1990 Jaguar Xjs Base Convertible 2-door 5.3l on 2040-cars

Auto blog

Jaguar demanding customer data from reluctant dealers

Nearly every major business is collecting consumer data these days, and keeping that data secure has come to the forefront of many customer's minds. Jaguar Land Rover North America's decision to begin requesting more customer info from its dealer network appears unfortunately timed, however. If it had come a few years ago, it might have been ignored, but in today's climate of heightened awareness, a few dealers are pushing back. To put the showrooms in an even tougher position, JLR NA is threatening to deny quarterly incentives if they do not turn over the customer data, according to Automotive News.
JLR NA instated the nationwide plan, which it calls Single View CRM, on February 7, but according to Stuart Schorr, Jaguar Land Rover North America Vice President of Communications, the automaker has been negotiating with its dealers to institute the new program for over a year. Schorr tells Autoblog that no financial information is being shared, noting that such data is limited to customer details, including things like what vehicles they own and whether they have any pending service. The initiative is meant to "improve customers' and owners' engagement with the brand," he said. Also, the company is not accessing dealer data itself; instead showrooms are asked to enter the info into JLR's database.

Artist imagines eerie world where cars have no wheels

The wheel ranks right up there with the telescope and four-slice toaster in the pantheon of inventions that have moved humankind forward. But what if a circle in three dimensions had never occurred to anyone, and we all had just moved on without it? Perhaps we'd be driving around in Lucas Motors Landspeeders with anti-gravity engines. Or maybe we'd have the same cars we do today, just without wheels.
That's the thought experiment that seems to have led French photographer Renaud Marion to create his six-image series called Air Drive. The shots depict cars throughout many eras of motoring that look normal except for one thing: they have no wheels. The models used include a Jaguar XK120, Cadillac DeVille (shown above), Chevrolet El Camino and Camaro, and Mercedes-Benz SL and 300 roadsters.
Perhaps one day when our future becomes our past, you'll be able to walk the street and see with your own eyes the rust and patina of age on our nation's fleet of floating cars. Until then, Monsieur Marion's photographs will have to do.

Jaguar F-Type SVR set to go topless

Jaguar's sultry F-Type convertible will soon be getting sharper claws. We've captured the high-powered SVR variant during track testing, and these spy shots show huge air intakes and a prominent splitter up front. They're balanced at the rear with a massive spoiler and a central diffuser that breaks up the angled, jutting exhaust pipes. The cloth top is also evident, and it's presence has been expected. Previously, we spied the hardtop variant. This prototype looks ready for production, with the bodywork screwed down and the head- and taillights peering out. Even the black wheels with thin spokes wouldn't look out of place on the street. We also see the cross-drilled carbon-ceramic brakes. These massive stoppers will be required to slow down the 5.0-liter supercharged V8, which could make 600 horsepower. That blows by the 550-hp F-Type R and the limited production F-Type Project 7 (575 hp). The Project 7 can hit 60 miles per hour in 3.8 seconds, and we'd expect the SVR model to eclipse that figure. The F-Type SVR and its convertible sibling are part of Jaguar's strategy to remain to true to its sporting heritage – the company counts seven Le Mans victories – while adding vehicles like the F-Pace crossover and XE sedan to adapt to modern consumer preferences. Related Video: