In a not-too-distant distopian future where roving motorcycle gangs run over innocent Aussies and hoard gasoline, the law will need a vehicle that can bring law and order to the British Commonwealth. That vehicle is the Jaguar XF Diesel S Pursuit Special.

Although this would seem the absolute worst time to in which to launch a new racing team, especially in the American Le Mans Series which does not draw like NASCAR; Rocketsports Racing (RSR) and Jaguar are partnering up to field an XKR to run in the GT2 class.  Despite the poor timing, the air does seems a little sweeter with a Jaguar back in the fold of the racing world here in the States.

Last time we profiled the Lincoln LS, a cruise missile for the Metamucil set. Today, we’re breaking out the cucumber sandwiches and tea cozies to decide whether the Jaguar XK8/XKR should rust away like the rest of Britain’s auto industry, or be fondly remembered as an object of impure lust.

Nate’s post yesterday got me thinking, and laughing, but more to the point, thinking about Clarkson’s comment on the Alfa Romeo Brera. He said, and I quote, “Think of it as Angelina Jolie. You’ve heard she’s mad and eats nothing but wallpaper paste. But you would, wouldn’t you?” The Brera didn’t leap out as a proper subject for that wonderful imagery, so I set about thinking of a suitable analogue. And it hit me (or rather, it drove by) – a properly sexy British granturismo, beautiful and wicked-tempered, with a knack for driving you mad. I’m talking, of course, about the Jaguar XK8 Coupe.

Ten years after Ford acquired Volvo, it is being reported that a possible sale to either China’s biggest privately owned carmarker, Geely Holding Group Co., or two other potential bidders is picking up momentum.  For all of Ford’s recent success in light of the economic downturn, the automaker appears to be willing to sell the Swedish subsidiary for less than a third of what it paid a decade ago.   

Similar to the govenment assistance of American automakers, the British government is in negotiations with Tata Motors and the two-headed monster that is luxury carmaker Jaguar/Land Rover.  However, much like here in the U.S., it is rough going for the automakers in completing a deal that would guarantee both short- and long-term financing.

In Part 1, we talked about the incredible luxury that awaits the driver of an ‘09 Jaguar XJR. But the luxury is only part of the story. To really understand this car, you have to look at the bigger picture.

 

Jaguar, as a brand, has been struggling under the weight of a poor reputation for decades. For the most part, they earned this reputation. Since the mid 1980s, quality control had been severely lacking, and their cars were regularly plagued with electrical gremlins and persistent mechanical faults. Ford, when they bought the company in 1996, began a complete reworking of the manufacturing processes, and quality control increased dramatically. By 2002, their cars were showing evidence of that work, but the platforms they were based on were showing their age.

Possible XJ replacement

Just as the last current model XJ rolled out of Jaguar’s Castle Bromwich factory last week, (in the very British-sounding color of “vapour grey” no less), the company is busy finalizing a thoroughly revamped sedan for 2010.  No doubt to the disappointment of many, the new model will be heavily influenced by the styling of the current XF.

Cars and music go together like peanut butter and chocolate, or, for our peanut-intolerant readers, peas and carrots. The automobile has been romanticized in song for nearly a century. In the early days of the automobile, audiophiles adapted home equipment to work on the road. In 1930 the Motorola 5T71 was introduced giving car buyers a factory-installed radio. Over time the capabilities of automotive audio systems grew to include record players from Chrysler in 1956 to cassette decks in the ’60s to CD players in the ’80s and finally arriving at the MP3 player capability offered in most new cars today. Throughout all of this one thing has remained: the alluring combination of cars and music.

Okay, kids, gather ’round. Professor Deadlift is about to give you a little lesson in automotive economics.

You see, I’ve worked out the real reason behind the sharp decline in new car sales over the last year or two. It’s groundbreaking new research, and I’m sure it’ll be all over CNN any day now, but you get to hear it here first. Aren’t you the lucky thing? Imagine how impressed your friends will be! Okay, listen carefully.

Everything that’s gone wrong in the past few years can be traced to one cause. Just one.