The Midland Automobile Club’s Classic Nostalgia show , showcased 80 years of Jaguar road and race cars.

The Midland Automobile Club’s Classic Nostalgia thrilled the crowds with a very special display of road and race cars to celebrate 80 years of the Jaguar name and its Le Mans successes.

Classic Nostalgia was supported by Classic Motor Cars, Jaguar Daimler Heritage Trust, Stratstone, and Jaguar Cars all providing stunning machinery displayed in the Paddock and in action on the hill.

A last minute delight was the appearance of Project 7 which in the hands of Jaguar’s test driver took part in the hill display with several very spirited demonstration runs in glorious sunshine. This was the first time the car had been back in road going form since 2013 when the concept car was brought to Shelsley Walsh for final checks and publicity shots.

Mark Constanduros, Commercial Manager for the Midland Automobile Club said “It was a great delight to see Project 7 back here with us, the interest in the car was amazing and after all the last minute negotiations it was well worth the wait.”

“I really appreciate Jaguar agreeing to showcase Project 7 here again at Shelsley Walsh."

There were other highlights throughout the weekend, including the demonstration of the Callum Mark2 Jaguar. With the help of Classic Motor Cars and Ian Callum, Design Director of Jaguar, the car took a single run on the hill on Sunday. There was a lot of buzz around the car with people giving it a close inspection.

“I have to thank Ian Callum very much for agreeing to have his car here as part of the celebrations and to run it on the hill” said Mark Constanduros.

“I have only ever seen it static and was very keen to see the car running, for everyone to see and admire.”

Twice during each day the sound of the Jaguar V12 rang out as the 1987 championship winning XJR9 took to the hill in the hands of Kent Abrahamson, followed by the Group 44 E- type of Bob Tullius and the Jaguar XJ220s. On Sunday the same cars ran again except for the XJ220s, but this time with the XJ12C in the hands of 5 time Le Mans winner Derek Bell and the Callum Mark 2. All cars showcasing Jaguar’s heritage in both road and racing.

Displayed with Stratstone as a static display was the Ecurie Ecosse C-type and an XKSS from Classic Motor Cars. The Paddock also had two Daimlers one of which from Jaguar Daimler Heritage Trust was the sister car to the one that ran at Shelsley Walsh in 1905, and ran at the Jubilee meeting with Rupert Instone.

Philip Porter, well renowned E-type specialist, brought the Italian Job E-type and the original

Geneva Motor Show car 9600HP. Philip was joined by Norman Dewis, Jaguar’s legendary test and development driver who carried out interview and autograph sessions throughout the day in front of Denis Jenkinson’s E-type.

The event also had the support of the Jaguar XK Enthusiasts Club (XKEC) and the Jaguar XJS Club with displays in the main display area with support from Jaguar Specialists SNG Barratt of Bridgenorth.

IMAGE CREDITS

1. Jaguar Project 7. Credit. Jeff Bloxham
2. Ian Callum Mk2. Credit Rob Macdonald
3. Jaguar XJR9 on the start line. Credit. Jeff Boxham
4. Derek Bell in the Jaguar XJ12C. Credit Jeff Bloxham
5. Group44 E Type. Credit Mark Constanduros
6. Jaguar XJ220s. Credit Mark Constanduros
7. Norman Dewis with Philip Porter. Credit Jeff Bloxham

Jaguar Land ROver issues statement in response to the Budget, and how it may impact on UK sales.

Jaguar Land Rover said premium automakers will be unfairly penalized by a new UK vehicle tax scheme that is expected to hit sales of large SUVs and big sedans.

Starting in 2017, drivers of cars with a list price above 40,000 pounds (56,000 euros) will have to pay a 310-pound supplement on top of the 140-pound standard annual vehicle tax.

Sorry, no white one available to reproduce :-)

Industry insiders said the tax hike will hit domestic demand for expensive cars. Besides JLR, the UK is home to high-end brands such as Bentley, Rolls-Royce, McLaren Automotive, Aston Martin, Lotus and Morgan.

"It sends a very negative message to the UK's premium automotive industry,” JLR said in a statement. "The UK should be proud of its premium car manufacturers, which support huge numbers of jobs and investment, not specifically penalize them."

The UK's auto industry association, the SMMT, said the new tax regime came as a "surprise and is of considerable concern."

The introduction of a surcharge on premium cars "risks undermining growth in UK manufacturing and exports," the lobby group said.

"British-built premium cars are in increasing demand at home and globally, and the industry helps to support almost 800,000 jobs in the UK. Leveling a punitive tax on these vehicles will almost certainly impact domestic demand,” SMMT CEO Mike Hawes said in a statement.

Colin Couchman, IHS Automotive's director for light vehicle sales forecasts, said buyers of large sedans and SUVs may now choose smaller vehicles, which typically that yield lower margins. This would affect the bottom line at a number of automakers. If the premium tax was applied today, it would affect 6 percent of vehicles sold in the country, Couchman said, quoting figures from analyst firm Polk.

Plug-ins to pay more

The government’s vehicle tax reforms also will strip away a key incentive to buy a low-CO2 vehicle.

Currently, cars that emit less than 100 grams of CO2 per kilometer are exempt from vehicle tax. Starting in April 2017, however, only vehicles that emit less than 50g/km of CO2 will be exempt from paying the 140-pound tax. Only electric cars and the most efficient plug-in hybrids will qualify for the tax break.

Today, the owner of a 56,545-pound BMW X5 plug-in hybrid SUV that produces 75g/km of CO2 pays no vehicle tax, but starting in 2017 that driver’s annual tax bill would rise to 450 pounds.

“The new regime will dis-incentivize the take up of low-emission vehicles,” the SMMT's Hawes said.

The extra money raised from the new tax regime will be used to improve the UK’s roads, the government said.

UK car sales reached their highest level ever in the first six months, hitting 1.37 million, according to SMMT figures. The country is the second-largest car market in Europe behind Germany.

Nick Gibbs

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Jaguar to surprise and amaze at Goodwood with a host of new cars and specials all on show.

• Enhanced Jaguar XJ to make world debut at Goodwood Festival of Speed
• New Jaguar XJR Rapid Response Vehicle for Bloodhound SSC to make dynamic world debut on Goodwood Hill
• Innovative new Jaguar XF to receive UK premiere on Jaguar stand at Festival
• First public appearance for production version of Jaguar F-TYPE Project 7
• Jaguar stand to feature Bloodhound SSC driving experience and live F-TYPE track experience for show visitors

In a year of exciting new product launches, Jaguar will give debuts to four new cars at Goodwood Festival of Speed 2015. The world premiere of the recently- announced, enhanced Jaguar XJ range on the Jaguar Land Rover stand will be marked by the debut appearance of a very special version of British marque’s flagship luxury car, the Jaguar XJR Rapid Response Vehicle (RRV) for Bloodhound SSC.

Jaguar is a technical partner of the Bloodhound Project and visitors to the famous British motorsport festival this year will see both XJR and F-TYPE R Coupé versions of Bloodhound SSC Rapid Response Vehicles take on the Goodwood Hill in spectacular style. 

On the morning of Saturday 27 June, the Jaguar XJR RRV will be piloted by Bloodhound SSC driver Andy Green.

Visitors to the Jaguar Land Rover stand will be able to try out the new Bloodhound SSC driving experience and take part in a live track experience of F-TYPE, accompanied by a pro driver. 

On the stand, Jaguar will present a number of firsts including the international debut of the enhanced XJ luxury car and the UK debut of the all-new XF executive saloon.

Highlights of the new XJ, which will be available to order from Jaguar UK retailers from this autumn, include the new InControl Touch Pro touchscreen infotainment system offering door-to-door navigation, seamless iOS and Android connectivity, Wi-Fi hotspot and 26-speaker, 1,300W Meridian Digital Reference audio system. The enhanced XJ will be available to specify with an uprated 3.0-litre V6 diesel engine developing an impressive 300PS/700Nm.  

The Jaguar RRVs will be joined on the Goodwood Hill by the first production version of the new F-TYPE Project 7, the exciting new 340PS, 3.0-litre Jaguar XE S, and a selection of Jaguar’s most iconic heritage cars including XJ13, Group 44 E-type, Long Nose D-type, TWR XJS and Broadspeed XJ12C.

Jaguar and Bloodhound SSC: Technical Partners

The XJR RRV is the latest creation of Jaguar Land Rover’s Special Vehicle Operations (SVO) division and follows hot-on-the-heels of the Bloodhound SSC F-TYPE R Coupé RRV, which was unveiled at the Coventry MotoFest. 

Jaguar has pedigree in Rapid Response Vehicle support to world land speed record drives, having supported Richard Noble’s Thrust 2 in 1983 and Andy Green’s Thrust SSC in 1997.

The RRVs will be used by the Bloodhound team throughout the high speed tests and World Land Speed Record attempts.  The XJRs have been modified to carry customised equipment, supplied by British bespoke emergency equipment manufacturer Angloco. 

Jaguar Land Rover SVO engineers removed the rear seats of the XJR and fitted a roll-cage and specially-made housings to accommodate the support equipment.

John Edwards, Managing Director - Special Operations at Jaguar Land Rover, said: “These are specially developed cars for a very special purpose, showcasing SVO’s ability to design and engineer bespoke vehicles to the highest possible standards. Equally importantly we’re proud to be playing a part in another great British land speed record attempt.”

The customised Jaguar XJR provides an ideal solution for keeping essential personnel and equipment close to Bloodhound at all times – the XJR has a spacious cabin and it’s 5.0-litre V8 550PS Supercharged petrol engine takes it from 0-60mph in just 4.4 seconds and on to a top speed of 174mph.

A video showing the creation of the Bloodhound XJR can be viewed here: 

https://youtu.be/9RS5ZCkQOhs

Jaguar Land Rovers SVR division to build its own stand alone cars ! Seems like its a possibility.

Jaguar Land Rover's Special Vehicle Operations unit may create its own cars instead of just modifying existing ones to build a following among consumers seeking a high-performance alternative to BMW, Audi or Mercedes-Benz.

"We're certainly looking at that, and we've got the capability to do that," said John Edwards, head of the company's performance unit. "Is there an opportunity for us to do a completely stand-alone car? Maybe."

JLR, which has been adding new vehicles to broaden its reach in the market, would be following in the footsteps of Daimler's Mercedes if it commissions sporty models from the high-performance division it founded last year. The German company's AMG unit has produced two: the SLS and the new GT, which replaced the gull-wing sports car last year as the top pure-performance model in the Mercedes lineup.

Like JLR's SVR project, in which the R stands for "race," Mercedes AMG, BMW Group's M and Audi’s RS units also make performance versions of their brands' regular cars, with more powerful engines, sporty design elements and track-tuned suspensions -- and higher price tags.

The strategy makes sense for nameplates with racing pedigrees, said Peter Fuss, a partner at consulting company Ernst & Young's German unit. "It's part of their genes," Fuss said. "The rise in AMG sales shows it's been a good way to attract buyers happy to spend that little bit extra."

Sales targets

Mercedes AMG sold 47,500 last year, more than doubling deliveries since 2011. That was about 2.9 percent of Mercedes's total sales of 1.65 million cars, a small but profitable segment.

The high-performance AMG version of the Mercedes E-class sedan, for example, comes with a 550hp engine and costs $93,600, 81 percent more than the 195hp base version, while the $222,000, 621hp S65 AMG costs more than double the basic S-class sedan. The M variant of the BMW 3 series has more than double the horsepower and, at $62,000, costs 60 percent more.

JLR doesn't disclose deliveries of individual business units. The performance division will probably never contribute more than 10 percent of the carmaker's sales, Edwards said in a March 3 interview. Itself a luxury unit of India's Tata Motors, JLR wants to boost its deliveries this year to more than 500,000 vehicles. Still, it's an opportunity to "stretch the Jaguar Land Rover brand," Edwards said.

Priciest SUV

The high-performance and custom cars division started selling JLR's priciest-ever SUV last month. The big, modified Range Rover Sport SVR costs 93,450 pounds ($142,500) and accelerates faster than the two-seat Porsche Boxster or Cayman.

JLR also put the new unit in charge of vehicle customization and heritage. Options for putting one's own stamp on a vehicle will be similar to what Ferrari and Rolls-Royce buyers are used to, Edwards said. Customization "is a huge area for our Range Rover customers," he said. Customers often spend an extra 25,000 pounds for one-of-a-kind features like matching the color to a handbag or another car, embroidering a crest on the interior or customizing the wood on the doors or dashboard.

The division is also building the Project 7 variant of the Jaguar F-Type. Capped at 250 vehicles, it will have the quickest acceleration of any Jaguar. And this month, it finished the first of six hand-built versions of the classic Lightweight E- Type. Even at more than 1 million pounds apiece, they've already sold out.

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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.”  

Jaguar Land Rover at Pebble Beach.

• Jaguar Land Rover debuted three high performance models at exclusive Jaguar Land Rover Pebble Beach Concours d'Elegance Kick-Off party
• Global debut of the new 550HP high-performance Range Rover Sport SVR
• Debut of U.S. production version of F-TYPE Project 7
• Global debut of the prototype of new Lightweight E-Type vehicles - the "missing" six Lightweight vehicles that were never built from the intended 18-car series
• All three vehicles are from the Jaguar Land Rover newly created Special Operations division, which will focus on designing and engineering high specification vehicles, bespoke commissions, heritage products and branded goods

Last night, Jaguar Land Rover debuted three vehicles at an exclusive event held at the Beach and Tennis Club in Pebble Beach, Calif., including the new 550hp Range Rover Sport SVR, the U.S. production version of the Jaguar F-TYPE Project 7 and the prototype of the new Jaguar Lightweight E-Type.

Joe Eberhardt, President & CEO, Jaguar Land Rover North America, opened the event before John Edwards, Managing Director of Special Operations, Jaguar Land Rover, and Director of Design, Ian Callum, took the stage to globally unveil the Range Rover Sport SVR and the U.S. production version of the F-TYPE Project 7.  

All three vehicles are from the Jaguar Land Rover newly created Special Operations division which, under the leadership of Managing Director, John Edwards, will focus on designing and engineering high specification vehicles, bespoke commissions, heritage products and branded goods.

The Jaguar F-TYPE Project 7 and Range Rover Sport SVR are both from Special Vehicle Operations - the engineering and vehicle division of Special Operations - while the new Lightweight E-Type is the first recreation from the Special Operation Jaguar Heritage team.

The Range Rover Sport SVR is the first Land Rover vehicle to wear the new high-performance SVR badge, and is the brands most dynamically focused vehicle Land Rover has ever produced. The Range Rover Sport SVR features a 550hp 5.0-liter supercharged V8 engine capable of accelerating from 0-60 mph in 4.5 seconds with a top speed of 162 mph* on track. Pricing for the Range Rover Sport SVR will start at $110,475**.

The first recreation from the Special Operation Jaguar Heritage team, the prototype of the Lightweight E-Type, was hand-built by skilled Jaguar craftsmen in a new facility at Browns Lane in England. Six customer Lightweight E-Type vehicles will be built and each will be assigned one of the remaining chassis numbers originally allocated in 1963 to the intended 18-car 'Special GT E-Type' project, of which just 12 were built. In celebration of the recreated Lightweight E-Type vehicles, Jaguar has also furthered its relationship with the Bremont Watch Company. Bremont will create six bespoke 'E-Type' watches, each of which will be offered to customers of the six new Lightweight E-Type vehicles.

The U.S. production version of the F-TYPE Project 7 is an all-aluminum, fully road-legal two-seater roadster with bespoke carbon-fiber aerodynamic aids and is the pinnacle of the F-TYPE range. Named to reflect seven Jaguar overall wins at the 24 Hours of Le Mans, F-TYPE Project 7 is inspired by the Jaguar D-Type which celebrates its 60^th anniversary this year. The F-TYPE Project 7 will come to market with a starting price of $165,000*** and will be available in two standard color schemes - Glacier White, a metallic white which is the feature color for the model and Ultra Blue, a metallic take on French Racing Blue and the signature color of the Jaguar Land Rover SVO team. British Racing Green, Ultimate Black and Caldera Red will also be available as optional upgrades.