is available globally, giving foreigners their first time pushing this Jag to the max but does this mean that the XKR-S' rock and roll days are over? Not yet because we have to find out how does the new one stack up with the old one...

New XKR-S vs. Old XKR-S

The 2009 Jaguar XKR-S comes with the 4.2 litre V8 Petrol Supercharged engine that churns out 426PS of power and 560Nm of torque. It would go 0-60mph in 5.9 seconds and top speed limited to 155mph just like every other German cars. The new 2012 Jaguar XKR-S is fully equipped with the 5.0 litre V8 Petrol Supercharged AJ-V8 GEN III R engine that blows away 550PS of power and 680Nm of torque. It has a 0-6omph time of 4 seconds and top speed limited to 186mph, so on paper then, the new XKR-S bested the old one with more firepower on the new engine. In terms of coloring, the old XKR-S only comes with Ultimate Black but the new XKR-S is now available in six colors such as Polaris White, French Racing Blue, British Racing Green Metallic, Stratus Grey Metallic, Ultimate Black Metallic, and Italian Racing Red Metallic. On the interior, you will expect leather that looks like carbon fiber, blue instrumental lighting, and the old walnut days of Jaguar are gone. No wonder the interior is more like a gym rather than a mansion. Guess we're expecting some athlete's foot here.

Devouring the corners of Tsukuba!

More firepower is good news but it's not as good as the way this car simply devours corners or is it because Jaguar has a permanent testing grounds at the Nurburgring? Anyway, I saw that on one episode of Top Gear where it had a race against the 2012 Nissan GT-R and the Jag lost. Too bad this game doesn't have that but one rival video game did featured that. With the lap time of 1:23.3, the new XKR-S is proven to be quicker than any other Aston Martins running around the Top Gear Test Track. This new model is getting a bit more interesting. Although this new XKR-S is bit too bonkers to look and bonkers to drive, it reminded me of my favorite IDOLM@STER character who's a bit more bonkers to many, Hibiki Ganaha.

And that's how they done it here. Come and meet your new XKR-S, different than the old XKR-S.

Welcome Back: 2009 Jaguar XKR-S

A sleek and sporty Jag going somewhere...

This is the old 2009 Jaguar XKR-S in action. There was just one problem about this; IT'S GREAT!

When it came out in the summer of 2008, this is Jaguar at its best. The 4.2L Supercharged V8 produces 420HP of power and 413 lb-ft of torque. Stuff I can find mostly on the XKR-S includes S Alcon R Performance braking system with 400 mm diameter front and 350 mm rear discs, six-piston front callipers and four-piston rear callipers, recalibrated suspension, Ultimate Black body, XKR-S badge on the rear of the car, 10 mm lower ride height, 20-inch Vortex forged alloy wheels with bespoke tyres, Active Exhaust System, leather upholstery with Charcoal with Ivory twin-needle contrast stitching, Piano Black veneer, Charcoal Alston luxury headlining. However, only 200 units were made and it's available only in Europe. So the question now is, where will it heading next?

...To be continued on Holy Tuesday, April 3, 2012 (Holy Wednesday, April 4, 2012 if you live in Manila, Seoul, Tokyo, Taipei, Kuala Lumpur, Hong Kong, or Singapore) when I picked up my April Alpinestars Pack on FM4.

In the meantime, enjoy the clip of the old XKR-S thrashing around the Top Gear Test Track while listening to morse code...

2012 is Jaguar XJ220's 20th Anniversary

1992 Jaguar XJ220

Last year, we said happy 50th anniversary to the groovy Jaguary E-Type. Now, in 2012, we say 20th anniversary to Jaguar's first and memorable supercar, the XJ220. This car was produced in 1992 and it ended in 1994, about 281 units were produced, which sounds pretty rare to see Jaguar's memorable midship exotic roaring around in the streets of Los Angeles, London, Tokyo, Barcelona, Dubai, Moscow, and others. Numerous video games featured this car and this one's an icon. This car set the Nurburgring lap time of 7:47:37, making it the fastest Jaguar ever built.

Scoop: http://www.autoweek.com/article/20120131/CARNEWS/120139973 

Jaguar XJ tuning by Startech

2012 Startech Jaguar XJ

Startech, the sister company of Brabus, modifies the Jaguar XJ but that only applies on appearance instead of performance. In here, it comes with 21-inch rims, aero kits, choice of leather and Alcantara seats, stainless-steel trapezoid exhausts, available internet connectivity, and much more. 

Scoop: http://carscoop.blogspot.com/2011/12/startech-adds-style-but-no-speed-to.html

JLR Global City branch

Jaguar/Land Rover/Range Rover Lifestyle and Activity Center

A new Jaguar Land Rover showroom is opened at the Bonifacio Global City in Taguig as part of increasing existence of these British car brands (Jaguar, Land Rover, and Range Rover) in the Philippines.

Called the Jaguar/Land Rover/Range Rover Lifestyle and Activity Centre, this Taguig-based showroom is more than just offering Jaguars, Land Rovers, and Range Rovers, but also treating customers with the respect as if they were guests at their homes. This is hospitality comes standard at the JLR Global City branch.

The Jaguar/Land Rover/Range Rover Lifestyle and Activity Centre is located at the corner of 32nd Street and 4th Avenue in Crescent Park West at the Bonifacio Global City in Taguig City. This is a relocation from an old showroom at Sen. Gil Puyat Avenue in Makati City in order to accommodate the demands.

Don't worry though, this old showroom in Makati City will make room for upcoming car brands coming in the Philippines.

Scoop: http://www.topgear.com.ph/news/new-jaguar-land-rover-showroom-opens-in-taguig