Auto blog

Jaguar F-Pace SUV teased on YouTube [UPDATE]

UPDATE: Stuart Schorr, Jaguar Land Rover North America's VP of communications, reached out and explained that the Detroit section of the F-Pace video was recycled from the car's confirmation announcement at the 2015 North American International Auto Show, shown here. "There is 100 percent no subliminal message and Frankfurt is the debut location," Schorr told Autoblog. The story has been edited to reflect this information. With the Jaguar F-Pace slated to debut in less than 90 days, at the 2015 Frankfurt Motor Show, the teasers are starting to ramp up. That means videos like this, featuring Jaguar design master Ian Callum, which give us short, sweet peeks at the British brand's very first crossover. The big teasers come in the form of Callum's drawings of the F-Pace, combined with short clips of its headlights and taillights as it zooms around the streets of downtown Detroit. That said, none of the images shown are so dramatically different from the C-X17 Concept, the vehicle that previewed the production model and makes an appearance here. We aren't really sure why the Motor City features in the teaser, considering the F-Pace is being unveiled in Germany, but one of the final sequences sees a set of taillights streak past Cobo Center, home of the annual Detroit Auto Show. It's a weird decision to be sure, and leaves us wondering just how much truth there is to reports of the Frankfurt debut. Why would Jag make such a decision if the D weren't going to play some role in the car's future? Take a look at the video up top, and let us know what you think of Jag's first F-Pace teaser. Is there any particular design detail we missed? What do you think of the potential Detroit connection? Head into Comments and let us know.

Jaguar XE bares its claws in 74 images [w/video]

The XE may prove to be the most vital new model to Jaguar's expansion. But to date we've only really seen it in top-spec, supercharged XE S form. That ends right here and now, however, as Jaguar releases details, photos and even a brief video clip showing the entire range - including those most customers are bound to buy.
Globally speaking - or at least in its home market - Jaguar will offer the XE with five different engines and in four different trim levels. The new Ingenium engine family includes two diesels and two turbocharged gasoline options along with the top-of-the-line supercharged V6 that will serve as the XE's performance flagship model, at least until a new SVR version comes along. Both six-speed manual and eight-speed automatic transmissions are on offer, and overseas buyers will also be able to choose between base SE, mid-range Prestige, opulent Portfolio, dynamic R-Sport and range-topping S trim levels.
Of course not every engine is available in each trim level and with either transmission, so instead of 40 combinations we're looking at 22. Once the XE reaches American showrooms, we'll likely be looking at even fewer, as we're not expecting the manual and diesel versions to be offered Stateside. Stay tuned as well for our live impressions from the floor of the Paris Motor Show. But in the meantime you can scope out all the details and UK specifications in the press release below, along with the short video and the gallery of 74 high-resolution images above.

1956 Jaguar D-Type could top $5M at Arizona auction

The Jaguar D-Type is an essential element of the marque's history, one of its most successful racing cars, and one of its most beautiful creations. Chassis number XKD 604, pictured here, was the first of six long-nose Jaguar D-Types made for the factory team in 1956. They were, however, far from ubiquitous, with only 53 made for private customers, and another 18 campaigned by the factory racing team. More advanced than the examples that preceded it, this one was equipped with a de Dion rear suspension and fuel injection. It didn't have much of a distinguished racing career to speak of, passing from the factory to the Ecurie Ecosse team in Scotland which kept it in storage for years. After the team's closing, it passed through the hands of two British owners, undergoing a full restoration at the hands of the latter, before trading between two US owners. Although precise pre-sale estimates are available by request to interested parties, RM confirmed to Autoblog that this example "is expected to fetch more than $5 million when it crosses the auction podium in January." According to Sports Car Market, last year the same auction house sold a customer D-Type in Paris for nearly that much. However at its London auction in 2013, another works example failed to sell despite a high bid of over $6.2 million. If this one takes in more than that, it'll set a record for the type. If classic Jaguars aren't your thing, RM also has lined up an enviable roster of Ferraris. Included among them is a yellow '71 Daytona (estimated to fetch over $700k), a silver '91 Testarossa (~$250k), a rare yellow '95 F512 M (~$450k), and a pristine 2011 599 SA Aperta (~$1.3m). Porsche fans will want to check out the '76 911 Turbo (~$250k) and the soft-window '69 911 S Targa (~$225k). With the auction not set to take place until January 28 at the Arizona Biltmore, you can bet there'll be a good number of additional lots consigned between now and then.