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The first Jaguar Project 7 is the new kid in Harry's Garage

The Jaguar Project 7 is more than just an F-Type with a dab more power and a special body, and Harry Metcalfe (who advises Jaguar Land Rover Special Vehicle Operations, which built the car) is here to show us why. This limited-production model is something truly special, and despite Metcalfe's role with JLR it's hard to misinterpret the enjoyment in his eyes when the supercharged V8 roars. Metcalfe's Project 7 is number one of just 250 cars built and wears a British Racing Green body with orange accents around the nose, mirrors, brake calipers, and underneath the rear spoiler – classic sports car style with a little modern flash. His example is also special because the entire build team signed the area underneath the trunk lid. While the engine comes up to temperature during his drive, Metcalfe shows that the Project 7 can be a fine grand tourer, and he eventually puts the throttle down to let his audience here the sublime engine. Metcalfe claims the limited edition Jag actually has too much horsepower but he means that in the best way possible. Driving it reminds him of being behind the wheel of his Pagani Zonda – a fine compliment for a grand tourer to be compared to an ultra-exotic supercar Find out why by taking a ride with Harry.

2014 Jaguar XJR is large, in charge

There are few things in this world we love more than a huge, supersonic-feeling sedan, and Jaguar has just ripped the sheets off of its newest entry into that set of bruisers. The 2014 Jaguar XJR puts down a full 550 horsepower and 502 pound-feet of torque courtesy of a supercharged 5.0-liter V8. All that thrust lands on the rear tires through an eight-speed automatic transmission, and the big aluminum-chassis'd four door can sprint to 60 miles per hour in a skinny 4.4 seconds. Top speed sits at an electronically limited 174 mph, and Jaguar estimates the machine will still return up to 23 miles per gallon highway.
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The 2014 XJR also features stiffer spring and damper rates along with an electronically controlled rear differential. Of course, there are plenty of styling tweaks on hand to separate the most menacing XJ from the rest of the family. Those include new fascias, R emblems and massive 20-inch wheels outdoors as well as special seating and trim elements indoors. Asking price? That would Be $116,000 for the XJR and $119,000 for the long-wheelbase L version. Check out the full press blast below.

Jaguar Land Rover posts profitable quarter amidst big yearly losses

Jaguar has posted its first profit in quite some time, as the financial quarter ending on March 31 brought in a net income of $151.6 million. However, that is the light in the end of the tunnel, as full year results through March showed a $4.58 billion loss (GBP3.6 billion). The losses are again attributable to declining sales in China, with a whiff of the still-lingering Brexit process. While JLR's annual U.S. sales were up 8.1 percent, and U.K. sales improved by 8.4%, overall sales came down 5.8% to 578,915 vehicles. For April, Chinese sales nearly halved as they dropped by 46 percent. Earlier this year, JLR's woes caused its owner Tata Motors to post the biggest ever quarterly loss in Indian corporate history, at nearly $4 billion. JLR's CEO Ralf Speth stated that the company is "reducing complexity" and transforming its business by cost savings and cash flow improvements, citing the fourth-quarter profits as an example of the ongoing turnaround. Speth said JLR has already managed to deliver $1.59 billion (GBP1.25 billion) of efficiencies and savings. JLR says its turnaround program, dubbed Charge, will drive it to at least $3.18 billion (GBP2.5 billion) of investment, working capital and profit improvements by March 2020, and that it currently has $4.84 billion (GBP3.8 billion) of cash. Speth continued that JLR will "go forward as a transformed company that's leaner and fitter," and that the sustained investment in new products and technologies will drive future demand. There has been earlier speculation of Tata Motors selling JLR to the PSA Group, but as Autocar reports, Tata's financial chief again refuted these rumors. JLR also announced today that its CFO of 11 years, Ken Gregor is stepping down after 22 years with the company, and that he will be succeeded by JLR's Chief Transformation Officer, Adrian Mardell.