2006 Jaguar X-type Vanden Plas Edition on 2040-cars

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Jaguar XJ220 leaps into Jay Leno's Garage

Having sadly canceled the C-X75 project and sat out today's hybrid hypercar race, it would be all too easy to forget about Jaguar as a supercar manufacturer altogether. But back in the early '90s, the British automaker didn't just play in the supercar game – it dominated it. The XJ220 was, for a time, the fastest car in the world. Jay Leno pays tribute in this latest video. Originally envisioned with a V12 engine and all-wheel drive, the XJ220 ultimately surfaced with a 3.5-liter twin-turbo V6 driving the rear wheels alone. None of that kept it from eclipsing the top speed achieved by every supercar that came before with a terminal velocity that didn't quite reach the 220 miles per hour initially promised, but came pretty darn close. The disappointment in the change of specification lead some to dismiss the XJ220 as a failure, but it was still the fastest thing on the road until another British supercar (in the form of the McLaren F1) took its place at the pinnacle of automotive bragging rights. Two decades later, Jaguar quite nearly drove down the same road when its initial plans for the C-X75 changed from an experimental turbine powertrain to a multi-charged inline-four. Only this time the Leaping Cat marque didn't put it into production at all, save for a few prototypes and movie props – which is a bit of a shame, and then some. Watching Jay speed down memory lane in the supercar that almost never was, we're glad that Jaguar still built the XJ220, and saddened that it never followed up with another groundbreaking supercar today. Related Video:

Jaguar recalls 7k F-Types for two seperate issues with electrical system

Jaguar is the latest automaker to join in on the recall action from this morning, as the British automaker has announced steps it's taking to remedy two separate problems. The larger of the two recalls deals with an issue related to the seatbelt sensors specifically on the F-Type (we're inquiring with Jaguar if the recall pertains to the coupe, convertible or both models). According to the notice issued by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, "the seatbelt harness connector which connects the Seatbelt Tension Sensor (STS) to the Occupant Classification Sensor Control Module (OCSCM) may not have been correctly wired," which could result in the front passenger air bag remaining activated even when a shorter individual (child or adult) occupies that seat. As a result, the British automaker is notifying the owners of such F-Types manufactured between August 31, 2012, and October 22, 2014, to bring their cars in to their local dealership to correct the configuration of the harness connector wire. The second Jaguar recall addresses a wider range of models but a much smaller number of actual vehicles. It affects the F-Type as well as the 2015 XF and XJ sedans, but only 272 of them in the United States. In those affected vehicles, the Front End Accessory Drive belt, Power Assisted Steering pump pulley and the battery positive cable at the alternator may detach. Since those issues could increase the risk of fire or the loss of power steering, Jaguar is calling those few affected units in to dealers to have the requisite components checked, and if necessary, repaired. Details of both recalls can be found in the notices below. Report Receipt Date: NOV 07, 2014 NHTSA Campaign Number: 14V714000 Component(s): ELECTRICAL SYSTEM Potential Number of Units Affected: 7,079 Manufacturer: Jaguar Land Rover North America, LLC SUMMARY: Jaguar Land Rover North America LLC (Jaguar) is recalling certain model year 2014-2015 F-TYPE vehicles manufactured August 31, 2012, to October 22, 2014. In the affected vehicles the seatbelt harness connector which connects the Seatbelt Tension Sensor (STS) to the Occupant Classification Sensor Control Module (OCSCM) may not have been correctly wired. The OCSCM senses whether there is an occupant in the front passenger seating position, and the STS senses whether tension on the seatbelt indicates a child restraint is being used in the front passenger seating position.

Watch a Jaguar tow a man on skis to 117 mph

Jaguar wagons are fun. Skiing is fun. Combine the two, and you get the above, which looks extra fun. Apparently there is a Guinness world record for top speed skiing while being towed by a vehicle. According to the video, that record was just under 70 mph. While we're not experts on high-speed skiing, that actually seems a little low, and so did Jaguar and Olympic skier Graham Bell. So Jaguar and Bell went to an undisclosed location in the Arctic Circle to break the record. Jaguar brought along an XF S Sportbrake, a 380-horsepower wagon that is now available in America (yay!). They hooked up a line to the back, Bell suited up, held on, and rode along to a final speed of about 117 mph, a full 47 mph faster than the last record. Frankly, we found this to be a pretty cool activity (no pun intended). We think maybe it should be considered for a new Olympic sport. Sure would be better than ice dancing. It could look something like the Bonneville Speed Week, with a big multi-mile stretch of snow to be towed along. Think about it, International Olympic Committee, you still have time before the 2018 Winter Olympics. Related Video: Image Credit: Jaguar Jaguar Wagon Luxury Videos jaguar xf sportbrake skiing