The on-again, off-again five-door "coupe" from Jaguar is reportedly, well, on again. According to AutoWeek, the British-born and Indian-owned automaker plans to release the sporty hatchback in 2014 with an estimated price of around $60,000. Jaguar first dipped a toe in the five-door coupe waters back in 2003 at the Frankfurt Motor Show, though the R-D6 concept was quickly forgotten after its initial round of the show circuit.

Now, an unnamed source at Jaguar tells AW, "There's a growing feeling with the R-D6 that we really had something very innovative, fresh and different. Maybe we missed something back then, but the idea is even more applicable now." Might that newfound interest have anything to do with the BMW 5 Series Gran Turismo and Audi Sportback models?

The new car would be one size smaller than the current XF and would share its aluminum chassis architecture with the next XK and planned XE sportscars. After the five-door hits the market, there's a reasonable chance a sportier three-door could shortly follow. Power will reportedly come from a new line of V6 engines that will feature forced injection and share ancestry with Jag's latest 5.0-liter V8 engine.



[Source: AutoWeek]

If you were anxious to get your hands on the new 2010 Jaguar XJ, you're going to have to wait until next year. But a lucky 50 customers with cash in hand managed to get a hold of the new luxury sedan earlier than the rest of us, thanks to Neiman Marcus.

For the third time in the history of the two companies, a Jaguar was selected as the luxury automobile of choice for this year's Christmas Book, following the XKE coupe that appeared in 1968 and the XK8 convertible in 1997. And like the BMW 7 Series which the premium department store offered last year, the XJL Supercharged Neiman Marcus edition hit the market several months before the car's official availability.

With a special Celestial Black paint job, unique fitted luggage set, individually-numbered plaque and a $105,000 sticker price, the NM edition XJ sold out in four hours and four minutes of its availability, sight unseen.

Neiman Marcus just unveiled the 2009 edition of the renowned Christmas Book, offering customers the ultimate in cutting-edge, dream-fulfilling gifts. First published in 1926 as a 16-page booklet, the Christmas Book was initially intended as a Christmas card to the store's best customers and evolved into a legendary source for alluring and mystical gifts. Among the highlights of this year's catalog:

His & Hers Gift Package, $250,000: An ICON A5 sport aircraft with custom trailer and sport pilot license training for two. The ICON A5 is from a world-class team of engineers and designers who helped create the groundbreaking Virgin Global Flyer, and features an amphibious hull and landing gear to take off and land just as easily on water as on land.

Algonquin Round Table Experience, $200,000: Exclusive dinner party at NYC's legendary Algonquin Hotel (above) with guests including Christopher Buckley, Roz Chast, Nora Ephron, Malcolm Gladwell, Henry Louis Gates Jr., Adam Gopnik, John Lithgow, Anna Deavere Smith and George Stephanopoulos. Proceeds to benefit First Book, the 2009 Christmas Book Charity.

2010 Jaguar XJL Supercharged Neiman Marcus Edition, $105,000: Limited to only 50 examples, the bespoke version of Jag's new flagship features a supercharged 5-liter V8 that delivering 470 hp, a custom interior of butter-soft navy and ivory leather and Zebrano matte wood accents, and includes a five-piece set of matching Jaguar luggage in navy blue leather.

HALL Artisan Wine and Art Experience, $20,000: Learn organic, artisan winemaking firsthand, tour the estates in Napa and the art collection, and have the opportunity to create your own personal vintage in a private blending session with HALL's Winemaker with a custom vintage bottled for you. Includes accommodations at Auberge and a private dinner party with Ambassador Kathryn Hall.

Maker's Mark Master Distiller Experience, $7,500: All-access, VIP experience with Maker's Mark Master Distiller, Kevin Smith. Spend a day making whiskey, step by step and take home two bottles of the rarest Maker's Mark – golden bottles etched with your likeness and dipped in gold wax with 24-kt gold flecks. Includes luxury accommodations in Louisville and a gourmet dinner hosted by Bill Samuels, the 7th generation of Maker's Mark.

Get In The Christmas Spirit With AOL Radio's 10 Best Christmas Songs.

The new Jaguar XKR is more machine than most can handle, but there will always be some who are looking for that extra edge. And for those few, Arden has answered the call. Starting with the stock supercharged convertible, the German tuning house has fitted a custom exhaust system for an extra 30 horsepower, bringing total output up to 540hp and nearly 500 lb-ft of torque. Coupled with a lowered suspension, bigger brakes, 21" wheels, a revised front end and a new diffuser, Arden claims its modified Jag can hit the magical 200 mile-per-hour mark. Which just goes to show that, like everything else in this world, automotive perfection is relative.

Welcome to the first in a new series of exclusive photo features showcasing seasonal style essentials inspired by classic icons of elegance, sport and design, photographed with the most beautiful and coveted cars on the road. The emphasis is on luxury of course, but of the timeless variety as opposed to mere extravagance.

In our recent Classicist column on the 2010 Jaguar XK convertible coming out this August, we remarked on the sleek new cat's stylistic heritage dating back to 1948's XK120, as driven by the likes of Gary Cooper, Humphrey Bogart and Clark Gable, as well as later models like the D-Type (or XK-SS) made famous by the great Steve McQueen. The first in our new series of exclusive shoots is inspired by them and stars the XK in homage to these stylish icons, both man and automotive (read all about the new XK here).

In particular, the influence of Gable (with his XK120 in 1954, top right) and McQueen (with his XK-SS, center right) can be seen in the summery style essentials we've assembled for this shoot. For the pastoral setting we drew on another classic Jaguar reference, an image of writer Truman Capote in a Jaguar XK-E, the model most closely aligned with the new XK, in the Hamptons in 1965 (bottom right).

In the spirit of summer we've chosen a classic combination of navy and white, popular as fashionable resort wear for a nearly a century and still going strong in the right circles. While navy blazers of the type shown here originated as part of English cricket club scenery and other elegant sporting occasions such as the Henley Royal Regatta, without gold buttons it needn't be unnecessarily nautical or costume-y.

The jacket shown here, in tropical weight wool with soft shoulders by the dashing Italian house of Etro, references its sporting antecedents with grosgrain tipping on the lapels, pockets and cuffs; however, since it is finished in the same color as the jacket the effect is a subtle one, while the slim cut updates the look with Italian flair. A cream linen camp shirt by Paul Stuart and white linen pants by Polo Ralph Lauren round out the rest of the ensemble.

As an alternative on cooler days or evenings - which we've certainly had plenty of this summer - we've also included a variation of the navy blazer by Brooks Brothers made of butter-soft goat suede with spiffy sporting details including a throat latch, stand-up collar, action back and pure Irish linen lining, which calls to mind the jacket worn by Gable above.

While a polka dot foulard silk scarf by the venerable British clothier Turnbull & Asser (shirtmaker to the Prince of Wales) provides not only another classic touch and added dose of sprezzatura, it also protects against the elements while piloting the XK with the top down at serious speeds. A hefty dose of McQueen meanwhile can be seen in the rakish cap, sunglasses and watch. For the feet and the road, a pair of pebble-sold leather driving moccasins by Tod's keep the haute Italian vibe going.

The checked linen driving cap - this model is made by Brooks Brothers - of the type favored by McQueen has no brim to collide with a car's headrest, and is infinitely more elegant than a baseball cap. Also on view: iconic Italian Persol sunglasses, in particular the model made famous by McQueen in The Thomas Crown Affair. Starring in this feature are a foldable version of McQueen's faves, as well as a couple of other killer Persol models; all are available at Ilori. Also included is a pair of shades by Paul Smith. The watch is a classic and vintage stainless steel Rolex GMT-Master II, available at Tourneau, of a similar design to the Rolex Submariner model favored by McQueen (and which recently fetched a record price at auction). Read on for details of the rest of the accessories after the jump.

If you were one of the few buyers who absolutely had to get behind the wheel of a Jaguar but couldn't afford to pony up for one of the bigger cats, the Jaguar X-Type may have been just the thing for you.

The little cat started life as a front-wheel-drive Ford Mondeo and was rebodied into the all-wheel-drive X-Type back in 2001. Eyeing weak sales in the United States and potential damage to its brand image, Jaguar withdrew the model – not to be confused with the top-of-the-line XJ – from the American market last year, while it was scheduled to remain on the European market until next year. Reports now indicate, however, that the littlest Jag is being given the axe more than a year ahead of schedule. Although sales in North America never managed to reach expectations, Jaguar sold 350,000 units in both sedan and wagon body-styles overseas over the course of its surprising eight-year production run.

Holding onto your roots is important, but in a market as fast-changing as luxury automobiles, that'll only get you so far. So for its latest flagship luxury sedan, Jaguar has completely done away with the classically-inspired XJ that's become a standard staple down at the country club and replaced it with the all-new vehicle you see here. Following on the heels of the critically acclaimed XF (which likewise replaced the retro E-Type), the new XJ takes the top of Jaguar's range one giant leap into modernity.

To do battle with the likes of the BMW 7 Series, Mercedes S-Class and Audi R8 – to say nothing of more exotic offerings like the Maserati Quattroporte, Porsche Panamera and Bentley Continental Flying Spur – the svelte new XJ is made entirely of aluminum and features the latest in automotive technology to make it perform with cat-like reflexes while coddling its occupants in exceptional luxury. The new XJ range starts at $72,500 for the base XJ with the standard wheelbase and naturally-aspirated, 385hp 5-liter V8. There's also a long-wheelbase version that offers more interior space, while a supercharged version with 470 horsepower and top-of-the-line Supersport with 510hp are also available, the latter topping out at $115,000. Head on over to our sister-site Autoblog for a full analysis of the new XJ.

There are car shows and then there are car shows. The Goodwood Festival of Speed is the latter. Instead of static displays in a convention center under terrible lighting, Goodwood takes some of the most desirable automobiles past and present and puts them on full display in all their glory, racing up the hill at Goodwood House in West Sussex, seat of the Lord March Duke of Richmond. It's also home turf for Britain's most stoic automakers, chief among them Jaguar which always comes with some truly lust-worthy machinery. And this year Jaguar wasn't about to go unnoticed. So they came with the XKR Goodwood Special you see here, decked out in bright lime green with grey and orange accents.

The XKR Goodwood Special upgrades on the stock version with a 20-horsepower boost to give the supercharged V8 a 530hp, 515 lb-ft output. It also rides on 21" alloys in the same graphite trim that replaces all the car's chrome, mounted to a dropped suspension and fitted with a special exhaust to let the big cat's growl reverberate across the estate. So far the Goodwood Special is a unique one-off, but if Jaguar gets enough interest they could put it into limited production.

On August 13-15 RM Auctions is holding its annual Sports & Classics of Monterey auction in California, starring an historic 1952 Jaguar C-Type sports racer (above) that was driven to victory in 1952 by the legendary Phil Hill and is expected to fetch over $3 million. 26 Ferraris and several other rare and valuable autos will be part of the 200 vehicles crossing the auction block over the course of the three-day event. The beautiful and rare C-Type (a precursor of the modern-day XK we wrote about recently), designated XKC-007, was one of just 53 examples built and one of the first Jaguar C-Types delivered to the United States.

Shipped to New York in 1952, this example was immediately driven to Elkhart Lake, Wisconsin, where it, along with XKC-009, made their competitive racing debuts as part of the company's North American sales effort for the model. It was at this meet that XKC-007 made Jaguar history when the eventual World Champion driver, Phil Hill – then just 25 – drove it to victory in the Sheldon Cup. Presented in period correct condition, it notably displays the signature of the great Phil Hill and retains its original, numbers matching engine.

The star amongst the stunning selection of 26 Ferraris is a 1953 166MM Spider Scaglietti estimated at $1.4 million - $1.8 million. The important car was given by Enzo Ferrari to his son Dino for a design project with Scaglietti. It is known as the first Scaglietti-bodied competition Ferrari and its attractive, rakish styling resulted in the prototype for the subsequent 750 Monza and 500 Mondial models. It was restored first in the 1960s and again prior to running the Mille Miglia Storica in 2005.

Looking for the ultimate Jaguar GT? The new XKR is one heck of a ride, but if you're still fixated on the previous-generation model and want something a little more exclusive, Arden may have something in store for a select few. The Jaguar tuning house released the AJ18 at the 1999 Frankfurt auto show nearly a full decade ago, and announced it would built only 13 examples. In a strange twist, however, ten years and a whole new model since, the company has announced it will built another five for a few lucky customers.

The AJ18 gives the previous-generation Jaguar XK a distinctly racing appearance but is fully legal for road use. Although the engine remains untouched, Arden has upgraded the brakes and suspension for a more aggressive package, complimented by a carbon-composite aerodynamics package and upgraded 20" competition wheels. It'll probably get its clock cleaned by the latest version straight out of the Jaguar factory, but you can't put a price on exclusivity.

A few years back we went on one of the best road trips ever at the wheel of a Jaguar XK convertible. So we literally leapt at the chance to take the brand new one for a spin. Jaguar roadsters have always held a place of honor in the pantheon of stylish sports cars, dating back to the legendary XK120, forerunner of the current model - although stylistically the new XK owes more to the XK-E (E-Type) with its oval mouth. The XK120 referred to the car's top speed; when introduced in 1948 it was the world's fastest standard production car, with killer looks to match. It acquired an instant aura of glamor and cemented Jaguar's reputation forever when Gary Cooper, Clark Gable and Humphrey Bogart cruised Hollywood in their XK120s like stylish gods. (We'll develop on this theme further in a later installment).

The XK120 evolved into the famous race-winning XK120-C, or C-Type, that in turn led to the wicked D-Type, made famous by Steve McQueen, and eventually the iconic E-Type, which as noted the current model most closely resembles. First unveiled at the Geneva Motor Show in 1961, the E-Type's legendary power to attract the opposite sex was phrased best by American motoring writer Henry Manney III, who dubbed it "The greatest crumpet-catcher known to man." Not a bad precedent for its more recent relation. While we didn't actually catch any crumpets with the new XK, it wasn't the car's fault as we were more interested in zooming down the road than cozying up to the local flora and fauna. Also there are a lot more outlandish-looking autos on the road these days; compared to these the XK exudes an elegant aura of restrained power that behooves its feline namesake; very British in a sense.

For 2010 the aluminum-bodied XK available as of this August is kitted out with an AJ-V8 Gen III 5.0-liter engine capable of delivering 385 hp and 515 Nm of torque (a supercharged version produces 510 hp and 625 Nm of torque). With these numbers the naturally aspirated version hits 60 mph in 5.2 seconds, while top speed is electronically limited to 155 mph. Some subtle, sporty updates over previous models have been made to the exterior without detracting from the car's stylistic heritage, including a new front end, new rear lights fitted with LED technology, a new rear body valance, body-colored side power vents, chrome-detailed inserts, and sleek alloy wheels.

Jaguar has announced plans to launch a brand new XJ sedan on July 9th in London. This is a critical vehicle for the British-born, Indian-owned brand, and it appears as if the automaker is pulling out all the stops to ensure this new edition is a success. Like the last XJ, the 2010 model will use a lightweight aluminum-intensive structure, to which a new 503-hp, supercharged, direct-injected, 5.0-liter V8 will be added. There's also rumor of a hybrid option.

The 2010 Jaguar XJ should officially begin arriving in showrooms this December, and we suspect it will be wearing sheetmetal that's inspired by the automaker's highly successful XF model. To whet our appetites, Jaguar has used the start of the Shanghai Motor Show this week to release a couple of teaser images that you can see below and a short video of the new cat, which you can watch after the break.


[Source: Jaguar]

Jaguar holds dear one of the richest of heritages in the automotive industry, and a not insignificant part of that history was forged at the Mille Miglia, one of the most grueling of races that took place between 1927 to 1957 through the Italian countryside between Brescia and Rome. Today the event is a revival of the iconic race of yore, and to celebrate its role in the original Mille Miglia, Jaguar is returning to the event with a convoy of some of its most treasured classics.

Included among the Jaguar factory team will be a long-nose D-Type, four C-Types and an original Mark VII sedan, some of which contested the race in the 50's. Jaguar's legendary test driver Norman Dewis, now in his 80's, will be participating, along with a fleet of modern XKRs and XFRs which Jaguar is sending along as support vehicles for the event, which takes place next month from May 13-17.

The famed British motorcar marque Jaguar began life as a different species altogether; in 1922 a company called Swallow began manufacturing motorcycle sidecars, building its first automobiles under the name SS in 1927; in 1945 the name was changed to Jaguar, and the rest was automotive history.

Jaguar: The Complete Story, a new book by Heiner Stertkamp, is a lavish visual history of the world-famous car maker, from its "ascension to fame with the postwar XK series cars," followed by the introduction of the iconic E-Type in 1961, the XJ series, and most recently the high-tech XF.

The book includes racing vehicles and prototypes as well as production models, all presented in sumptuous, large format photographs. With Jaguar beginning another chapter under new owner Tata Motors, this is a fitting time to review the rich history of one of the world's most enduring symbols of speed, style and beauty.

Possibly the finest example extant of Jaguar's famed E-Type, aka the "automotive sex symbol of the '60s," will be auctioned off by Bonhams at The Larz Anderson Auto Museum in Brookline, Mass. today. Estimated at $120,000 - $150,000, making it one of the most expensive E-Types ever offered at auction, this 1967 roadster finished in the classic combination of British Racing Green with tan leather interior has captured several Best of Show and class wins and 100 point scores, from Amelia Island to the Pittsburgh Vintage Grand Prix.

First unveiled at the Geneva Motor Show in 1961, the E-Type's legendary power to attract the opposite sex was phrased best by American motoring writer Henry Manney III, who dubbed it "The greatest crumpet-catcher known to man." 1967 was the last year before Federally-mandated regulations tampered with the E-Type's perfection, increasing this example's desirability. In one ownership for 16 years, this model was exquisitely restored down to the last nut and bolt, taking an estimated 3000 hours of restoration time and at a cost of over $200,000; in other words, let your conscience rest easy while bidding - it's also a good deal.