1969 Jaguar Xke on 2040-cars

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Petrolicious examines a very special Jaguar C-Type

There are rare Jaguars, and then there's this stunning C-Type Lightweight Le Mans. Built in response to the dominance of the Mercedes-Benz 300SL at the 1952 24 Hours of Le Mans, Jaguar made only three C-Types for 1953 and managed to capture first, second, and fourth. These cars featured four-wheel disc brakes – a rarity at the time even in endurance racing – and a lighter aluminum body. The two SU carburetors were swapped out for three Webers, meaning more power and, according to RM Sotheby's David Swig, better throttle response. Swig would know. In the latest video from Petrolicious, he takes the fourth-place C-Type for a ride, giving us a look at the sleek open-roof racer in action, while our ears enjoy the delicious sound of the 3.4-liter, twin-cam straight-six. "What I love about these cars is how communicative they are on the road," Swig told Petrolicious. "How when you're going through a corner, you feel in the seat of your pants and through the steering wheel every little movement, every little pebble that you drive over." Beyond the driving experience, there's something to be said of the historical seat Swig is occupying. "No less than five Le Mans-winning drivers of this period have sat behind the wheel of this car," Swig said, "which almost give you goosebumps." Should you have the money, you can actually put this iconic racing Jaguar in your garage. RM Sotheby's will offer it for auction as part of its glitzy Monterey Car Week event next month. While you can look forward to our coverage of that event come August, you can enjoy the sight and sound of this iconic C-Type in the latest episode from Petrolicious.

Jaguar could still revive XK as luxury grand tourer

With the F-Type taking the lion's – or Jaguar's – share of attention lately, it would be all too easy to forget all about a Jag once known as the XK. But it existed, and it could once again. First introduced in 1996 as the XK8 to replace the old XJS, the XK survived for two generations. It was available as a 2+2 coupe or convertible and was powered by Jaguar's signature AJ-V8 engine. By the time it was discontinued just this past summer, the ultimate XKR-S packed as much as 542 horsepower. But though it had two more seats, the XK was rendered largely obsolete by the arrival of the nimbler, newer and arguably more stylish F-Type. According to Autocar, however, the XK could be reinstated with a more GT-like approach. The XK as we've known it, said Jaguar's Ross Varney to the British weekly, "straddled the GT and sports car segment, with more of an emphasis on the GT side but probably not enough." Varney was in charge of the F-Type project and was also responsible for a new project to replace the XK until it was shut down earlier this year. "We have plans to do lots more with the F-Type," said Varney, "but there will still be other areas we want to cover. We need to find the right way to deliver on them, and the XK could be one way of doing that." What Varney is saying, essentially, is that while the XK project may not be moving forward just yet, it could be revived in the near future. If it did, we'd be looking at a more accommodating and luxurious grand tourer, different from the F-Type that's more of a focused sports car. Think of it, then, as more of a Bentley Continental GT, but probably less expensive - or put another way, if the F-Type is a junior Aston Martin V8 Vantage, the new XK would be a (relatively) more accessible DB9. The intel sounds similar to what we heard when the most recent XK was being put out to pasture, but tells us that hope is still alive for those interested in a two-door Jag with room for the kids in the back.

90th Anniversary Edition signals end of Jaguar F-Pace in Europe

Jaguar is gradually paring down its global range of models as it prepares to start from scratch in a bid to move upmarket. After the XE and the F-Type, it's the F-Pace's turn to sign off in many countries. Launched in 2016, the company's first SUV — and one of its all-time best-selling models — will retire from the European market later in 2024 with a limited-edition model called 90th Anniversary Edition. No, the F-Pace isn't turning 90; the name is a reference to nine decades of Jaguar's internal-combustion engines. Based on the R-Dynamic version, the commemorative SUV gets an edition-specific exterior emblem on the hatch and not much else. It features the same blacked-out trim as the R-Dynamic, and Jaguar notes that buyers have several options to choose from including a panoramic roof and tinted windows. Inside, you'll find sport seats for the front passengers, contrast stitching, and aluminum trim. The S, SE and HSE trim levels can be ordered with the 90th Anniversary package, and the SUV is on sale now in several global markets. We won't get it in the United States, however. "We have not announced end of production or the final model year [for the F-Pace on the American market]. [Production of] the F-Pace will continue in our Solihull plant for the foreseeable future," a spokesperson for the British company told Autoblog via email. Now what? We'll need to be patient to find out what's next. Jaguar has announced plans to shift up a notch or two in the industry's pecking order to take on Bentley, among other brands; as it stands, it's positioned on about the same level as BMW and Mercedes-Benz. This bold move will be accompanied by a shift toward an electric-only range of models. Earlier rumors have detailed three models: a sporty sedan aimed at the Porsche Taycan, a more luxury-focused sedan about as long as the now-retired Bentley Mulsanne, and a big SUV aimed at the Bentayga. If everything goes according to plan, the first of these three models will land in 2025 on a new, purpose-designed architecture. Until then, with the F-Pace nearly out of the picture the global Jaguar range will consist of the electric I-Pace, the E-Pace crossover and the XF sedan. Related video: Featured Gallery 2024 Jaguar F-Pace 90th Anniversary Edition, official images Jaguar SUV Luxury