1987 Gold Metallic Jaguar Xj-sc Cabriolet (t-top) - Rare Model on 2040-cars

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Jaguar launches new classic racing series

One-make racing series have become all the rage for customers who want to actually race their exotic sports cars (or competition-spec versions of them, anyway). Ferrari, Maserati, Lamborghini and Aston Martin all offer such programs, and Porsche supports several. Now Jaguar is getting in on the action as well, but instead of turning one of its production models - we're looking at you, F-Type - into a spec racer, it's launching an historic racing series instead.
The 2015 Jaguar Heritage Challenge will be open to cars made by the Leaping Cat marque before 1966, including the C-Type, D-Type, E-Type and Mk I and MkII sedans. The series, which builds on the success of the previous Jaguar E-Type Challenge, will be administered by the Historic Sports Car Club (HSCC) based at Silverstone and will include four races in the UK and one in Europe, with the exact schedule still to be determined.
The program was announced at the launch of the Jaguar Heritage Driving Experience, where Jaguar Land Rover Special Operations director John Edwards was also named chairman of the Jaguar Daimler Heritage Trust, replacing former Jaguar managing director Mike O'Driscoll who chaired the organization for the past five years.

California adapts ZEV mandate with PHEVs for smaller automakers

California is the nation's largest market for zero-emissions vehicles with over 100,000 of them estimated to be on the roads there. The state's goal is to keep that number growing every year. To that end, the California Air Resources Board is now tweaking its rules in a way that might not boost ZEVs but could mean more plug-in hybrids for the Golden State. Jaguar Land Rover, Mazda, Mitsubishi, Subaru, and Volvo asked for an exemption to the state's zero-emissions vehicle mandate last year due to their relatively small development budgets compared to larger automakers. CARB denied their request but did craft a compromise, according to Automotive News. Rather than being required to offer a ZEV in the state, companies with an annual global revenue of less than $40 billion, like those in this group, may instead sell plug-in hybrids to earn ZEV credits. The companies aren't completely off the hook, though. If these plug-in hybrids don't earn enough credits, the corporations must buy them on the market to make up the difference. Automakers with popular electric models like Nissan and Tesla have made a big business through this trading system by selling their surplus to rivals. Tesla alone pocketed $51 million in the first quarter from this part of its business, according to Automotive News. The changes to the regulations also aren't set in stone, yet. CARB is meeting in 2016 and could adjust things further at that time. Related Video: News Source: Automotive News - sub. req. via Hybrid CarsImage Credit: Justin Sullivan / Getty Images Government/Legal Green Jaguar Land Rover Mazda Mitsubishi Subaru Volvo Emissions Electric Hybrid California zev credits zero emissions vehicle

2018 Jaguar F-Type gets four-cylinder turbo engine option

At the 2017 New York Auto Show, Jaguar has revealed the final piece of the 2018 F-Type puzzle: a four-cylinder entry-level model. It rounds out an expanded lineup of F-Type variants that have all gotten a bit of a facelift and some additional content for 2018, which we told you about back in January. But the little four-cylinder is definitely the biggest surprise. Underhood is the state-of-the-art 2.0-liter, turbocharged, gasoline-fueled Ingenium engine, which is making its way into several Jaguar-Land Rover products for the first time in the 2018 model year. It has a full suite of contemporary technologies, like a variable-lift electrohydraulic valvetrain that eliminates the need for a traditional throttle, an integrated exhaust manifold, and a dual-scroll turbocharger. You might recall that the Ingenium gas engine is replacing an older 2.0-liter turbo four in the XE, and also will show up in the F-Pace and XF. Add the F-Type to this burgeoning list, and don't expect it to stop there. The Range Rover Velar has also been announced for the US with this engine. In the F-Type, the 2.0T makes 296 horsepower and 295 pound-feet of torque, which is higher than some of the other applications for this engine in the US. There's only one powertrain arrangement for the 2.0T in the US – rear-wheel drive and backed up by an eight-speed automatic – but buyers will be able to choose from a coupe or convertible body style. Jaguar claims the 2018 F-Type will scoot to 60 mph in as little as 5.4 seconds. It's also the lightest F-Type, by a smidgen. The 2.0T coupe weighs 3,360 pounds, which is 95 pounds lighter than the next-lightest coupe, the 3,455-pound, 340-horsepower supercharged V6 coupe equipped with a manual (and 117 pounds lighter than that car with an automatic). There's probably a fuel-economy benefit in EPA testing as well, but Jaguar doesn't have EPA numbers yet, so stay tuned on that. Don't forget that the 400 Sport variant will join the 2.0T on the stand. It's a one-year-only special edition model with a supercharged V6 uprated to 400 hp, but sadly there's no manual version on offer. Related Video: Featured Gallery New York Auto Show Jaguar Convertible Coupe Luxury Performance 2017 new york auto show ingenium