1973 Jaguar Xke 2+2 Coupe on 2040-cars

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2024 Jaguar F-Pace Review: Fun, pretty and luxe, the big Jag's better with age

Pros: Engaging to drive; good looks; high-class cabin; crazy-good sport seats; big cargo area and generally more spacious than compact rivals Cons: Pricier than compact rivals, smaller than midsize ones; base engine acceleration a touch off the pace; convoluted climate controls The Jaguar F-Pace has now been around for quite some time – eight years have passed since we first got behind the wheel in far-flung Montenegro. While most vehicles would be well past their best years and already replaced by now, the 2024 Jaguar F-Pace is an example of something that has actually gotten better with age. Its infotainment technology is up to date and far easier to use than anything Jaguar Land Rover has offered before. Its cabin quality and design are better, the engines have been upgraded, and we even think the design tweaks made a few years ago improved upon an already knockout design. In many ways, the F-Pace is reminiscent of another small SUV thatÂ’s thrived past the usual best-by date: the Porsche Macan. It too is fun to drive, with exceptional steering, sharp handling and compelling performance, especially from the six- and eight-cylinder models. They are both for SUV shoppers looking to enjoy their time behind the wheel (and look good doing it), and are OK paying more money than other compact luxury SUVs. There is one major difference, though: The F-Pace is not only much bigger than the Macan, itÂ’s bigger than most of those other compact luxury SUVs. ItÂ’s closer to a midsize, with the closest size comparable being the Lexus RX. That grants it a spacious back seat and a surprising amount of cargo space. We were honestly not expecting to like the F-Pace as much as we did during a recent test drive of the P400 R-Dynamic S. It seemed likely that all those years in between times behind the wheel wouldnÂ’t have been kind. Far from it. We like it even better, and think those in the market for an SUV in its price range should give it a shot. Interior & Technology   |   Passenger & Cargo Space   |   Performance & Fuel Economy What it's like to drive   |   Pricing & Trim Levels   |   Crash Ratings & Safety Features What's new for 2024? Apple CarPlay and Android Auto can now be connected wirelessly. Jaguar also trimmed the F-Pace lineup down to three versions, all tied to a different engine. This results in the base price ballooning by $8,000 since the new base trim level is the R-Dynamic S.

2016 Jaguar F-Type prowls the floor with new manual and AWD options

The Jaguar F-Type has become an instant enthusiast favorite for its alluring design, powerful, sonorous engines and rewarding handling. In short, it's a worthy successor to the iconic mid-century E-Type. But Jaguar hasn't been sitting idly, and it's continuing to refine and enhance the F-Type with subtle yet significant enhancements, including a bunch that are debuting this week at the Los Angeles Auto Show. The 2016 model year brings with it all-wheel drive, which will be standard on 550-horsepower F-Type R models. AWD will be optional on mid-level F-Type S models, which run the 380-hp V6. The system sends all of the supercharged engine's torque to the rear axle in default mode, but it can also be split with up to 50 percent going to the front axle when needed. Jaguar has even added subtle visual differentiators to the the AWD models, fitting them with body-colored sills and a new hood design. The penalty? the AWD system adds about 176 pounds to the curb weight. The F-Type also gets an available six-speed manual transmission for 2016 on V6 variants with rear-wheel drive. While obviously adding a more interactive driving character, the close-ratio manual is about 22 pounds lighter than the automatic gearbox. Jaguar has also given all F-Type models electric power steering, using a stiffer steering shaft to maintain the hydraulic setup's connected feel with the road. The 2016 models will be available in the spring, and pricing will be announced closer to launch. 2016 F-TYPE Gains All Wheel Drive and Manual Transmission Options – The 2016 model year Jaguar F-TYPE sports car receives new powertrain and driveline options – A six-speed manual transmission option will be available in rear-wheel drive V6 models – Instinctive All Wheel Drive® (AWD) extends the performance and dynamic capability of the F-TYPE – The 550hp F-TYPE R is now available in both Coupe or Convertible – All F-Type R models receive AWD as standard equipment, enabling 0-60 mph in 3.9 seconds.

Who picks car colors and materials? Designers like Hannah Custance

As automotive journalists, we're often asked "how did you get that job?" People usually didn't even know you could do such a thing. In this 7 Questions series, we're highlighting other jobs in the automotive industry that you might not have heard about before. What do they do, how'd they get to do it and other questions about their particular corner of the car world. Slowly but surely, the automotive landscape is becoming more colorful. Look beyond the unrelentingly conservative palette of white, black and gray most buyers opt for and you'll see the increased use of exterior trim types beyond the usual chrome. There's gloss black, of course, but also other metallic finishes like gold or copper. Those can be found inside, too, where there's also an increase in colorful leathers and trims, innovative fabrics, new wood types and finishes, and greater creativity in general. So where is this change coming from? The answer is designers like Hannah Custance, the color and materials design manager for Jaguar Land Rover. Her team's latest effort is also its magnum opus, the 2022 Range Rover. Although saddled with the expectations that comes with one of the automotive industry's classic nameplates, the all-new Range Rover is also a celebration of cutting edge manufacturing and fashion-forward materials selection. We sat down with Hannah at the L.A. Auto Show to find out more about color and materials designers, how she ended up in the industry, and advice she might have for young designers out there. It has been condensed for brevity. Autoblog: What does a color and materials design manager to do?Hannah Custance: I basically look after a team of designers who design finishes for every A surface on the car. So, that could be exterior finishes. It could be interior trim materials, soft materials, hard materials, chromes, metals, woods, ceramic – that's one of the new ones – anything you can kind of touch and see is color material design. Autoblog: How early in the design process does your team become involved.Hannah: Right at the very start. In fact, we look at materials that don't have a product assigned to them or a car assigned to them. So, it takes actually a very long time for us to get materials approved and fully validated. We have to find suppliers that are willing to work in automotive and our test standards are incredibly high, some of the highest in the industry.