1967 Jaguar, Series I, 4.2 Liter E-type Roadster on 2040-cars

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European automakers gear up for Brazilian production

Brazil is the place to be, apparently. Toyota has been investing in the South American country, as has BMW, which announced a $261 million investment in October 2012, on the heels of an Audi factory announcement in San José Chiapa. The high-end immigration is only set to continue, as Mercedes-Benz and Jaguar-Land Rover have both announced plans to set up manufacturing operations there.
Mercedes is the big news here, as its new facility will see the German manufacturer invest 170-million euros for production of its next-generation C-Class and upcoming GLA-Class. "Brazil is an important future market. With our local production we accept the challenge and take on the competition," noted Andreas Renschler, Management Board member for Production and Procurement at Mercedes-Benz Cars and Mercedes-Benz Vans. Production is expected to begin by 2016.
Jaguar-Land Rover, meanwhile, isn't so concrete in its plans. The news of its investment in South America comes from a job posting for a plant quality manager in Brazil that was picked up by the UK's AutoCar. "Portuguese language skills will be definite advantage" for interested candidates, according to the job listing. The want ad follows on the heels of remarks by Jaguar Land Rover's Dr. Ralph Speth, who said there are "very intensive discussions" with Brazil's government. Unlike Mercedes, there's no mention of which vehicles will be produced in South America, although AutoCar thinks the Freelander, sold in the US as the LR2, is a leading contender.

Look for Jaguar C-X75 in your new James Bond Scalextric set

Scalextric, the slot-car racing set, has produced sets themed around James Bond films for years. You can get the Range Rover from Skyfall, the Alfa Romeo from Quantum of Solace, the DBS from Casino Royale, and almost all of the sets include the Aston Martin DB5; there was a limited-edition three-car series of DB5s around the movie Goldeneye, back in 1995. They'll be doing it again for the coming Spectre film, Pocket-lint.com saying that the set will come later this year and looks like it will include the Jaguar C-X75. That treat, as well as the DB10, haven't been completed for the toy set yet because they haven't been finalized for the film. A new DB5 run will be available for the garage, limited to 4,500 units and featuring a manually raised rear shield and an automatic ejector seat triggered if the car bumps a bollard along the track during feisty driving. The expected price is 100 pounds ($152 US), which includes track, and it should be out sometime before the movie arrives in theaters in November. Featured Gallery James Bond 'Spectre' Scalextric set News Source: Pocket-lintImage Credit: Pocket-lint Celebrities Toys/Games TV/Movies Aston Martin Jaguar spectre jaguar c-x75 aston martin db10 scalextric

Jaguar reveals upcoming XE's InControl infotainment system [w/video]

Jaguar has been keeping busy lately, rolling out both the new Lightweight E-Type and F-Type Project 7 at Pebble Beach this past weekend. But the more important project for the British automaker is the upcoming new XE.
Coventry has been releasing a steady stream of information and teasers on its new 3 Series challenger, and has now revealed details of the new infotainment system that will debut in the XE. Called InControl, the system centers around an eight-inch touchscreen and integrates with smartphones (running both iOS and Android) through the InControl Remote and InControl Apps. The system will allow drivers to pre-set the climate control for each day of the week, lock and unlock the doors and start the engine remotely.
It'll also include an on-board wifi hotspot to connect multiple devices and a laser-based head-up display that you can scope out in the graphic above as well as the video and press release below in advance of the XE's upcoming debut in London on September 8.