jaguar

A Jaguar with nine lives

Safety is always a priority for manufacturers, but Jaguar's XJ Sentinel goes to extremes. The luxury sedan can withstand B7 grade weaponry such as an AK-74 and up to 15 kilograms (33 pounds) of exposives detonated within close proximity.

The bulletproof Sentinel will debut at the 2010 Moscow International Motor Show, but don't expect to be blown away (couldn't resist)--its exterior is indistinguishable from the standard long-wheelbase XJ models. The difference is in the chassis that's been constructed from specialized high-strength steels with Kevlar backing.

The standard XJ has a 3,909-pound curb weight, while … Read more

Jaguar debuts limited edition XKR175

Jaguar is reflecting on its past as it looks toward the future. To celebrate its 75th birthday, the company is introducing a faster limited edition 2011 XKR175 at the Pebble Beach Automotive Weekend.

This birthday present of sorts highlights the brand's renewed focus on high-performance engineering and sportier vehicles that reflect its racing heritage from the '50s and '60s, says Jaguar spokesman Stuart Schorr. The limited edition XKR175 features a few aesthetic changes to the car's interior and exterior, and its modified engine management system on the 510hp V8 raises its top speed to 174 mph and drops … Read more

'Top Gear' tests for best drifting cars

While it has been fun watching Jeremy Clarkson of BBC's "Top Gear" fame test out fantastic rides for a thrill, I figured why not keep the fun going and bring on all the guys from "Top Gear"--Anthony Davidson and The Stig in this instance--as they try to figure out what the best car is for drifting.

In case you didn't know, drifting is "a driving technique and to a motor sport where the driver intentionally oversteers, causing loss of traction in the rear wheels through turns, while maintaining vehicle control and a … Read more

Jaguar XFR delivers stunning power, so-so cabin tech

Jaguar isn't the first name that comes to mind when sports cars are mentioned, as the brand is more heavily associated with luxury. But Jaguar maintains its own tuner brand, appending an R to its fastest cars. And even though the XF is the least ostentatious of its cars, it still gets the R treatment, which includes a 510-horsepower supercharged V-8 and high-tech active suspension gear.

And though the stereo sounds great, it's too bad about that navigation system.

Read our review of the 2010 Jaguar XFR.

Car Tech Live 160: Seriously: How badly do you want an electric car? (podcast)

Do you want an electric car? Survey says...GM turns the entire windshield into a head up display, hacker bricks 100 cars remotely, the first Android -based car is coming, and we rough up the smooth yet muscular Jaguar XFR.

Subscribe with iTunes (audio) Subscribe with iTunes (video) Subscribe with RSS (audio) Subscribe with RSS (video) EPISODE 160 SHOW NOTES

• Jaguar XFR review

• Consumers intrigued by electric cars

• Navigon lets you buy GPS in pieces, like the old days

• Car dealer's ex-employee accused of remote disabling 100 cars

• Aha Radio app streams more than just music in car

Car Tech Live 154: Could Toyota have had a worse week? (podcast)

A roundup of Toyota's ghastly week--yet that doesn't stop Tesla from tapping a Toyota exec to build its cars. Jag has a crafty new idea for hybrid power trains. And we take a ride in the love-it-or-key-it Porsche truck!

Subscribe with iTunes (audio) Subscribe with iTunes (video) Subscribe with RSS (audio) Subscribe with RSS (video) EPISODE 154 SHOW NOTES

• CNET runs around in the delightful and infuriating Porsche Cayenne GTS

• Toyota boss makes apology to the world as recall debacle grows

• Mitsubishi and Isuzu join an odd EV venture

• What exactly is in a Toyota gas pedal, anyway?… Read more

Bowers & Wilkins brings a Jaguar to the show

LAS VEGAS--Anchoring a corner of British high-end audio company Bower & Wilkin's booth at CES sat a 2010 Jaguar XJ, a probably unexpected adornment for a company traditionally focused on home audio. The new XJ showed off Bower & Wilkin's latest effort in the area of luxury automotive audio.

This 1,200-watt system is comprised of 20 speakers getting audio through 15 channels--an impressive array. It uses just about every digital-signal-processing trick in the book, including Audyssey MultEQ XT, designed to equalize the audio experience for all seating positions, Dolby's Pro Logic IIx, and DTS Neo:6, … Read more

Land Rover and Jaguar versus Santa Claus

The combined Land Rover/Jaguar company, now owned by Indian automaker Tata, had a little fun for the holidays, coming up with concept images for Santa's sleigh, one designed by Jaguar, and the other by Land Rover.

Jaguar went retro with its concept, designing a flying sleigh with what looks like a twin prop on a 1950s-style aircraft. Santa is exposed in this open-canopy concept, but he's used to it.

Land Rover went futuristic with its land-based speeder design. Being a Land Rover, we assume it handles rough terrain well. It also looks like the cockpit is designed … Read more

2010 VW New Beetle Final Edition video

I've been showing lots of love to the many fabulous new sports cars I scoped at the recently held 2009 International Auto Show, but it's not as if those were the only types of cars on display at San Francisco's Moscone Center. So I thought it was time "now for something completely different" like Monty Python's Flying Circus. But this car isn't British (although I'm a sucker for a Jaguar of any vintage). Instead I thought we'd share a pint with the 2010 VW New Beetle that made its presence felt … Read more

The 2011 Audi A8 is looking good

It won't ship until late 2010, but the 2011 Audi A8 looks really good. The all-new fourth-generation A8 full-size luxury sedan has a 372 hp 4.2-liter V-8 with eight-speed transmission under the hood, and all-wheel drive.

This 8-minute video includes driving scenes and exterior shots, plus close-up detail shots.

The $75,000 car will compete with the Mercedes-Benz S-class, Maserati Quattroporte, Lexus LS460, Jaguar XJ/XJL, BMW 7-series.