First it was off to Northern California to Cole European, in Walnut Creek, Calif. and the opening of owner Bob Cole and General Manager Wayne Babcock’s brand new combined Jaguar and Land Rover facility.

They threw a fantastic ‘christening’ party for over 350 owners and friends with great live music, some terrific local seafood and great wines from the nearby Napa Valley.

Cole European has been a long-standing Jaguar and Land Rover retailer in the vibrant East Bay area for several decades and this new showroom in Walnut Creek is a true masterpiece of contemporary design.

Even though it occupies this tight triangular piece of property on North Main Street right downtown, it still manages to feel open and spacious, and does a remarkable job of showcasing our vehicles.

Two days later, I was heading to Encino just north of L.A. for the opening of Land Rover Encino’s stunning new facility on Ventura Boulevard.

Centre Manager Linda Terashita and the AutoNation team masterminded this bold makeover that included leveling the old showroom and the creation of a new, state-of-the-art facility that oozes contemporary style with touches of trademark Land Rover adventure.

Since our first Land Rover ‘centres’ opened in 1994, we’ve continued to evolve the look and feel of the facilities in-line with the modernizing of our Land Rover and Range Rover models.

So you’ll see more use of gorgeous natural woods in the showroom, a sleeker look and feel to the fixtures and fittings along with our trademark green tower on the outside and the inlaid compass rose as you walk in.

Land Rover Encino does a great job in its market, continuing to be one of Land Rover’s top five retailers in the U.S. and a repeat winner of our Pinnacle Club that recognizes outstanding retailer excellence.

Two retailer openings in two days is pretty impressive. I think it proves that even in times when the economy has been challenging, our retailers see the Land Rover and Jaguar brands as having real momentum, and are prepared to make significant investments to ensure our customers have experiences in showcase facilities.

It looks like it was a smart decision. In the first quarter of 2012, Land Rover sales here in the U.S. were up 29 percent and Jaguar sales were up 33 percent compared with the same period in 2011.

I certainly flew home from The Golden State with a very sunny disposition and a really positive ‘state’ of mind for our future.

This is the largest test-drive initiative that Jaguar has ever offered. Over the coming months, we plan to offer more than 20,000 new car buyers the chance to experience Jaguar performance, innovation, technology and luxury in this series of action-packed three-day events.

The idea behind the Jaguar ALIVE Driving Experience is to bring to life our new global brand direction and marketing campaign that we call ALIVE.

We’ll do this by encouraging attendees to test Jaguar’s 2012 model line-up of high-performance XF, XJ and XK models to their limits in several closed simulated driving courses.

And we’ll have many of our hugely-experienced Jaguar  Performance Academy instructors, like Davy Jones, Roberto Guerrero and Adam Andretti, on hand to accompany participants as they experience the cars’ handling, acceleration and braking.

Each participant arriving for their session will be welcomed at our Jaguar Brand Center. Here they’ll be immersed in Jaguar’s four key values - performance, style, technology and refinement.

After a comprehensive walk-around of our 2012 XF, XJ and XK line-up, they’ll head out on a street drive in a new flagship Jaguar XJ sedan.

When they return, the flow of the two-hour program opens up with the opportunity to take part in various track-type exercises.

There’s everything from a challenging autocross course aimed at showcasing the agility of the cars, to a skidpad where drivers can experience how onboard systems play such a crucial role in traction and stability while the car is at the limits of adhesion.

I’m pretty sure that for many attendees, the highlight of the program is going to be the demonstration of extreme acceleration and braking, when they get to experience Jaguar’s most powerful production car ever, the 550-horsepower limited-edition XKR-S.

For this weekend’s kick-off we’ll be transforming the massive parking lot at the University of Phoenix Stadium just off the 101 loop, for the first Jaguar ALIVE Driving Experience. In coming weeks, we’ll be at the Verizon Wireless Amphitheater in Irvine, CA (April 20-22), then at Dodger Stadium in LA (May 4-6) before heading to Dallas and the Lone Star Park (May 18-20). So far we have seven venues confirmed.

Our objective is to give luxury car buyers the opportunity to really experience the performance capability of our award-winning model line-up in a no-sales-pressure environment. That’s what the Jaguar ALIVE Driving Experience is all about.

For sure, powering a 510-horsepower Jaguar XFR around an autocross course, or an XKR-S along a drag strip - with maybe Davy Jones in the passenger seat offering encouragement - is something participants aren’t going to forget in a hurry.

For a list of our planned upcoming stops and a run-down of the cities we’ll be hitting later in the year, go to www.jaguarusa.com/JaguarALIVEDrivingExperience.

Jaguar Land Rover rolls into New York City next week looking to make a big splash in one of the world’s biggest markets, writes Stuart Schorr, Vice President of Communications and Public Affairs, Jaguar Land Rover North America.

A strong and strengthening product line-up and a balanced global sales footprint are driving JLR's growth and financial performance. On a global basis, JLR is delivering financially – third quarter earnings for 2011/12 fiscal year were £559 million profit before tax. 2010/11 full fiscal year earnings exceeded £1 billion (£1,043m profit after tax).

Locally, Jaguar and Land Rover sales continue to be strong. JLRNA sales in the United States were up 11 percent at the end of 2010, and through February, sales in the U.S. were up another 31 percent. These strong sales have kept the United States as the largest market after the U.K. for both Jaguar and Land Rover brands.

At the New York International Auto Show, Jaguar will emphasize our performance cars as the U.S. is the largest premium sports car market in the world (ahead of Germany, U.K., Japan and China). The U.S. accounts for about one third of all world sales of the segment including the Jaguar XK line, the Porsche 911, Audi R8 and Porsche Boxster/Cayman. It is one half of the world market when you include the Chevrolet Corvette. Sales of the XK lineup in the U.S. have been very strong this year due to its new modern design and the buzz generated from the launch of the XKR-S models.

For the Model Year 13 XK, we offer a new Portfolio Pack with unique exterior and interior treatments, to debut at the New York Show. We also continue with the  550-hp Jaguar XKR-S for MY13 (there will be 100 of each available). The 2012  XKR-S debuted with an incredible response as it sold out immediately in the U.S. (100 coupes, 25 convertibles of each for MY12). Throughout the New York Show, Jaguar will celebrate its past, present and future of performance and sport cars. It's sure to be another great celebration for the brand.

In New York, Land Rover is celebrating its 25th year of selling vehicles in the United States. The year was 1987 when Range Rover North America’s dealers retailed their first vehicles. In those 25 years, U.S. drivers have become the largest consumers of Range Rover vehicles from Land Rover. Not to mention that New York City is the single largest consumer market as well. Over four days in New York leading up to press day, we will celebrate this milestone with an unprecedented Land Rover off-road "urban jungle" adventure in Chelsea.

At the New York International Auto Show, Land Rover will show a number of interesting products including its two newest concept vehicles, the Range Rover Evoque convertible concept and the DC100 expedition concept. Land Rover will also proudly show-off its newly restored 1987 Range Rover.

Follow us here at Interactivelandrover.com & Interactivejaguar.com all week for news from Jaguar and Land Rover at the 2012 New York International Auto Show.



 

This year's event was my first and I was lucky enough to be one of the judges, and was able to choose The Most Historically Significant Jaguar.

For me, it was such a big thrill sharing judging duties with some of my schoolboy heroes; legendary sports car drivers like Vic Elford, Derek Bell, Brian Redman and Hurley Haywood.

Part of the reason for me being there was to accompany our Jaguar C-X16 concept car. For two days I got to answer a million questions about the car, and in return, got some tremendous feedback.

What came across loud and clear was that people are really ready for a compact two-seater Jaguar sports car. They see it as very much a part of Jaguar's heritage – and is long overdue. I can’t tell you how many times I could have sold the car, right there and then.

We staged the C-X16 where Jaguar was holding its test-drive program. It was amazing; people could simply sign-up and drive off in our newest performance models - the 550-horsepower XKR-S coupe and new convertible or the 510-horsepower XJ Supersport and XFR.

Jaguar’s focus right now is to get people to experience our cars and to get them behind the wheel. The Amelia weekend was a great start, but in April, we'll take our show on the road with the Jaguar ALIVE Driving Experience, and 18-city U.S. tour to reestablish the storied British brand among luxury consumers in a new modern context. 

Of course I was out Sunday morning right before first light, watching over 300 cars glide on to the field. It was the most remarkable sight watching them stream into place.

I had some pretty stunning Jaguar vehicles to judge. I really loved the 1978 Group 44 XJS race car. Bob Tullius campaigned the car in the ’78 Trans-Am season, winning seven of the 10 races. I liked how current caretaker Gary Bartlett has kept it exactly the way it was - bugs and all - from when it finished the last race of the 1978 season in Mexico City.

It was hard not to fall for Sandra and Martin Button’s gorgeous 1937 Jaguar SS100 roadster. Sandra is chairman of the Pebble Beach Concours d’Elegance yet still finds time to enter their Jaguar in classic car rallies around the world.

But in the end, my vote went to the glorious dark blue 1938 Jaguar SS Coupe with its breathtaking aero body by Swiss coachbuilder Hermann Graber. It’s owned by Frank and Milli Ricciardelli and was a worthy winner of the Most Historically Significant Jaguar trophy.

Next year’s Amelia Island Concours takes place on March 8-10. You should go. We might even have one or two surprises from Jaguar for you.

Flip to national news on any of the major channels - ABC, NBC, CBS and Fox, along with everything from Comedy Central to the Travel Channel - and you’ll see our provocative new spot we call "Machines."

If you saw it when it launched on Jaguar's Facebook Page, you already know this is something unique.

The commercial opens with a striking visual collage of machinery of the past - an assembly line, walking robots and vintage presses. It then cuts to visuals of a Jaguar with a voice-over that informs viewers that this car is as alive as us.

What we’re saying to luxury car buyers is why buy a machine when you can own something that generates so much passion and so much emotion the moment you slide behind the wheel? A car that feels alive; a Jaguar.

Part of our media push will naturally involve NCAA Basketball. It’s a great media channel for us to get in front of some of our core affluent audience and quickly build awareness. You’ll be seeing a lot of the “Machines” spot during college basketball on CBS, TBS, TNT and TRU.

We also have a major digital presence this month as we look to surround shoppers with the ALIVE messaging. Our integrated campaign will be very much a part of key websites like CBSSports.com and WSJ.com.

This is a truly exciting time for Jaguar as we reach out to luxury consumers in a thoroughly new and modern context and challenge them by asking the question: How Alive Are You?

Of course there was one TV show we simply couldn’t resist using to showcase our ALIVE campaign - the season finale of The Walking Dead on AMC.

Be on the look out for our exciting new TV spot "Machines" and let us know what you think. Find us on Twitter and join the conversation #FeelAlive

 

In the coming weeks and months you will see communications from Jaguar that make the point that Jaguar cars are no ordinary machines and then asks the question of luxury car buyers “How Alive Are You?”

But this is much more than a bold marketing campaign. It signals a real change in direction at Jaguar and introduces a repositioning of the brand, along with a fresh way of appealing to the luxury car buyer.

“ALIVE” is the first step in getting buyers to notice Jaguar in a completely different way than before. The message here is that unlike some of our rivals, Jaguars are not cold, clinical machines. Instead, they’re something that touch the senses and fire the emotions; especially through their rich interiors and Design Director Ian Callum’s bold, sensuous designs - not to mention dynamic performance.

While the announcement of the “ALIVE” campaign came last week, here in the U.S. we’ve been building up to this moment for the past six months. Arguably, we hit the reset button last September when we re-designed and re-energized our Jaguar U.S. website (http://jaguarusa.com/) to be more intuitive, more involving and more user-friendly.

It took a couple of months for the effects to be seen, but it got into high-gear in December and January when each of those months saw, for the first time, our collective digital websites receive over a million “hits.” That’s a three-fold increase on what we’d been seeing before the re-design.

Then we gave a taste of our new advertising direction with the hugely-successful “Jaguar At Play” campaign, which was so successful right out of the gate, that in January, we saw more than half a million views on our recently launched YouTube page.

“Jaguar At Play” was always intended to be a segway into the new “ALIVE” campaign, but it has already proven to be much more as it has helped increase showroom traffic at our retailers and increased lead generation by some 40 percent since we started airing it in December.

Most important, that increase in traffic has translated into a solid increase in sales. December, January, February - each month has seen a boost in sales volumes compared to the same months the previous year. So far in 2012 we’re up an impressive 23 percent.

But for me, the real key to building this momentum is to get luxury car buyers behind the wheel of our 2012 XF, XJ and XK models. That’s why we’re embarking on our most ambitious test-drive program ever.

Beginning in April, the “Jaguar Drive Experience” will hit 18 cities throughout the U.S. and aim to reach out to 20,000 targeted consumers.

The fact is there are key features of our cars that our retailers just can’t demonstrate to their fullest on the public highway. That’s why part of the Jaguar Drive Experience will include either a track or closed area where customers - with a professional instructor alongside - can experience how technologies like Dynamic or Sport modes really work. That and 510 supercharged horsepower.

Of course, this is merely the start. We’ll be backing up the “ALIVE” campaign with a real product offensive that will see a raft of new powertrains, different drive systems and new models. We’ve already announced that Jaguar Land Rover is investing £1.5 billion annually to deliver 40 product initiatives for the two brands over the next five years.

There is a huge market opportunity, especially in the United States, for the Jaguar brand. The product line is as strong as ever and "ALIVE" gives us a clear brand point of view that we can all rally around. But most of all "ALIVE" is a point of view that gives us a mandate to shake things up, be aggressive and blaze our own unique path. I’m really excited about this new direction we’re taking and about the team we have behind the wheel.

 

For those unfamiliar with the “Standing Mile”, it's a popular motorsport phenomenon in America where basically, you get a measured mile and you accelerate from zero to whatever speed you can get to in that set distance.

With our refusal to adopt the metric system, we get to enjoy this resolutely British-American measure. Running the standing 1,609 meter doesn’t have the same ring as running the “M-I-L-E” (said with a gravelly undertone and long drawn out 'I')

We recently hosted a number of international journalists in San Diego, Calif. where they had the opportunity to test the Jaguar XKR-S on a closed military runway with 9,500 feet of pristine concrete.

After hours, I could not resist this once in a lifetime opportunity to launch the XKR-S down the runway for a standing mile run. With a military escort keeping an eye on me to make sure that I didn't engage in any tomfoolery, I ventured out onto the runway.

With the “TracDSC” program engaged, I leaned on the converter to just over 1100 RPM. The converter flashed into the peak torque band at 2500 RPM. With just the right amount of wheelspin off the line, I kept my heel to the steel. With TracDSC intervention, the street tires hooked by about the 60 foot mark and at just past 1000 feet, I hit an indicated 100 MPH.

You never realize how long a mile feels until you are standing on the throttle with 550 horsepower at full burn for about 30 seconds. As soon as the throttle closes on the big end, that perception suddenly reverses, and it occurs to me that a mile is not very far at all when you are covering over 258 feet per second.

The radar gun at the end of the standing mile clocked the XKR-S going by at 176 MPH, and it was still accelerating. At that speed, a mile goes by in about 20 seconds or 15,488 Feet per Minute. With this calculation floating in my mind, the voices of reason reconvened.

The intangibles of the experience reveal so much more than the numbers. The most emotive experience in this car is the sound; it’s the one thing that has left the biggest impression with me. The supercharger whirs assertively and the exhaust makes all the right noises. It is a blend of muscle car baritone and cammy high RPM rasp.

The intake and exhaust sounds were specifically tuned by a group of my coworkers in the British Midlands to maximize the drivers' auditory experience. The exhaust also features active exhaust valves, which open under load to bring out the full aural spectrum of the engine when needed and keeps everything quiet when it isn’t. For engine audio aficionados, the new XKR-S convertible makes that growling acceleration and burble on deceleration even more thrilling.

Going by the specifications numbers, the speed and acceleration presented by the Jaguar XKR-S is impressive in and of itself. On a human scale, the speed and acceleration are staggering but there is so much more to the car than that.

At the conclusion of our speed runs, we drove back to San Diego through the California desert and mountains. During this trip, the duality of this Jaguar became more apparent. Without any changes, the car fills a role as a comfortable tourer, returning to the cosmopolitan city. Though the speed gives allure to this car, it’s so much more than that. This is a car that has presence, and that is something noticed at any velocity.

To get a sense of the fun we had on the base, see the links below for some footage we captured of various high speed runs in the XKR-S.

This event was held under the supervision of professional drivers and took place on a secured military runway. Do not attempt. When driving on public roads, always obey posted speed limits, and exercise sound judgement.

Watch Roadfly TV's review of the  2012 Jaguar XF Supercharged.

We're thrilled to have the ground-breaking Jaguar C-X16 hybrid sports car concept headlining our show stand. It fits in perfectly with the theme of this year's show - The Next Dimension - where the focus is on new technologies and cutting- edge design.

With its new 3.0-liter supercharged V6 coupled with an electric motor and lithium-ion batteries, the C-X16 is fast and extremely fuel efficient. As for the cutting edge design, this is without doubt one of the most breathtaking concepts ever created.

We're also thrilled to have Ian Callum, Jaguar Design Director, with us for the show's press preview and the first public day, explaining his thinking behind the C-X16's sensuous lines.

C-X16 will join the full Jaguar line-up on the stand - from the redesigned 2012 XF, to the XJ, to the 550-horsepower XKR-S coupe. On our Land Rover stand, we'll be showcasing our new Range Rover Evoque, 2012 Range Rover Sport and Range Rover, as well as the latest Land Rover LR4.

The compact SUV market here in Canada is red-hot right now and demand for the Range Rover Evoque is very strong. Since the all-new Range Rover Evoque went on sale in October, it really has been a smash hit. It's just the right size for Canadians, and with our higher fuel prices - our gas right now is around $5.20 a US gallon - buyers love its highly efficient four-cylinder turbo engine.

We are also Jaguar's fourth biggest market in the world for XK sports car sales, and why over 90 percent of the XKs we sell are supercharged XKR models. With the XF sedan, the supercharged XFR accounts for 26 percent of XF sales.

When it comes to Range Rover, we sell every Range Rover Sport and Range Rover Autobiography we can get our hands on. With the new limited-edition Range Rover Autobiography Ultimate - at $188,000 Canadian, by far the most expensive Range Rover ever - we chose to bring in 10, and we sold each one of them.

Jaguar Land Rover business in Canada had a great 2011, with the highest year-on-year sales increase - 21 percent - of any car company. January was another super-strong month with our Land Rover sales up 79 percent compared to January 2011.

If you're headed to Toronto for the auto show this weekend, be sure to stop by our stand to see the latest from Jaguar and Land Rover.

In this month's feature, Joe Torpey talks about 'Jaguar at Play', reaching new customers in a digital world and the perks of being a one-time valet-parker.

1. So what does the job of Jaguar Communications Manager involve?

It’s certainly an all-encompassing role. Essentially, it’s communicating with the customer through pretty much every type of advertising - from TV to print, from radio to digital, from e-mail to direct mail. What’s exciting to me right now is finding ways to break through the clutter and communicate Jaguar’s messaging in today’s instantly-changing digital world.

2. What's your background?

I’m a native New Yorker, born and raised in Queens, and have worked in the New York metro area my whole career. I started off as a freelance writer for a local TV station then moved into marketing with roles at AIG, Bell Atlantic Mobile, then a four-year stint with Hertz followed by five years with BMW. My last position was director of digital marketing at LG Electronics.

3. What are you working on at the moment?

We’re on the countdown to launching a key new Jaguar brand campaign for TV, shining the spotlight on the 2012 model year line-up. On my first day at Jaguar, I was working on storyboards for our “Jaguar at Play’ campaign which focused on the dynamic abilities of our high-performance models, the 2012 XF R, XKR-S and XJ Supersport.

4. The 'Jaguar at Play' campaign was a pretty dramatic departure for the brand. What can you tell us about it?

It was our first major collaborative venture with Jaguar’s new in-house advertising agency, Spark44, and our first involvement with the highly-acclaimed film specialists, Bandito Brothers and Coyote Productions. It was an incredible three-day shoot that started north of San Francisco, then took us to the old Mare Island Naval Shipyard and ended in Long Beach. I think the result really shows the tremendous energy and excitement that’s surrounding Jaguar right now.

5. Tell us something we don't know about Joe Torpey?

Since I was a kid, I’ve always had an undying passion for cars. So how does a teenager get to drive some of the coolest cars out there? You become a valet-parker. At 19, I got to manage a team of valet guys out in Great Neck, Long Island and we’d run the valet parking at weddings and receptions. So every weekend I was driving Rolls-Royces, Mercedes, BMWs and, naturally Jaguars. I loved the old XJ-S. Apart from the distinctive style – I will always remember the great smell of its leather and wood.

 

On Tuesday, December 6, Andy Goss, President, Jaguar Land Rover North America and Chris Marchand, Executive Vice President, Operations, Jaguar Land Rover North America, honored those employees who are celebrating 25 years of service with the company this year, with a plaque at a special dinner reception. The employees recognized were:

• Bob Burns; 3D Experience & Events Manager, Land Rover

• George Delaney; Franchise Development Manager, Jaguar Land Rover

• James Gathercole; Port Operations & Logistics Coordinator, Jaguar Land Rover

• Donald Krumholz; After Sales Operations Manager, Jaguar Land Rover

• Edward Moran; Southern Regional Manager, Jaguar Land Rover

• Andrew Riccardi; Warranty Business Analyst, Jaguar Land Rover

• Scott Tucker; Service Engineering Support & Essential Tools and Equipment Manager, Jaguar Land Rover

• Barbara Wheatley; Market Manager (North LA), Jaguar Land Rover

In addition to celebrating the many years of hard work, loyalty and dedication of each of the honorees, the night was also filled with reminiscing as the employees shared stories of when and how they first started with the company. Although every story was unique and different in some way, there was one reoccurring theme… a love for the brand and a love for the products Jaguar Land Rover creates.

On behalf of the entire Jaguar Land Rover North American team, we'd like to thank these individuals for their inspiring long service with the company and wish them all the best of luck in the coming years!

From L to R: George Delaney, Barbara Wheatley, Chris Marchand, Bob Burns, James Gathercole, Donald Krumholz, Andy Goss and Andrew Riccardi at the Jaguar Land Rover 25 Years of Service Reception in Mahwah, New Jersey on December 6, 2011. (Not pictured are honorees: Ed Moran and Scott Tucker)

In the 30-second spot, we feature our very latest 550-horsepower XKR-S, our 510-horsepower XFR and our flagship 510 horsepower XJ Supersport, showcasing the cars as highly-animated objects, teasing, challenging and essentially playing with each other.

Most of the filming was done at the famous Mare Island Naval Shipyard on the Napa River 25 miles northeast of San Francisco in Vallejo, Calif. It has this remarkable collection of old buildings that provided the perfect backdrop to the high-speed, high-action driving sequences. We rigged each of the cars for sound to capture their exhaust roar as it echoes off the walls.

Renowned California-based automotive photographer Vic Huber, of Coyote Productions, directed the TV spot. We also commissioned an original score from Anthony Marinelli, who has composed music for over 60 films. As you can sense, we’re pretty proud of the end result.

While the spot debuted on the NFL Network during the Philadelphia Eagles vs. Seattle Seahawks game, we’ll also be featuring it on a whole series of sports programming along with local and national cable channels, including CNN, ESPN and Comedy Central. It will run all the way through to March.

We’re hoping this new spot will really communicate and re-affirm some of the key messages about our cars that we still don’t think enough luxury car buyers know about - their performance and dynamic handling, their agility, as well as the beauty of the both the exterior and interior. We're also looking to showcase our advanced technology, like lightweight aluminum construction.

More than that, we really wanted to capture and convey the heightened sense of life that a driver will experience when they get behind the wheel of our cars.

If you haven’t seen the spot, be sure to take a look: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ihW_l0hOm0U.

Maybe it’s the sunshine, or the fact that the vehicles all appear to be so spotlessly-clean? Perhaps it's that every luxury car looks great with palm trees and a Pacific Ocean backdrop? Whichever, I still am taken with our vehicles' road presence when I see them cruising down Rodeo Drive, gliding effortlessly through Beverly Hills, or quickly cutting through traffic on the PCH in Malibu.

It certainly feels a very long way from Coventry.

The Los Angeles market is massively important to Jaguar and Land Rover. We have our top-selling Jaguar retailer in the world, Galpin Jaguar, in L.A., and as you’d expect, L.A. is the largest U.S. market for Jaguar and second largest for Land Rover after New York City.

It’s the reason we place so much importance on the Los Angeles Auto Show and this year had such a major presence during last week’s two press days.

 

We kicked things off with a stylish pre-show VIP event right off of Rodeo Drive in Beverly Hills. It was a great evening with literally hundreds of customers, dealers, entertainment industry VIPs, and global media who came together to celebrate Jaguar and Land Rover's newest designs. Special guests included Jay Leno who stopped by to see the Jaguar C-X16 concept and Ben McKenzie who plays a police officer in the TV show Southland, and who will soon be seen driving a Range Rover Evoque on air.

A highlight of the evening was the global debut of our 550-horsepower 2012 Jaguar XKR-S Convertible, complete with a celebrity appearance by Hollywood actress Mila Kunis.

If ever there was a car designed for L.A., it’s the XKR-S Convertible. It's beautiful to look at, massively powerful and very exclusive.

Our press conference during the media day was a standing room only affair as media listened to top global management including Dr. Ralf Speth, Jaguar Land Rover CEO; Adrian Hallmark, Jaguar Global Brand Director; and John Edwards, Land Rover Global Brand Director.

 

In all my too-many-to-count years in the car business, I don’t think I’ve ever seen concepts receive so much enthusiastic and genuine praise, and so many calls to “build it!” We are listening and we know, if we do bring them to market, they are certainly going to look great in this influential market.

The first part of the program consisted of a ride and drive to two decidedly different locales. While one half of the media drove to the “Jaguar Land Rover Malibu Experience” which took place at the Rosenthal Estate and Winery in the Malibu Hills, overlooking the Pacific, the other half of the group drove to Santa Monica Beach to drive the Land Rover DC100 Sport Concept.

 

The DC100 Sport Concept was first shown to the media at this year’s Frankfurt Auto Show. The vehicle received rave reviews from media and public alike. The DC100 is intended to be a modern reinterpretation of the iconic Land Rover Defender, while capturing the adventurous, indomitable spirit established by the Land Rover Series 1 in 1948. The members of the media were invited to drive the DC100 Sport Concept, at a beach setting under controlled conditions, insuring that Land Rover’s long standing philosophy to “Tread Lightly” was strictly observed.

The members of the media were also invited to drive several other current examples of Land Rover and Range Rover products, including the all-new Range Rover Evoque.

The second half of the group drove to the magnificent Rosenthal Estate and Winery. There, media were able to drive the XKR-S Convertible development mule.

 

Clad in a coat of semi-gloss graphite paint, the XKR-S Convertible looked more like a Stealth fighter than a high performance luxury sports car. Used for developmental purposes, the XKR-S development mule was equipped with a full roll cage and competition-style seat belts to insure safety, should someone become over exuberant during testing. Here again, members of the media were provided with a range of Jaguar and Land Rover products to sample as well.

Both the DC100 and the DC100 Sport Concepts, along with the Jaguar C-X16 concept car, will be making their North American debut at the 2011 LA Auto Show this week. The Jaguar XKR-S Convertible, which features the same highly efficient 5.0-liter 550 horsepower, V8 supercharged engine as the XKR-S Coupe, will make its global debut at a private sneak preview reception in Beverly Hills on Wednesday, Nov 16^, and will be available for viewing by the public from Nov 18-27.

The two Land Rover concepts, DC100 and DC100 Sport are already stirring up online chatter as spy shots have emerged of our pre-show California photo shoots. These two concepts represent the beginning of a journey to develop an all-new Land Rover Defender in the future.  Whether that vehicle will eventually make it to these shores is still not determined, but it is certainly something the company is considering.

On the Jaguar side, its all about sports cars, which is appropriate given the fact that Southern California is one of the greatest sports car markets in the world.  Jaguar will be bringing two hot ones: the C-X16 Production Concept sports car and the "you better wear a tight hat" 550-HP Jaguar XKR- S Convertible. 

These four vehicles will come together at our press conference at the L.A. Auto Show press preview day on Wednesday, Nov 16, at 11 AM PST, and at a private sneak preview reception in Beverly Hills on Tuesday evening, Nov 15.  

-The Jaguar Land Rover Press Conference at the L.A. Auto Show will take place at 11am PST on Wednesday, Nov 16, and will be live streamed and available to view on www.interactivelandrover.com and www.interactivejaguar.com.

-All Land Rover images, B-roll and film assets will be available to download from Monday Nov, 14: www.media.landrover.com and www.interactivelandrover.com .

-All Jaguar images, B-roll and film assets will be available to download from Wednesday Nov, 16: www.media.jaguar.com and www.interactivejaguar.com.

From Chief Executive Magazine, this is the second of a two-part series on top cars for CEOs, Top Wheels, Part I: Five Cars for Work.

Your free time is limited. When you’re finally able to take a break, you want a car that’s rewarding and enjoyable to drive without the curse of exotic maintenance requirements. You’re not interested in clubby enthusiast-oriented wheels. You’re done with the Bentley, Bugatti or Maserati; you want excellence, not excess. In the second of our two-part series on top cars, we offer five cars that deliver on that promise.

The 2011 Jaguar XJ L Supersport is the car that the Germans keep trying to make yet can never quite carry off. Breathtakingly modern and yet with a sensuous style that recalls the fine cars of its past, the big Jaguar is almost more like a piece of sculpture than a mere car. And yet it has the soul of a private jet, breathtakingly fast and powerful, capable of whisking you to distant destinations with silent yet irresistible power.

Click here to read more.

The official announcement that New Jersey finally gets its own fist-pumping Formula One race in 2013 comes in just two hours. But I didn't want to wait. So last night I took my own "first drive" of the probable 3.1-mile road course in a Jaguar XKR convertible. This is it.

1) This is a new position within Jaguar Land Rover. What does the job involve?

It’s all about experiential marketing and the customer experience. It’s creating innovative, exciting opportunities for consumers to engage with our two brands. That can include everything from lifestyle events, ride and drives, auto shows and partnerships with other like-minded brands.

2) What’s your background?

I was born and raised in Germany, in a town just outside Dusseldorf. I came to the United States 18 years ago to study. After grad school, I went straight into the automotive industry. I had four years with BMW, then 12 with Mercedes-Benz, mostly in event management. I love this business.

3) What do you see as your biggest challenge?

Getting Jaguar on the radar screens of more luxury car buyers and increasing awareness of our brand. What I’m already discovering is that when we have the opportunity to put people into our cars, get them behind the wheel to experience Jaguar's performance and luxury; we can turn them into enthusiasts. I feel we have a huge opportunity here on the events side. It’s why key future Jaguar customer events will always involve a driving element.

4) Do you see opportunities to combine Jaguar and Land Rover events?

That’s already happening. At the Pebble Beach Concours d’Elegance automotive weekend in August, both Jaguar and Land Rover had a major presence - Jaguar celebrating the 50^th anniversary of the E-type, and Land Rover introducing the all-new Range Rover Evoque. We had hugely-successful test-drive programs for both brands.

5) Tell us something we don’t know about Natascha Wolber.

I am a passionate and adventurous traveler and a huge fan of the African continent, culture, its wildlife and people. I've been particularly fascinated with gorillas and last year enjoyed my first gorilla trek in Virunga National Park in Ruanda. It was a remarkable and humbling experience. I’ve also spent time in Kenya and Tanzania.

The C-X16 concept expresses dynamism, vitality and youthful spirit. It has sensuous design, cat-like agility and inspirational performance. The reaction since it's unveiling at the Frankfurt Motor Show has been incredible.

The C-X16 delivers driver-focused performance while inspiring an emotional connection and I want people to feel that and as soon as they lay eyes on it; they want to drive it.

The look of our newest concept is fresh, while also encompassing unmistakable design cues that remind us that this is a Jaguar; but reinterpreted in a modern way. The front grille is our new face and the tail-lamps are also clearly of Jaguar origin.

The most important thing is that this car has its own defined character; strong attitude and a really powerful presence. This is exactly what you'd expect from a Jaguar.

The interior of the C-X16 is simple yet seductive as it's lined in a bold red color. The interior is all about enveloping the driver in an architecture that's focused on control. It's about tactile technology and because it’s a Jaguar, the interior offers a sense of occasion combining premium materials with rich textures and understated elegance.

The C-X16 is a car that possesses a real sense of latent power, an energy, a real dynamic tension.  It’s a statement about the power of this brand to dramatically transform itself. This is a Jaguar at its purest.

Already we have released images of the Jaguar C-X16, a production concept signaling a robust future of design and performance for Jaguar and today we held a preview media event to unveil the brand's newest concept. To view the special C-X16 preview event, click here. 

The Land Rover brand kicked-off global excitement with the announcement of its intent to develop a new Land Rover Defender in the future, and got the conversation started with the Land Rover DC100 Defender Concept.

At the show this week, the pictures, and perhaps some surprises, will come alive as we show these products in Frankfurt to the world media.  Here is the timeline and coordinates for following us and getting photos and videos:

A live stream of the Jaguar Land Rover press conference from the Frankfurt Motor Show can be viewed at: www.interactivejaguar.com and www.interactivelandrover.com

We encourage you to check back to http://www.jaguar.com/gl/en/ & http://media.c-x16.com/ for additional Jaguar C-X16 Concept content and www.landrover.com/dc100 for DC100 Defender Concept assets.

Thanks for your interest in Jaguar Land Rover; we encourage you to share your thoughts on our social media channels:

Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/Interactive-Jaguar & http://www.facebook.com/interactivelandrover

Twitter: @Interactivejag & @Interactivelr

For Jaguar, the focus was of course celebrating our past (E-Type), present (XKR-S launch) and future (C-X75) and emphasizing our design and high performance credentials. For Land Rover, the focus was introducing the fuel efficient 2012 Range Rover Evoque and offering, for the first time, off-road test drives of the newest Range Rover.

Throughout the weekend, both Jaguar and Land Rover conducted hundreds of new product test drives at The Quail: A Motorsports Gathering, The Rolex Monterey Motorsports Reunion, and at the Pebble Beach Concours d'Elegance. A select group of consumers were able to get behind the wheel of the Jaguar XKR-S for a few hot laps at Mazda Raceway Laguna Seca, with driving legends such as, Davy Jones, Roberto Guerrero, Martin Brundle, and renowned Jaguar racer, Bob Tullius. Not a bad way to take a 550HP Jaguar XKR-S around the corkscrew.

Others took off-road drives in Land Rover and Range Rover vehicles as part of the brand's displays at the Rolex Monterey Motorsports Reunion and at The Quail Lodge, home of the Land Rover Experience Driving School. Led by Land Rover North America's Bob Burns, the Land Rover Experience Driving Instructors coached consumers on how to get the most out of Land Rover's Terrain Response® System. 

We were blown away by peoples' reactions to the new Range Rover Evoque all weekend. From its styling to its off-road capability, the compact SUV really resonated with the enthusiasts on the Peninsula.

Of course, the Monterey Automotive weekend is about heritage, and in that sense, Jaguar was out in full force. The Pebble Beach Concours Kick-Off Party at the Lodge was chock full of very special E-Type cars alongside the 12MY Jaguar XJ, XF and XK Lineup. A real show stopping moment that took place over the weekend was the parade of racing E-Type cars driven, via police escort, from Mazda Raceway Laguna Seca to The Quail: A Motorsports Reunion. 

Also, our friends at Hagerty Insurance held an intimate E-Type luncheon in Monterey featuring owners and restorers, including Gary Larson of Gary, Indiana.

The real highlight of the weekend may have been the Rolex Monterey Motorsport Reunion, where an 80,000 square feet diorama display highlighted Jaguar's racing history, including Le Mans, Group 44, and Briggs Cunningham. On the track, an E-Type race featured an unusual father-son race to the finish with Art Hebert taking the checkered flag in front of Bob Hebert. Both father and son drove 1965 E-Type 4.2 -liter convertible coupes.

 

In addition to seeing Jaguar cars at the ticketed events, throughout the weekend Pebble Beach attendees also saw E-type cars cruising Carmel’s famous 17-Mile Drive and stretching their legs along the Pacific Coast Highway heading towards Big Sur. We really have to thank all the amazing Jaguar enthusiasts for participating and making the weekend such a memorable one for the brand. A special thanks also goes out to JCNA President Dick Maury for organizing a media heritage drive and Mr. Dick Klise who let me drive (for my first time) his gorgeous E-Type Roadster on 17-Mile Drive.

 

 

Ending the weekend in graceful style as always was Sunday’s Pebble Beach Concours d’Elegance where three of the most significant E-Type cars in the world were showcased. Jaguar Cars' Design Director Ian Callum presented a one-of-a-kind specially made Jaguar trophy to Stefan Ziegler for his 1960 Jaguar E2A Race Car. In addition to winning the Jaguar Cup, Ziegler's 1960 Jaguar E2A was also an honoree in the Class O-1 Postwar Sports Open Category.

 

The day capped off a weekend, in which we repeatedly heard, “Wow, Jaguar is everywhere this weekend.” The feedback we got from the Pebble Beach ‘crowd’ of automotive aficionados, collectors, luxury car buyers and opinion-formers, was that they approve of the path Jaguar is taking with its beautiful, fast cars.

 

 

Only at Pebble Beach would you have people take a look at C-X75 and ask the question: “So when can I buy one?” And mean it.

The Jaguar brand has always been about great design, great performance, and the people behind the brand. Over the Monterey Automotive weekend, all three were front and center at the greatest automotive celebration in the world. It was very cool to be a part of it.

It was a gorgeous Carmen Red 1965 E-type Series 1 coupe with delightful 22-year-old Los Angeles student Toni Avery behind the wheel.

Toni and her father Ron had been invited by Jaguar to be part of the Pebble Beach 50^th Anniversary E-type celebrations, displaying their prized Jaguar at key events during the weekend.

It was Toni, in fact, who did most of the driving duties; giving Jaguar-invited media rides in the car along Carmel’s famous 17-mile Drive, taking the car to Jaguar’s Thursday night kick-off party and, on Saturday (Aug. 20), powering it around the Mazda Raceway Laguna Seca track in a parade of E-type vehicles.

“It’s such a special car to drive. Although it’s 46 years old, it feels very modern in the way it performs and handles. Sitting behind that wood steering wheel and looking out over that amazing hood, you really feel part of the car,” says Toni.

Toni’s father bought the E-type in 2002 and she helped him work on it. “It was mostly cleaning and polishing.” Toni added.

One day while Ron was out driving, a SUV ploughed into the Jaguar demolishing most of the front end. He decided there and then that the E-type should have a complete restoration. Six years later, it was back and better than new.

Since then the Jaguar has won numerous car show awards and has been the subject of a host of magazine articles.

“E-type cars have a special place in our family. My father grew-up with E-type cars – my grandfather owned a 1963 3.8 coupe and then a 1965 4.2 coupe. Now I’m sharing that experience with my father,” explains Toni.

Some of the most-prized E-type models in the world, including the famous 1961 Geneva and New York Auto Show cars, were lined up in the courtyard of The Beach & Tennis Club at The Lodge at Pebble Beach for Jaguar's traditional Thursday night Pebble Beach Kick Off Party.

"What better way to celebrate the 50th anniversary of the E-type than by bringing together some of the most gorgeous, most significant examples," said Jaguar Design Director, Ian Callum.

Guests, who included Pebble Beach judges and concours entrants, industry executives, Jaguar club members and media, were able to get an up-close look at cars like the famous 1959 E2A prototype that inspired the E-type, the thundering green-and-white 1974 Group 44 racing Series 3 V12, plus a line-up of owner E-type cars.

"Our annual event here at Pebble Beach is such a great way to kick-off an important event in the automotive calendar," said David Pryor, Brand Vice President, Jaguar North America. "Jaguar has a major presence at Pebble Beach and at the Rolex Monterey Motorsports Reunion this weekend, and the Jaguar Pebble Beach Kick Off party is really the start of all the action."

The event wasn't just a celebration of Jaguar's heritage; it was also a look towards its future. On display was the stunning new Jaguar C-X75 hybrid supercar, which debuted at this year's Paris Auto Show, and is now due to go into production within the next two years.

There is no doubt that affluent automotive aficionados will descend on the Monterey Peninsula this weekend to attend no less than 15 different events. They come to see, race and sometimes purchase history's greatest examples of automotive design and performance as part of the Monterey Automotive Weekend at Pebble Beach, writes Stuart Schorr, Vice President of Communications & Public Affairs, Jaguar Land Rover North America.

Certainly, vehicles like the Jaguar E-Type will be widely celebrated, but a sizeable aspect of that experience is witnessing the newest, destined to be classic, automobiles on the marketplace today. Major global automotive brands, typically luxury-focused, seek to tap into visitors' clear appreciation for product excellence.

Throughout the weekend's events, there are dramatic new vehicle displays, public and private test drive opportunities and plenty of customer hospitality.

For Jaguar, displays and test drives will highlight the 2012 Model Year lineup with the XJ and the redesigned XF and XK models, including the newest Jaguar, the 550-hp XKR-S.

For Land Rover, it’s the full lineup, with a special focus on giving many consumers their first look, and drive, of the new fuel-efficient Range Rover Evoque.

Both brands will be presented to the public, on display and with test drives, at The Quail: A Motorsports Gathering, The Rolex Monterey Historic Reunion, and of course on Peter Hay Hill at the Pebble Beach Concours d'Elegance. Further, in a nod to the future, the Jaguar C-X75 will surely be a show stopper on the Pebble Beach Concours Concept Car lawn.

For Jaguar Land Rover, the Monterey Automotive Weekend is one of the most important new car marketing activities of the year. We think, for the attendees, it's one of the best opportunities to see what's out there in the classic, and destined to be classic, automotive world.

You might have seen the video of me at the new Portimao race track in Portugal where we did our global media event, or Jay Leno putting in some hot laps at the Nurburgring.

While the XKR-S is the most track-focused car we’ve ever built, for me it can be even more involving to drive it on a fast, demanding, two-lane country road.

In developing this new Jaguar XKR-S, what we made sure we never lost was the duality we try to build into every Jaguar, whether sports car or sedan.

This is the ability to combine huge levels of performance with real refinement. With the XKR-S, we’ve extended its track capability, without throwing away its everyday drivability or legendary Jaguar ride comfort.

Here is a car that can transport a driver in relaxed comfort and quiet, from the UK to the legendary Nürburgring, go out and lap the fabled 13-mile Nordschleife in less than eight minutes, then cruise home.

Everyone knows about the Nordschleife, the fabled northern loop of the ’Ring that Jackie Stewart once dubbed ‘The Green Hell.’ In the media especially, it’s become the new performance yardstick. To drive it fast is a real test for any car or driver.

But while Jaguar has its own test center right at the Nürburgring track, you’ll find that most of our development work is done on the challenging, usually rain-soaked, driving roads in the nearby Eifel countryside, or the mountains of North Wales.

Of course, the beauty of the XKR-S is the way it lays down its power. While everyone focuses on the 550-horsepower it offers, arguably much more relevant is the 502 lb-ft of torque delivered by its supercharged 5.0-liter AJ-V8.

It means you don’t need to extend the revs to cover ground extremely quickly. You can short-shift using the paddle shifters and still go very fast. If the roads are wet, it allows you to take a higher gear and not break traction.

Try not to focus too hard on that 0-to-60mph time of 4.2 seconds. More impressive, and a clearer measure of the car’s sensational performance, is that 0-to-100mph time of 8.9 seconds.

Yes, it would have been easy to have increased the car’s track focus and turned it into a more hard-edged sports car, but that’s not what a Jaguar is about.

So while our new Jaguar XKR-S feels right at home fast-lapping a racetrack, I think you’ll be even more impressed with the way it gets you from point A to point B.

By Andrew Del-Colle

Beauty may be in the eye of the beholder, but some things are aesthetically pleasing no matter who's looking–a freshly manicured baseball field, a perfectly poured Guinness and, of course, the Jaguar E-Type. First unveiled at the 1961 Geneva auto show, the Jaguar E-Type shocked the world and quickly catapulted to iconic status. Its drool-inducing design helped sell more than 70,000 cars from 1961 to 1975. The fact that it went faster than a Ferrari for half the price didn't hurt, either.

Read more: What Makes the Jaguar E-Type So Pretty? - Popular Mechanics

 

To watch the video, click here.

Well, we just conquered the 12.9-mile Nurburgring (well, at least finished it) in Jaguar's 2012 XKR-S and its 550 horsepower. The $132,000 sports car reaches 0-60 in 4.3 sec and has a 186 mph top speed. Nürburgring, built in 1927 by the German government, is an absolute work of art; think of it as a motorsports amusement park. Jay Leno was our special guest and neophyte at Nürburgring.

To watch, click here.

After the morning warm-up sessions, the program of 12 separate featured races began at 10:00 a.m. with the temperature and high humidity making it feel like it was 104 degrees. The first race to roll off was the GT and Production Car group for cars up to 1972, a mixture of cars from England, Italy, Germany, Sweden and Japan.

"That is the beauty and the allure that is Vintage racing," according to Brian Redman, whose resume includes a 16 out of 17 win record in an E-Type and who has been hosting the Road America event since the early 1990's. "In one Vintage racing weekend, you see everything from humble Minis to Formula One cars from the ‘Golden Era' to some of the fastest Jaguar E-Type cars I have ever seen. It is really quite amazing."

An added treat for several lucky spectators, who were drawn by lot, were "hot laps" in either a 2011 Jaguar XJ and a Jaguar XKR, driven by Jaguar R Performance Academy instructors, including Le Mans winner and former IMSA GTP champion Davy Jones. The twin Liquid Silver Metallic Jaguar cars headed out between every session to show the lucky passengers the fast line around Road America.

At 2:00 p.m., 10 E-Type cars rolled down pit lane for the very first race of the Jaguar North American Challenge. The field, which consisted of Series I, Series II and Series III Jaguar E-Type cars, growled up the front strait where B. J. Colaric, General Manager, Sales Operations for Jaguar Cars North America, threw the green and the race was on.

Immediately, Farrell Preston in his 1964 E-Type Convertible, and Larry Ligas in his similar 1968 E-Type began what one observer called "one heck of a race."

Almost immediately, a group of three cars drew slightly away from the pack when Preston and Ligas were joined by the 1971 Series III V-12 E-Type of Max Heilman. With 4.048 miles of race track, there was plenty of time and room for the lead group to mix it up, and while there was separation between the front runners and the rest of the field, the racing in mid-pack was tough, but clean.

During the course of the six-lap race, the lead changed nine times, sometimes more than once a lap. Each corner found the then leader under pressure from both the second and third place cars. After four laps, the Max Heilman's Series III car fell slightly off the pace, holding on to a relatively comfortable third.

The crowd could sense that the last lap, perhaps even the last corner, would hold the key to who won the inaugural round of the Jaguar North American Challenge.

The crowd proved to be right. As the two cars came around the last turn to head on to the long front straight, Ligas passed Preston and then the two hammered their way up the straight toward the checkered flag. One of the characteristics of Road America's front straight is that it runs uphill before leveling off before diving in to turn one. After the cars go through the last turn, they disappear for a few seconds before they reappear, thirty yards before the start/finish line.

When they re-appeared, Preston had out-dragged Ligas and took the lead, finishing an incredible .04 of a second ahead as they crossed the start/finish line virtually side by side.

Put it in the book - the first race of the Jaguar North American Challenge was a "real barn-burner", as they say in rural Wisconsin. The series has its' first winner and it's now on to Laguna Seca for the next race, part of the Monterey Motorsports Reunion on August 19th to the 21st.

Top 10 Finishers

All photos by Pete Klinger

In 1955, a local highway engineer named Clif Tufte, carved Road America out of a large pasture, just a few miles South of Elkhart Lake. From 1950 to 1954, sports car races were run on the local roads under supervision of the State Police and the Chicago Region of the SCCA. When an eight-year old spectator was killed in a similar street race at Watkins Glen, NY, open road racing came to an end in most of the U.S.

The first purpose-built race track in the U.S., Road America has been host to every form of racing from Sports Prototypes, to Indy Cars to NASCAR Stockers. This weekend, Road America is playing host to one of the top Vintage Racing events in North America, The Kohler International Challenge with Brian Redman.

Road America is also the location for the first leg of the Jaguar North American Challenge Series, part of the year-long global celebration of the 50th anniversary of the introduction of the E-Type. The series consists of three races for Jaguar E-Type vintage race cars including a points championship specifically for racing E-Type cars. The E-Type championship trophy, along with The Spirit of Jaguar and Drivers Choice Awards, will be presented at the season finale at Lime Rock Park in Conn., at the track’s Historic Festival 29 Presented by Jaguar, over Labor Day weekend.

The crowd, estimated to be in the range of 46,000+, made sure the Jaguar new car display area, which was right after the entrance to the Road America Paddock, was busy all weekend.

"Between Friday and Saturday we had more than 110 people sign up for a chance to take a ‘Hot Lap’ with one of our Jaguar R Performance Driving Academy instructors, including Le Mans winner and Jaguar IMSA GTP champion, Davy Jones," said Jason Debski, manager of the display.

Headlining the display were two Jaguar XKR Black Packs. Also on display were the Jaguar XJ and Jaguar XF. Interspersed among the eye-catching new cars were prime examples of Jaguar heritage, which included the Huffaker Jaguar V-12 Series III E-Type, driven in the early 70’s by the late Lee Mueller, which along with the Group 44 Jaguar V-12 Series III E-Type driven by Bob Tullius, took on all comers with the Group 44 car taking the National Championship in the B-Production class in 1974. On Sunday, the Group 44 Jaguar XJR-5 joined the group.

"This has been an extraordinary weekend so far, and we are just getting started," says George Bruggenthies, President and General Manager of Road America. "We have over 460 race cars here; 300 Concours participants and about 500 cars that will participate in the tour around Road America, where they get to drive on the track, but at low speeds. That’s about 1,260 cars all tolled, which has to be a record," he added.

Another highlight of the event were the E-Type vehicles that took part in the Jaguar North American Challenge Series race with 10 cars covering the entire range of E-Type models from 1962 through 1974, including the 1964 Briggs Cunningham E-Type competition Coupe from the Collier Collection in Naples, Fla., and Mike Kornell’s magnificent recreation of the aforementioned Group 44 Jaguar V-12 Series III E-Type.

With 13 Jaguar E-Type cars entered in the inaugural round of the series on Sunday, this was the "main event" for Jaguar aficionados. Check back for race results in Part 2. 

All photos by Pete Klinger.

Here in the UK, the fuel-sipping capabilities of our brand new XF 2.2 have just been put to the test with a drive from the Jaguar Castle Bromwich plant, where the XF is built, to Munich in Southern Germany.

With David Madgwick, an independent car tester behind the wheel, and his brother Alexander doing the navigating, the XF 2.2 covered exactly 816 miles on a single tankful.

That works out at a hugely-impressive 47.5 mpg in US gallons.

We wanted this to represent real-world driving, so rather than hyper-miling at a constant speed on the motorway, the Madgwicks passed through four countries taking in a mix of winding country roads, motorways and dense urban traffic.

At this time, the combination of consumer and regulatory dynamics do not support us bringing diesel powertrains, like this new XF 2.2 to North America, but here in Europe, this new XF is a vitally important addition to the Jaguar line-up.

The all-new 2.2-liter powering the car is simply the most efficient Jaguar engine ever and a marvel of modern engineering. It’s a four-cylinder, 16-valve common rail diesel with an advanced water-cooled turbocharger, low-friction pistons, new injectors and optimized crankshaft.

To improve its fuel efficiency even further, we’ve mated the engine to the very latest ZF eight-speed automatic transmission and developed a new intelligent Stop-Start system.

The result is a combined daily commuting economy figure in excess of 41mpg (US) and CO2 emissions – a measurement that’s extremely important to European buyers – of just 149 g/km.

Yet despite its keen focus on fuel economy, this new XF 2.2 is a lot of fun to drive and, as you’d expect of a Jaguar, is exceptionally quiet, smooth and refined. The 2012 XF has also received significant changes to the exterior and interior of the car, emphasizing the bold and assertive stance.

With an impressive 332 lbs-ft of torque available, and the quick-changing response of that new 8-speed automatic, the XF 2.2 can sprint from rest to 62 mph in just 8.5 seconds, and reach a top speed of 140 mph.

Our entire Jaguar development team is extremely proud of what’s been accomplished with the new XF 2.2. And with a gallon of diesel in the UK costing roughly the equivalent of $8.30, you can see why we think our new XF 2.2 might just be a big hit in Europe.