1989 Jaguar Xj6 Vanden Plaus on 2040-cars

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Hardcore Jaguar F-Type underway, 600 horsepower possible

Thanks to an already potent range of supercharged engines with some of the best exhaust notes available, the Jaguar F-Type is without a doubt a sublime performer. Still, there's always room to grow, and we are getting another good look from the Nurburgring at what's suspected to be an even more powerful version on the way. Spy shots of what was believed to be the Jaguar F-Type R-S first came out last spring. This time the roadster is practically uncamouflaged, though. The similarities are definitely there, and both test cars wear the same wheel design and quad-tailpipe rear diffuser. The latest one lacks the massive front splitter jutting out but gets a quite large, fixed trunk lid spoiler at the rear. You can also spot some large-diameter ceramic brake discs behind the wheels. The things happening under the bonnet might be even more interesting, though. To befit all of the exterior performance upgrades, Jaguar's supercharged 5.0-liter V8 is expected to nestle between the front wheels, and the mill is likely getting a boost in power to take output to 580 or even 600 horsepower, versus 550hp in standard form. Hopefully, the extra grunt makes the exhaust note even more intoxicating, as well. Featured Gallery Jaguar F-Type R-S Spy Shots Image Credit: CarPix Design/Style Spy Photos Jaguar Convertible Performance jaguar f-type r jaguar f-type r-s

Road & Track names its 2013 Performance Car of the Year

Road & Track recently staged its first annual Performance Car of the Year test, pitting 13 new and updated performance cars against each other on track, then graduating the top six to a road test before picking a winner. Additionally, the magazine staff picked the best automobiles of the year in eight categories.
But first, let's cover the PCotY segment. Here's the list of cars brought to the comparison test: Audi R8 V10 Plus; BMW 435i; BMW M6 Competition Package; Chevrolet Corvette Stingray Z51; Ferrari F12 Berlinetta; Ford Fiesta ST; Jaguar F-Type V8 S; Jaguar XFR-S; Mercedes-Benz E63 AMG S-Model Wagon; Mercedes-Benz SLS AMG Black Series; Mini John Cooper Works GP; Nissan GT-R Track Edition; and Porsche Cayman S.
To find out the results of the comparison, head over to Road & Track's website or check the press release below, where you'll also find the magazine's top-rated vehicles in eight categories. Want more? Head over to the 2013 PCotY hub. But before you do that, take a stab at guessing the winner of PCotY (we'll give you one hint: it isn't a Porsche).

Seven-figure cars highlight day one of RM's Monterey auction

RM Auctions is one of several houses holding auctions during the Monterey weekend, and Friday night's festivities got quite pricey. Seven-figure vehicles were not at all uncommon during the first day of the two-day event, with the 1953 Ferrari 375 MM Spider, seen above, crossing the block for $9,075,000.
Other big earners included a pair of rare Ferraris, a 1950 166 MM Barchetta and a 1955 750 Monza Spider, which took $3,080,000 and $4,070,000, respectively. Outside of the red Italians, a 1939 Mercedes-Benz 540K Special captured $7,480,000 while a stunning, color-appropriate 1955 Jaguar D-Type took $3,850,000. We've got images of these vehicles, and a few other stunning examples of last night's auction, in the gallery above.
Thought it seems impossible, tonight's auction is expected to see even more high-dollar action. The winner of the 2012 Pebble Beach Concours, a 1928 Mercedes-Benz 680S Torpedo Roadster is expected to command over $10 million. Also crossing the block will be a car we reported on a few weeks back - a supremely rare 1967 Ferrari 275 GTB/4 NART Spyder. One of only 10 in the world, it's expected to take anywhere from $14 to $17 million when it hits the stage tonight.