http://www.autocarmagazine.com/news_article.asp?na_id=214771
From the rear, it looks like a mazda 6. Ford really messed up Jaguar. They could have just fixed a few electric glitches and oil leaks from the old jags and gone from there. That's a really boring car.
I see the Aston Martin with its V12 or even the new small V8 as more sporting... The Jaguar more balanced towards luxury....especially with its six speed automatic as its only transmission. Aston Martins offer three different transmissions in its lineup of cars.. Jaguar...sadly ...offers only one... Now if Jaguar comes out with its 450 hp Dual clutch sequential shifter technology Jaguar XKR R thats been rumored.... All bets are off.
The next Jaguar XK will have to comply with new European pedestrian safety regulations. A more blunt front bumper is needed to comply. A high percentage of pedestrians die in Europe from car accidents and legislators feel that they have to make up for the mistakes of other people I guess. The new XJ is roughly 26 % bigger than the previous steel XJ, but the weight is kept down. The cost of tools, machines, and what not will be spread because the next XK will use the new XJ's aluminum chassis. The long-wheelbase 2005 XJ weighs 53 pounds more than than normal XJ yet is 5 inches longer. "The complete body with paint weighs 650 pounds compared with an estimated 1,058 pounds for the same car in steel, 952 pounds for a Mercedes-Benz S-class, and 955 pounds for a 7-series BMW." "Thanks to advances in planetary gearset design, the ZF six-speed automatic gearbox is 24 pounds lighter, 2.0 inches shorter, and has 30 percent fewer parts than the five-speed unit in the outgoing XJ8." for the XJR and Super V8... "Front suspension knuckles are also shaped differently from the standard model to provide adequate clearance for significantly larger brake rotors and calipers." - from The Inside Guide to the all-new aluminum Jaguar XJ by Automobile Magazine This link has pictures, videos, and more of the new XJ. http://www.keycast.com/keycast/jaguar/xj/USNewXJ_LWB/default.asp?ref=noref&detect=1&flashversion=7&jsenabled=1 here are pictures of the new XJ's aluminum chassis http://www.theraceforum.com/images/forum/2915-64-1.jpg http://www.theraceforum.com/images/forum/2915-66-1.jpg http://www.canadiandriver.com/articles/jk/images/04jagxjbody.jpg http://www.theraceforum.com/images/forum/3041-19-1.jpg http://www.theraceforum.com/images/forum/3041-25-2.jpg 6 speed ZF automatic transmission http://www.theraceforum.com/images/forum/3041-25-1.jpg Here is the 4.2 liter, 390 hp superchaged V-8 of the new XJR and Super V8. Jaguar's V-8 first came out in 4.0 liter form in the 1997 XK8. The 4.2 liter V-8 doesn't have the potential timing chain tensioner or nikasil problems of the 4.0 liter V-8 from the 1997-2000 XK8. http://www.theraceforum.com/images/forum/3041-21-2.jpg The 2005 Jaguar Super V8 weighs over 800 pounds less than a BMW 760Li. It is shown below. http://automobilemag.com/reviews/0409_jaguar_super_v8_h2.jpg http://www.theraceforum.com/images/forum/2915-46-1.jpg One thing that I notice about the Jaguar Advanced Lightweight Coupe that was shown at the 2005 Detroit auto show is how the tail tapers off like the current XK. New Aston Martins have that hard crease around the trunk/pillar that make it look more exotic. The Jaguar Advanced Lightweight Coupe shows what the next XK will likely look like. The next XK will have more passenger and cargo room than the current XK, but will be around the same size. It will have a longer wheelbase. It will drop a lot of weight while having a more rigid chassis. Here are two great articles about Jaguar and aluminum (They both mention a 2010 XK but these articles were written before Jaguar announced the X150, the code name for the next XK). http://wardsauto.com/ar/auto_jag_ponders_aluminum/index.htm http://subscribers.wardsauto.com/microsites/newsarticle.asp?newsarticleid=2728595&siteid=26&magazineid=1004&instanceid=5121&pageid=824&srid=10088 another article http://www.i-car.com/html_pages/about_icar/current_events_news/advantage/advantage_online_archives/2003/051903.html The link (http://www.sts.sae.org/servicetech/sep-2003/xj-something.pdf) no longer works so I'll post it here September 2003 XJ is something different: The new Jaguar sedan, with its all-aluminum monocoque construction, will provide some challenges for body shops and technicians alike. by Paul Weissler | Service Tech Jaguar says its 2004 XJ is the worlds first mass-produced, all-aluminum monocoque. But maybe you are thinking, Hey, thats just for the body shops to worry about. Well, there are things for technicians to realize too. Like any monocoque, including an airplane, the body panels form an important part of its strength. That means creative time-saving is not a possibility, such as cutting some little access panel in an out-of-sight location, then covering up the opening with some sheet aluminum and pop rivets. Interestingly, the XJ is not welded (well, it has a few, primarily for specific issues). It is built with 3180 self-piercing, high-strength rivets and 394 ft (120 m) of structural adhesive (a one-step epoxy). Because the rivets alone would provide a much stronger assembly than the 5000 welds typical for a car of this size, the overall result is belt and suspenders. However, the adhesive really silences body vibrations, and that is reason enough for its use. An old gag refers to a vehicle held together by its paint job, and there is a kernel of truth in that with the XJ. The aluminum body panels use a special alloy that is bake-hardened in the paint ovento 165°C (330°F)substantially increasing their strength (particularly resistance to dings). And the epoxy cures in that same oven. The new model is 60% torsionally stiffer than the previous XJ, but thanks to all the aluminum, the car is over 200 lb (90 kg) lighter, despite greater size. The use of magnesiumwhich is as strong as aluminum but 30% lighter stillfor the XJs seat frames and cross-car beam that supports the instrument panel and steering column also contribute to mass savings. If a glued/riveted panel has to be replaced in a body shop, Jaguar has approved a two-step epoxy that cures at ambient temperatures. Happily, the front fenders and front bumper structure are bolted on for easier repair. The front-end module is said to be able to withstand a 10-mph (16-km/h) impact without structural damage being inflicted thanks to its impact-absorbing properties between the front-end module and body shell. Made from injection-molded plastic, the bumpers of the new XJ are designed to withstand a 5-mph (8-km/h) impact without structural damage. Lift-off door hinges make removal easy if collision repair is needed, reducing time and cost. As for those few welds, the roof is welded on because it helps produce a cosmetically superior appearance at the four corners. And a few parts from outside suppliers include welds. More importantly, the 26 body electrical grounds are supplied by welded-on studs and nuts because the glue is not conductive. If one of these grounding fasteners ever breaks off or suffers irreparable damage to threads, a replacement can be welded on unless an aftermarket repair kit becomes available. Aluminum underbody components are fastened together with aerospace-grade epoxy adhesives and some 3,200 self-piercing rivets to create the new XJ's chassis. another article http://www.i-car.com/html_pages/about_icar/current_events_news/advantage/advantage_online_archives/2003/112403.html Jaguar uses magnesium for a cross-car beam that supports the dashboard and instrument panel. It is used with aluminum to create a lightweight steering column.
Because Jim the Aston looks stylish and classy, whereas this Jag front end looks barfworthy. Is Ian sleeping with Bangle?
You need to know the right people and wave the checkbook and they would do it. Alternately, there are outfits supplying paddle shifting transmission modifications for the niche market wanting more than a J-gate but this in itself is very small. Don't bet on the XKR-R or XK-RS bleeding into the model line up. Jaguar won't be breaking even until sometime 2007 according to projections...
Um, no. http://www.z3roadster.net/home_florida/renderImageAdvanced.asp?type=GalleryImage&subType=ImageData&id=1141 The next Jaguar XK will have to comply with new European pedestrian safety regulations. The next XK hasn't been officially revealed. Image Unavailable, Please Login
Whats your point? The BMW rears look ugly, and the picture of the XK8 that Tony posted in the first post, front looks ugly to me. I don't care what regulations are needed to be met, ugly is ugly buddy. To me of course.
I'd have to say it's an improvement over the current Camaro look alike model, but not as sexy as the XJS. That's the last true Jag. Agreed, Ford has screwed up Jaguar.
A more blunt front bumper will be needed on the next Jaguar XK due to the new regulations. The car hasn't be officially revealed so let's just wait for it. On another note.. Jaguar needs to drop the X-Type. The new XJR is a pretty sweet car. I'd love to drive one again. No other luxury car makers besides Audi is using aluminum (magnesium also for the XJ) to reduce the weight of their big luxury cars. Two XJRs http://fast-autos.net/jaguar/04xjr20.jpg http://www.robbreport.com/Articles/Wheels/2004-Articles/Special-Themes/Car-of-the-Year-2004/asset_upload_file817_7449.jpg Super V8 http://automobilemag.com/reviews/0409_jaguar_super_v8_h2.jpg Another XJR http://www.dandmbr.co.uk/jaguar/danjx350/danjx3505.jpg
