1985 Jaguar Xj6 Base Sedan 4-door 4.2l on 2040-cars

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Weekly Recap: Automakers rethink the definition of luxury

Variety is the spice of life, but it's becoming a prerequisite for luxury carmakers in the ultra-competitive US market. The Detroit Auto Show was strong evidence of this reality. It's not enough to offer attractive and well-appointed cars and SUVs anymore. Luxury brands that want to be competitive need to invest in everything from high-powered supercars to clever hybrids. To be relevant, you need to be green and mean – and everything in between. As General Motors product chief Mark Reuss said after the reveal of the 640-horsepower Cadillac CTS-V: "We are not leaving anything on the table." He was speaking for Cadillac, but he might as well have been speaking for the luxury car market. The CTS-V debuted in Detroit about an hour after Lexus surprised showgoers with the reveal of the RC F GT3 race car and then announced ambitious plans to return to competitive racing. That almost overshadowed the fact Lexus had just revealed another potent addition to its growing F line, the 467-hp GS F. View 20 Photos But for luxury brands, it's not just about maximum horsepower for well-heeled enthusiasts or decadent amenities for the Grey Poupon set. Strong competition from all corners has forced automakers to refine and expand their lineups in ways unforeseen even a few years ago. Case in point: Mercedes-Benz finally has an answer to the BMW X6, rolling out the GLE coupe in Detroit. The X6, which blends coupe-like styling cues with some of the functionality of an SUV, debuted in 2008. Back then it was a punchline, but seven years and more than 260,000 sales later, the X6's success has compelled Benz to respond. Mercedes – one of the strongest proponents of diesel technology – also debuted the C350 plug-in hybrid sedan, which promises a range of 20 miles on electricity, though fuel economy figures were not announced. The car pairs Mercedes' well-received 208-hp turbocharged four-cylinder with an electric motor for total output of 275 hp and 443 pound-feet of torque. Meanwhile, Infiniti will add the Q30 hatchback to its lineup by the end of the year, new president Roland Kruger reiterated in Detroit. It's expected to be joined by a crossover variant, and the additions will help strengthen Infiniti in the United States and abroad. "While we're expanding our product line, we're also expanding our market reach," he said. That's something echoed by Jaguar executives, who are preparing to launch the brand's first crossover, the F-Pace, in 2016.

2016 Jaguar XJ sedan revealed

Jaguar has been steadily updating its sedan lineup, launching the entry-level XE and a new version of the mid-range XF – and now it's revealed an refreshed version of its flagship XJ. A facelifted version of the existing model (which was first launched in 2009 and arrived in the US in 2011), the 2016 Jaguar XJ benefits from a few key enhancements to keep it current. The principal visual updates revolve around the exterior lighting, which now includes full LED headlights, new daytime running lights and redesigned LED tail lights. There are new oval exhaust tips as well, but some of the most vital updates have been carried out inside. The refreshed interior includes a new InControl Touch Pro touchscreen infotainment system, with multi-touch control and backed up by a 60-gig solid-state hard drive. A new 17-speaker Meridian sound system comes standard, and the instrument cluster has been redesigned as well. The XJ also benefits from Jaguar's All-Surface Progress Control system and a raft of driver assistance features. Rear-drive models also get a new electric power-assisted steering rack and semi-automated parking system. Between engine options, drivetrain choices, wheelbase lengths, and trim levels, the updated XJ continues to offer an array of configurations – and Jaguar has worked to further differentiate them from one another. The base model carries the 340-horsepower, 3.0-liter, supercharged V6 and can be specified with rear- or all-wheel drive. There are regular and long wheelbase versions, and in R-Sport and Portfolio trim lines (the former now coming standard in the shorter car). Though the entire range is supercharged, the model designated as the XJ Supercharged packs a 470-hp version of the company's celebrated 5.0-liter force-fed V8, while the performance flagship XJR packs the same engine but with 550 hp (once again in either wheelbase) and now comes standard with the Black Pack. The 2016 Jaguar XJ is slated to reach US showrooms this fall. The updates will surely go a long way towards keeping Coventry's flagship sedan in the game for longer until an all-new model is ready. The question is whether these updates will be enough to keep the XJ competitive against the newer BMW 7 Series, Mercedes S-Class, and Maserati Quattroporte. Or for that matter with the Audi A8 that's just as old but was also recently refreshed, or the Lexus LS that's been around for longer with similar updates along the way.

Jaguar C-X17 resurfaces in China with gold finish, five-seat cabin [w/video]

Some concept cars make the rounds of the auto shows and are then retired. But a number of automakers are showing that a fresh coat of paint can go a long way towards rejuvenating a show car and giving it a new lease on life - at least as far as the auto show circuit is concerned. Lexus did that recently with the LF-LC concept, initially unveiling it in red at the 2012 Detroit Auto Show, then repainting it a dark shade of blue for the subsequent shows in Australia and LA. Mini did the same with the Rocketman concept. And now Jaguar has done it again with its C-X17.
Initially unveiled in electric blue at the Frankfurt Motor Show, Jaguar then rolled the crossover out again in liquid silver for the Dubai Motor Show earlier this month. Now the concept is back again at the Guangzhou Motor Show in China with a fresh coat of rose gold.
Looking decidedly more luxurious than the previous iterations, this gilded C-X17 concept also bears another change: while the previous versions featured a four-seat cabin, this one has been redone with a more conventional five-seat configuration that more buyers would likely go for. It's also got a new interactive infotainment system and another system that warns passengers of pedestrians or cyclists approaching from the rear before they open the door. Check it out in the high-res image gallery above and the video clip below for a closer look.