Jaguar launches new Driving Experience for classic cars - beware of added charges though.

**TMW SAYS** - Please be aware that Jaguar will charge EXTRA for taking a guest (each person pays more) and there is also an "Administration Charge", none of which are indicated below - so, if you just want to take a partner, friend or relative to take pictures, they WILL charge you for the privilege.

• Following the recent announcement of its new experiential Jaguar Heritage Driving Experience, enthusiasts the world over now have the opportunity to drive historic Jaguar models from a unique collection of heritage vehicles for the very first time
• The unique Jaguar Heritage Driving Experience launches today (12 November) at the Fen End vehicle test facility, based close to the home of Jaguar Land Rover in the West Midlands
• A variety of driving experiences are available, from one-hour drives to half-day Le Mans 24 Hours race-themed specials, plus a full-hospitality ‘Grace and Pace’ driving programme
• Early participants at the Fen End facility will also be able to view the Jaguar ‘Perfect Ten’ selection of historic models, chosen by panel of recognised motoring experts 
• This new initiative builds on the very essence of what Jaguar Land Rover Special Operations is about, supporting a wealth of other activities, including the ’57 Collection merchandise range, investment in new facilities at Coventry’s Browns Lane and Oxford Road, the introduction of the Project 7, Lightweight E-type, Range Rover Sport SVR and more…   
• Jaguar’s heritage will also be showcased with a new display at the Heritage Motor Centre at Gaydon from December 2014
• Jaguar also announces a new 2015 Jaguar Heritage Challenge historic racing series for pre-1966 Jaguar models

Just three weeks after Jaguar Land Rover Special Operations announced the launch of its new Jaguar Heritage Driving Experience, the first customers of this pioneering new initiative are already set to take the wheel of a variety of significant historic Jaguar models over the coming days and weeks.  

This exciting experiential programme follows a variety of other activities for this fast-paced new division, including the ’57 Collection merchandise range, investment in new facilities at Browns Lane and Oxford Road in Coventry, the introduction of the Project 7, Lightweight E-type and Range Rover Sport SVR models, bespoke modifications, and much more. 

From Thursday 13 November 2014, the Jaguar Heritage Driving Experience opens at an established 200-acre vehicle testing facility at Fen End in Warwickshire, where visitors will be offered the chance to drive some of Jaguar’s most iconic and sought-after models from its rich product history, including the legendary Le Mans-racing Jaguar D-type, stunning E-type and Jaguar’s most potent sports car ever, the F-TYPE R Coupé. Details of the new Jaguar Heritage Driving Experience may be reviewed at: 

www.jaguarheritagedriving.com

Many of the vehicles in the new Jaguar Heritage Driving Experience collection will be available for members of the public to drive for the very first time, having been prepared for high octane test action following Jaguar’s recent purchase of over 500 outstanding British heritage cars from private collector, Dr. James Hull.

Jaguar’s ‘Perfect Ten’ – ten of the most important historic models from Jaguar’s history, selected by a distinguished panel, including design director Ian Callum, Lord March of the Goodwood Estate and AC/DC front man Brian Johnson – are being displayed at the opening of Jaguar Land Rover Special Operations’ extensive Fen End facility. Early visitors to Jaguar’s Heritage Experience days will be invited to exclusive guided viewings of this ‘Perfect Ten’ exhibition, installed at Fen End for a limited period following its recent launch at the Jaguar XE reveal at Earls Court, London. 

The Perfect Ten includes the ex-1938 Earls Court Motor Show Jaguar SS100, the famous rally-winning ‘NUB 120’ XK120, the celebrated C and D-type, the first Jaguar E-type of 1961, a 1968 Series 1 XJ6, and the 1988 Le Mans-winning Jaguar XJR-9. More on the creation of the Jaguar ‘Perfect Ten’ can be seen in this short film: 

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Evq7wcq09H0

At Fen End a variety of drive packages will be available for the Jaguar Heritage Driving Experience, allowing visitors to experience a particular era, or to journey through Jaguar’s history, right up to present day heroes such as the F-TYPE R Coupé. Professional expert drivers will be on hand to help advise and tutor visitors to ensure they get the most pleasure and excitement from their time at Fen End.  

Example of the driving experience packages include:

Jaguar Experience (ranging from £95 to £250):

From passenger rides to driving alongside a seasoned professional (including some recognisable faces from the world of motorsport), visitors can choose from individual models – including an XK150 or Mark II saloon – or selected pairings such as the Series 1 and Series 3 E-type. There’s also the option to drive heritage cars alongside their modern counterparts, such as an E-type with a factory-fresh F-TYPE.

Le Mans Experience (£750):

Re-live the experiences of legends such as Mike Hawthorn and Duncan Hamilton for half a day, with drives in the iconic C and D-types that dominated the world famous 24-hour endurance race in the 1950s.  This package will also feature drives in an XKSS and F-TYPE R Coupé, and includes lunch.   

Grace and Pace Experience (£2,000):

This is a full day of driving Jaguar Heritage legends, from post-war racers to sports saloons, coupés, roadsters and much more, including the new XFR and F-TYPE R Coupé models.  The Grace and Pace day will also feature opportunities to drive creations from the company’s Special Operations division, and includes chauffeur-driven transfers in classic Jaguar saloons to a lunch venue.

The facility at Fen End also features a new branded merchandise outlet - where the recently launched Heritage ’57 Collection is available to purchase. Full details of the new collection may be found here:https://shop.jaguar.co.uk/heritage

Jaguar Land Rover Special Operations Managing Director, John Edwards, said:

“This is the first experiential offering from our new division and is the first time in Jaguar’s history that we have made a collection of vehicles of this calibre available for ‘arrive and drive’ experiences.   It’s an extremely exciting new project that begins at Fen End today, underscoring the very essence of what Special Operations is all about – celebrating heritage with our eyes firmly on the future.”