1994 Jaguar Xj6 4-door Sedan, Green, Tan Leather Interior on 2040-cars

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Jaguar considers BMW X1 fighter

It's no secret that the sub-compact crossover is the next big thing in the auto industry. From the Mazda CX-3, Honda HR-V, and Jeep Renegade to the Mercedes-Benz GLA, Audi Q3, and BMW X1, automakers the world over are pushing hard to get a piece of this brand-new pie. Autocar is reporting that Jaguar could soon join the ranks of them. While the manufacturer is hard at work on the new F-Pace, this new CUV would slot in below and could even be priced under the new entry level XE sedan. "A family [of CUVs] is not confirmed but we are investigating it," Steven de Ploey, Jaguar's brand director, told Autocar. "If we want to grow, a compact model is the obvious opportunity. The arguments about this are twofold. It has to be a Jaguar in design and performance, and it would be a challenge to do this. The second is the business, both in terms of scale and competition." While the brand may be toying around with the idea of a compact CUV, de Ploey points out that there are a number of issues preventing a vehicle below the F-Pace. "You'd not just be competing with premium brands but high-end mainstream manufacturers, too. There are lots of other things we have to do before this, but we have opportunities and permission to play there," de Ploey said. "There is also a cost challenge. We'd need a different architecture. What we have is scalable, but that low? You'd really have to investigate taking it down. You need to tick the box with the business case." Related Video:

2018 Jaguar XF Sportbrake Quick Spin Review | Special XF no more

The 2018 Jaguar XF Sportbrake is a wagon, and as such, one must praise its existence. We need more of them. It looks sensational in all its long-roofed glory, especially in Firenze Red and the gloss black exterior trim package — yowza. Plus, its cargo area is deep, wide and generally voluminous. It would be nice if Jaguar included a roll-up net partition for dogs or to prevent high-mounted cargo from flying forward (as Audi does in the Allroad), but nevertheless, the XF Sportbrake should be more functional than many crossover SUVs. It should certainly be more enjoyable to drive, as the XF delivers with Jag's usual steering excellence and body control. While other midsize luxury sedans have drifted away from the sporting realm (cough, BMW 5 Series), the XF maintains its engagement with the driver. As we discovered when driven back-to-back with the Volvo V90, it's one of the sportiest of sport wagons. It's definitely the sportiest of Sportbrakes. However, it's the "XF" bit that disappoints. The original XF was really something when it debuted, featuring seductively sleek styling in a segment of serious German sedans. The distinctive cabin put on a show with rotating air vents and a rotary shifter that rose into your hand upon pressing the start button. The fact that the XF was different inside and outside from its fellow Jaguars also differed from the Russian nesting doll design approach of its competitors. The original wasn't without flaws, but it was special. This 2018 XF just isn't. The cabin is the biggest problem, as it looks identical to those of the cheaper XE and F-Pace SUV, and is pretty unremarkable and, well, dull to behold. Even the "show" elements that have survived seem vestigial now, as only the outer air vents rotate and the shifter no longer rises into your hand since the starter has migrated elsewhere. More concerning, though, is that the materials are just not up to the segment standards, and certainly not in keeping with a test car that has a sticker of $84,815. For instance, the old XF could be fitted with soft leather covering the doors and the broad, downward sloping dash. The new one has coarsely grained pleather. Then there's the matter of functionality. The rotary shifter in the original XF was certainly part of the "show" but it also freed up significant space on the center console for three cupholders/bins. The new one resides in an expanse of wood trim the size of a shift boot, leaving no room for that third cupholder/bin.

Jaguar creates custom Greatest Hits XJ for Iron Maiden drummer

Manufacturers like Alfa Romeo and Toyota are trotting out Nurburgring-themed special editions like NRING and GRMN, but for Jaguar, it's all about the NWOBHM. That's New Wave of British Heavy Metal, for those who do not start their day with some '80s hair metal turned up to 11. Jaguar is celebrating the venerable XJ sedan's 50 th anniversary this year, and as part of that, the Jaguar Classic Works department in Coventry, England, has built Iron Maiden drummer Nicko McBrain's perfect Series III XJ. The custom car, nicknamed "Greatest Hits," is the product of over 3,500 work hours and 4,000 redone parts. The Series III is, for some, the ultimate development of the first XJ body style, and McBrain's car is his third Series III. It's in most respects a restomod, as the front and rear bumpers, headlights, wheels, infotainment and other details have been modernized; the interior features rock-inspired custom touches like the guitar amplifier-style rotary knobs on the dashboard. The speakers of the 1,100-watt audio system are from the 2012 model year Jaguar XF, as those are what McBrain prefers. The steering wheel logo is a combination of the Iron Maiden mascot, "Eddie," and the Jaguar "Growler" logo. The Jaguar leaper mascot on the hood is from McBrain's first Jaguar XJ6; the paint is a special deep purple, and the interior has been retrimmed with Pimento red leather. But it's not just the appearance of the "Greatest Hits" XJ that has been massaged, as the 4.2-liter straight six of the 1984 XJ6 has been upgraded with three E-type SU carburetors. It also has a custom exhaust with quad tailpipes. There have been nine XJ series so far, and the 10th version is expected to arrive sometime next year. There are persistent rumors that it might eschew internal combustion completely, facing a reinvention as an electric sedan instead. Related Video: Featured Gallery Iron Maiden Jaguar XJ "Greatest Hits" View 13 Photos Image Credit: Jaguar Aftermarket Geneva Motor Show Jaguar Luxury Classics Sedan 2018 Geneva Motor Show