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Jaguar Celebrates 75 Years with Limited Edition XKR 75

Filed under: Luxury Cars & Autos


Jaguar XKR 75 – Click above to enlarge

Jaguar is celebrating its 75th birthday this year with a special limited edition of its stunningly beautiful XKR coupe, called, fittingly enough, the XKR 75. What sporting Jaguar would be complete without a compelling drivetrain? No worries in that department, as the British marque has managed to squeeze 20 more horsepower from its 5.0-liter supercharged V8 engine.

The total of 530 horsepower and 483 pound-feet can push the luxury coupe to 60 miles per hour in just 4.4 seconds (.2 seconds quicker than the standard XKR) and on to a governed top speed of 174 mph. Of course, the upgrades extend past the powertrain.

A new Stratus Grey finish is used on the XKR 75, along with red brake calipers that contrast the 20-inch gloss Vortex forged lightweight alloy wheels. Finally, there is an optional body graphic that runs from the front bumper to the rear haunches rounds out the package.

Inside, the XKR 75 gets charcoal leather with ivory stitching, a dash and center console finished in gloss piano black and a Jet suedecloth. Just 75 of these special edition models will be built. The car will debut at the upcoming Goodwood Festival of Speed and will be made available to order from July 2010 in the UK priced from £85,500.

[Source: Jaguar]

EXCLUSIVE: Posh Publisher Prosper Assouline's Ten Essential Luxuries, Part II

Filed under: Timepieces / Watches, Luxury Cars & Autos, Books, Men's Style, 10 Luxuries


On Tuesday we brought you Part I of posh publisher Prosper Assouline's ten essential luxuries. Luxist readers will be familiar with the beautiful and stylish books published by his luxe imprint Assouline; perhaps less so with the man who founded and runs the company. A master of savoir faire, Prosper Assouline is known for merging the modern and the classical in publishing and creative design. Picking up where we left off the other day regarding the evolution of Assouline into luxury brand whose medium is culture, the company established retail positions first in Bergdorf Goodman, and then at ten Saks Fifth Avenue stores, as well as Celux (Tokyo), A Editores (Mexico City), Lane Crawford (Hong Kong), Harvey Nichols (Dubai), Holt Renfrew (Toronto), Librissime (Montreal), Sotheby's (New York), Teatro Verde (Toronto), and Zai (Qatar). The desire to showcase the concept of 'books as gifts' has led to the creation of a full retail program of strategic partnerships to open Assouline branded corners around the world.

As part of Assouline's positioning as a luxury brand, the first standalone Assouline boutique opened in Paris on Place Saint Germain des Prés in 2005. Conceived as a contemporary library, the boutique features the complete collection of books and luxury products. Assouline created the other items around the books, such as Book scented candles, a leather Coach designed library, and a variety of slipcased products and limited edition volumes. Also featured is the Goyard trunk, designed by Prosper Assouline with Goyard as a means to capture the nostalgia of traveling with books. Another one of Prosper's designs is the Assouline Library, a handcrafted bookcase featuring 150 books on style released in 2004 that has was an immediate sensation. Click through to the gallery to see Part II of Prosper's 10 essential luxuries, from hats and yachts to bars and cars, and find out what makes them a must.

EARLIER: Posh Publisher Prosper Assouline's Ten Essential Luxuries, Part I



Rare Jaguar D-Type Added to RM's Monterey Sale

Filed under: Luxury Cars & Autos, Auctions


A rare and highly-desirable 1955 Jaguar D-Type, XKD558 (above) has been added to RM Auctions' stunning Sports & Classics of Monterey sale slated for August, which as we reported previously is being headlined by a wicked 1958 Ferrari 250 Testa Rossa. XKD558 boasts a continuous chain of ownership from new, with some early racing history in Canada, and is presented in excellent running and driving condition. Finished in classic British Racing Green, it features its original monocoque and chassis, and is accompanied by its correct, original numbers-matching engine. The star among a magnificent selection of Jaguars from the noted Jaguar collection of Kathy Nell appearing in the sale, it's estimated at $2 million $2.5 million but could easily hit $4 million or more.

Ultimate Drives Launches Supercar Tours of Europe

Filed under: Luxury Travel & Hotels, Luxury Cars & Autos


Taking a jaunt though Europe just got a hell of a lot more exciting thanks to Ultimate Drives, a new supercar touring outfit. The company offers a high-octane tour to Switzerland's swank St. Moritz and the neighboring Engadine region, which also takes in the stunning Stelvio pass and crosses the border into Italy. Prices for the tour start at about $1,800 per person, including equally stylish off-road accommodation. The eye-popping autos to choose from include a trio of Ferraris – the F430 Spider, California (above) and 599 GTB – as well as the Aston Martin DB9 Volante, Bentley Continental GTC and Maserati GranCabrio. Starting in July, the Ferrari 458 Italia and Mercedes-Benz SLS AMG will also be available for speed junkies. The round trip includes over six hours of driving, as well as lunch en route and a trek to one of the region's famed glaciers. More budget-conscious enthusiasts who still like to put their foot down can opt to do the tour in a BMW or Jaguar instead.

[via JustLuxe]

Jaguar Makes Music, Art and Friends at the Hollywood Bowl

Filed under: Luxury Cars & Autos



If you want a look at the new Jaguar XJ and you'd like a little night music to go with it, you should know that Jaguar has leaped into the Hollywood Bowl with a three-year sponsorship of Platinum Series Concerts. An eight-concert run begins this month and runs through September, starting with opening night on June 18 that will feature Bowl Hall of Fame inductees Donna Summer, Richard Carpenter and Jean-Yves Thibaudet.

On the other hand, if it's just the XJ you really want, the new sedan will be on permanent display at the VIP valet entrance and an ride-and-drive event for the entire Jaguar line held on a non-concert day. Put your baksheesh in the right hands and you might even get invited to one of the Jaguar receptions.

Other concerts in the series will include classical violinist Joshua Bell with the LA Philharmonic, Hollywood Bowl conductor Gustavo Dudamel conducting Carmen, Harry Connick, Jr. and his Big Band, Herbie Hancock celebrating his 70th birthday, and Pink Martini letting you know what they je ne veut pas. Or you can skip all of that hanging around with the genpop, go get yourself a Jaguar and its Bowers & Wilkins audio system and play any music you want with studio-level high-fidelity. Decisions, decisions...

Rare Aston Martins & More at British Classic Car Meeting in St. Moritz

Filed under: Luxury Travel & Hotels, Luxury Cars & Autos, Events

aston martin st moritz
On July 9 – 11 some of the world's finest Rolls-Royce, Bentley, Aston Martin and Jaguar motor cars will converge on the chic Swiss resort of St. Moritz for the 17th annual British Classic Car Meeting. The ultra-stylish event features a series of outings, a rally and concours d'elégance. Set against the breathtaking Alpine scenery 5,900 ft. above sea level in the elegant environs favored by the likes of Prince Charles, Kate Moss, Naomi Campbell, Hugh Grant, Elizabeth Hurley and George Clooney, it's an elegant showcase for the UK's famed marques mentioned above as well as some historical makes like Lagonda, Daimler and Austin-Healey. Museum pieces like pre-war Rolls-Royce open tourers compete against rarities like this Aston Martin DB6 shooting brake, fully kitted out for skiing and picnicking, with prizes for different classes and periods. On July 10 there will be a gala dinner with entertainment and dancing at the luxurious 5-star Suvretta House hotel.

[via JustLuxe]

The Classicist: Caracalla Bagaglio Commemorative Motorsport Collection

Filed under: Luxury Cars & Autos, Men's Style, The Classicist

Caracalla Bagaglio Commemorative Motorsport Collection
Simon Jordan takes his supercars seriously. He is the director of Cortese, an independent Ferrari and Maserati showroom located in Bath, UK on the Priston Mill Estate, where you can pick up an F430, Testarossa or GranSport as well as classic and racing models. It also houses his vast collection of Ferrari and Maserati memorabilia, including a library of books, pictures and models dating back to 1947. For Jordan, thoroughbred automobiles are a way of life. Hence he has also created Caracalla Bagaglio, a line of Italian leather goods designed to complement the world's greatest cars. The line takes its name from the Terme di Caracalla race circuit in Rome, where Ferrari won its first race in 1947, and its main range is the Commemorative Motorsport Collection featuring leather bags and holdalls dedicated to pivotal moments in racing history.

Skilled artisans hand make each bag in Tuscany from the finest leather in a process of craftsmanship passed down over generations. Each piece relates to the history of famous race car marques, drivers and racing numbers, and are endorsed by racing legends such as Sir Stirling Moss, Niki Lauda and Emerson Fittipaldi. Each piece closely matches the color (interior or exterior) and racing livery of the car it's designed to celebrate. The Moss No. 7 bag (priced at £295) for example, commemorates Sir Stirling Moss's victory at Goodwood in 1961 driving the legendary Ferrari 250 SWB bearing the number 7, Moss' favorite. Finished in dark blue leather to match the original paintwork it features Moss' official signature embossed into the white center panel, and Moss himself owns one of the bags.

Queen of England's Bespoke Jaguar Daimler for Sale

Filed under: Luxury Cars & Autos

queen of england' jaguar daimler
A luxurious bespoke Daimler Majestic V8 (above) built by Jaguar and used by the Queen of England as her personal motor is being offered for sale in the UK. The British racing green vehicle, used as the Queen's daily driver between 2001 and 2004, includes several bespoke royal touches, such as a special holder for her favorite handbag, a console of switches to control flashing strobe lamps and blue emergency convoy lights, a secure telephone once linked to Downing Street and the Home Office, and special rear seat protectors for transporting the royal dogs. No price is being advertised but the car cost about $100,000 when new. The Queen's motor pool still includes two Bentleys, three Rolls-Royces and three Daimlers, among sundry other vehicles.

[The Independent via LuxuryInsider]

Jaguar Releases XKR Special Editions for Geneva Show

Filed under: Luxury Cars & Autos



Falling under Ford's Premier Auto Group umbrella as Jaguar did for years carried certain benefits, but it also kept the cat at bay. With Aston Martin looming overhead in the same group, there was only so high Jaguar could take its XK coupe without encroaching on Aston's territory. Now that Aston's gone independent and Jaguar, together with Land Rover, was bought by Indian automaker Tata Motors, the cat's out of the bag.

As a result, the XKR keeps getting faster and faster, more and more expensive and all the more desirable for it. In the latest development, Jaguar is preparing the tantalizing XKR Special Editions. For starters, output from the supercharged V8 engine is up to 510 horsepower. That's supercar territory, make no mistake about it. The special editions come in two flavors: the Speed Pack, with a top end of 174 miles per hour, and the Black Pack, which gives the XKR a set of glossy 20" wheels and extra black trim all around. The new special Jags will be unveiled at the fast-approaching Geneva show, so stay tuned.

Electric Jaguar XJ Project Reportedly Keeps Plugging Along

Filed under: Luxury Cars & Autos, Green


According to Autocar in the UK, Jaguar Land Rover is still hard at work on series hybrid vehicles. Similar to the stance General Motors has taken with the 2011 Chevrolet Volt, Jaguar believes that the only real way electric vehicles can be made compatible with everyday life is to add a small range-extending gasoline-powered engine that's capable of keeping the batteries charged on the go.

Unlike GM, though, Jaguar has seen fit to contract its small engine work out to Lotus, which makes sense given the two British company's differing product specialties. Lotus has reportedly delivered a 1.2-liter three-cylinder engine that generates 35kW of power, which is carried – with a little help from a UK government grant or two – inside a new 2011 XJ sedan with a lithium ion battery pack.

Motive force comes courtesy of what Autocar believes is a 145kW (194 horsepower) electric motor with 295 pound-feet of torque. Performance specifications sound pretty good – though not quite as impressive as we might have imagined – assuming all of this is accurate, with a range of 600 miles combined fuel economy of 47 miles per gallon (57 mpg UK) and carbon emissions of under 120 g/km. Top speed would reportedly come in at 112 miles per hour.

An unnamed source at Jaguar tells Autocar that the electric XJ handles quite well "because of the bulk that's removed from car when you strip out the conventional drivetrain." Future Range Rover models are also rumored to get a similar drivetrain.

[Source: Autocar]

Porsche, Rolls-Royce, Jaguar, BMW and Infiniti Modifications from Wald International

Filed under: Luxury Cars & Autos



One at a time, fellas. That's how most aftermarket tuners approach their projects. But not Wald International. The Japanese tuning house is launching a new line of modifications for some of the most eminently desirable luxury sedans and "four door coupes" on the market, all at once.

Included in the line-up are none other than the Porsche Panamera, Jaguar XJ, BMW 7 Series, Infiniti M and the Rolls-Royce Ghost, just for good measure. Little in the way of details have been announced, but from the images you can see in the gallery below, it appears Wald has fitted each with new front bumpers, side skirts, spoilers and wheels mounted to lowered suspensions.

Rare $2 Million Ferrari & More in Scottsdale Sale

Filed under: Luxury Cars & Autos, Auctions


One of the most beautiful Ferraris ever made, a 1959 250 GT Series 1 Cabriolet (above), is expected to fetch over $2.2 Million at Gooding & Company's Scottsdale sale on Jan. 23. One of only 40 Series 1 Pininfarina Cabriolets ever built, upon its completion the car was immediately shipped to the United States to be proudly displayed on Ferrari's New York Auto Show stand, and the sale marks the first time one of coveted models has crossed the auction block in many years. Also on offer: a highly prized 1956 Jaguar D-Type Sports Racer, painted cream with blue racing stripes, expected to fetch above $3.5 million; and a stunning 1959 Costin Lister Jaguar Sports Racer, estimated at $1.5 million.

[via Duncan Quinn]

Video: Jaguar Leaping Cat Motorcycle Takes to the Streets

Filed under: Luxury Cars & Autos

Massow Concept Motorcycles Jaguar – Click above to watch the video after the break

Happen to be a Jaguar lover with a hankering for unique motorcycles? If not, we can't imagine that you'd want to ride around on a massive Leaping Cat sculpture that's capable of hitting speeds of 50 miles per hour, but that hasn't stopped Massow Concept Motorcycles from creating just such a beast. Called the NightShadow, the foundation of the motorcycle is an air-cooled Buell S3's 1200cc V-twin powerplant.

It does appear to be an odd-looking riding position, don't you think? In any case, if Jaguar just isn't your cup of tea, Massow has designed a bunch of other concepts that take well-known logos and turns them into something resembling a motorcycle. Check a few of them out in our gallery below and click past the break to see the Jaguar Leaper motorcycle in action.



[Source: Massow Design via Two Wheels Blog]

Jaguar Reportedly Hatching R-D6-Based Sports Fastback for 2014

Filed under: Luxury Cars & Autos

2003 Jaguar R-D6 Concept - Click above for high-res image gallery

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]

Neiman Marcus Sells 50 Jaguars in Four Hours

Filed under: Luxury Cars & Autos



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.

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