Jaguar Launches Free Maintenance Program for 2011

Jaguar does not want consumers avoiding its cars because of high maintenance costs, and in order to dispel that (completely fair) notion, it will introduce “Jaguar Platinum Coverage.”

The new program offers a five-year/50,000-mile new-vehicle warranty, free scheduled maintenance and roadside assistance. It will also include free replacement of parts for basic wear and tear, including oil changes, filters, brake pads, brake discs, brake fluids and wiper blade inserts. That's a big difference from Jaguar’s last free maintenance program where owners were asked to pay for replacement parts. Jaguar killed the program in 2006, presumably because customers didn’t like paying for new brake pads and wiper blades.

The new program will start with the 2011 XJ sedan, which is slated to hit dealerships in May. The XF sedan and XK coupe will follow suit when the 2011 models debut in June, according to the automaker.

Jaguar XK Coupe Portfolio

Jaguar XK Coupe

PERFORMANCE cars don’t come much cooler than the Jaguar XK.

Distinguished rather than flash, expensive but not extortionate, it’s a grand tourer of the highest order, and being totally honest the big cat has never looked better.

The coupe has the poise of a panther, and when you floor the throttle the roar of something altogether more ferocious fills the air.

The latest generation of a model range that’s been around since 1948 sees the previous 4.2-litre engine replaced by a new AJ-V8 5.0-litre unit that brings significant improvements in both power and torque without compromising fuel economy and emissions.

In the case of the 385bhp 2+2 coupe that means 26 per cent more punch and 23 per cent better pulling power.

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And while the maximum speed remains under electronic control at 155mph, the XK’s lightweight aluminium body combined with the power and torque gains sees the coupe’s 0-60mph acceleration time lowered from 5.9 to 5.2 seconds.

An average fuel return of 25.2mpg – and you need to be very lucky to record that figure – is also appreciably better than close competitor the Mercedes-Benz SL500.

Rare 1961 Jaguar E-Type could sell for £135,000

Prices for E-Type Jaguars are continuing to appreciate in the collectible automobiles markets. And examples currently up for sale include this 1961 Jaguar E-Type 3.8 Series 1 Roadster.

Eightieth of just 91 right hand drive examples produced in early July, 1961, and one of the first to be exported, this Series 1 3.8 Roadster returned to the UK from Cyprus in 1996 and has been fully restored.

Restoration works included a complete professional rebuild of the entire car, faithful to the original factory specifications. The works were carried out over 12 years by its dedicated London owner, himself a professional trim expert.

The 1961 Jaguar E Type 3.8 Series 1 Roadster, priced £135,000

Worthy of a place at the Pebble Beach Concours, this magnificent Jaguar boasts its original - and very rare - colour combination of Old English white and matching cream leather upholstery with a tan hood.

It is for sale in Warwickshire, UK, priced £135,000.

The Jaguar XJ

Jaguar XJ

According to Mike O’Driscoll, the Supersport version of the long-awaited new Jaguar XJ large luxury saloon has an ability denied to any other car on earth. “It’s fantastic,” he says, fixing me with a messianic gaze. “It can get out of its own way really, really quickly.”

I retire to a quiet, darkened room to think that one over and ponder whether Jaguar’s MD has been watching too much Dr Who. And then, a few hours later, I drive the car and come to understand why he is thumping the tub about the company’s new flagship quite so enthusiastically.

It is hard to overstate the importance of the XJ to Jaguar as the company accelerates away from its long reliance on an admittedly proud past, toward a future which O’Driscoll and his design chief Ian Callum are determined will see it once again recognised as a design and technology leader.

It had travelled a long way down that road even before the arrival of the XJ, which will be in showrooms soon. The S-type, conceived under Ford ownership and with styling harking back to Jaguars of the 1960s, was replaced several years ago by Callum’s ultra-modern XF mid-sized executive saloon, which many now rate above its BMW 5 Series and Mercedes-Benz E-Class rivals. The unsuccessful X-Type “small” Jaguar – based on Ford’s mundane Mondeo underpinnings – has been dropped, in line with Jaguar’s determination to elevate itself ever further upmarket. The latest Callum-designed XK sports coupés and convertibles will race at Le Mans this year, and have won respect for quality and performance worldwide. Denials of plans for a smaller, lighter, outright sports car – the real stuff of Jaguar legend – carry all the conviction of MPs’ rationalisations of their expenses.

2011 Jaguar XKR

2011 Jaguar XKR
2011 Jaguar XKR

The New Jaguar XJ

Jaguar launched Jaguar XJ last night the new admiral ship during an event presented by Jay Leno.

New Jaguar XJ

The communication leaders wanted to emphasize that the XJ Jaguar will set new standards in the luxury, a model in which the British automaker puts great hopes. The new model is impressive at first sight and if the outside part view reminds us of XF models, the back view comes with a completely original style for the British automaker.

The aluminum body helps the car to be lighter by about 331 pounds compared to its main competitors, fuel consumption and CO2 emissions are those that have benefited from this advantage. Low weight and together with over 50% of recyclable materials help the economy of 6614 pounds of CO2 for each vehicle.

The technical part comes with Jaguar Adaptive Dynamics and an air suspension system, Active Differential Control and a range of engines consisting of a V6 3.0-liter diesel engine, a V8 engine with 385 HP, and two versions of its supercharged engine of 470 HP and 510 HP. The transmission is ensured by an automatic six-speed ZF gearbox.

New Jaguar XJ

Salesman Tony Martin has been selling prestige cars for the best part of a quarter of a century, writes motoring editor Peter Carroll.

“Porsches, Lamborghinis, Bentleys, Aston Martins – I’ve sold them all in my time,” he says.

“But I have never been as excited about a new car as I am about this one…”

Tony, senior sales executive at Stratstone’s dealership in Wolverhampton, is talking about the impending arrival of the new Jaguar XJ.

In a few weeks’ time this car will take its place as the new flagship of the Big Cat brand – and Tony and his colleagues cannot wait to start selling it.

With prices starting at around £53,000, Stratstone staff have already taken a dozen orders from customers who have yet to drive the vehicle.