Jaguar auto news

Jaguar/Land Rover reportedly chalks up $1.1B loss

The steep downturn of the world's luxury automotive markets has taken a toll on Jaguar/Land Rover, and the company's bottom line has taken a huge hit as a result. Automotive News is citing a Financial Times report that says Tata Motors' British luxury marques lost 673.4 million pounds ($1.11 billion U.S.) in 2008. That's a $2 billion swing from the 641.5 million pound ($1.05 billion) profit the British brands earned in 2007. Tata Motors said last month that Jaguar/Land Rover lost 306 million pounds ($504 million) for for the fiscal year ending March 2009.

The Financial Times report comes as Tata Motors is working out a deal with the British government to provide short-term financing for the cash-strapped automaker. The report that says the U.K. government is willing to provide a 175 million pound ($288 million) commercial bridge loan to keep operations running. The reports says Tata Motors would like a 12-month loan, while the British government would like a six-month term, along with representation on the board.

Gallery: 2010 Jaguar XJ

Autoblog Podcast #137

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Episode #137 of the Autoblog Podcast has arrived. Chris, Sam, and Dan are back, chewing the fat over the Acura ZDX, Death Valley spy shots of the Jaguar XJ, what will underpin Cadillac's new flagship model, Electric Lexus pricing, the ongoing Volkswagen/Porsche soap opera, and Honda's swearing off of V8s and RWD. Wrap it all up nice and tidy with some of your questions, and 82 minutes later, you're done. We apologize for the poor audio quality on Dan's track for some of this week's podcast. It only lasts through the end of the Autoblog Garage segment, and then we're back to full-fidelity. Getting a show out to you quickly was important to us, so we went with what we had. 23 minutes in is the magic point where the audio clears up. Let us know what you think, drop us a line at Podcast at Autoblog dot com. Thanks to all who have taken the time to fill out our survey; hit the jump to listen or subscribe to the Autoblog Podcast. If you like what we're doing, check out some of our sister blog podcasts like Engadget and Joystiq - you can never have enough listening material!

Continue reading Autoblog Podcast #137

British government drags its feet, Tata threatens to cancel Indica EV for the UK

In January, the UK government set aside £2.3 billion for loan guarantees to help automakers start producing electric cars on the island. In April, Tata applied for £10 billion from the program to build its Indica Vista EV. Last week the Indian firm was told that it would be another eight weeks before the Department for Business Innovation and Skills would decide on Tata's application.

Tata can't understand what the holdup is and plans to deliver a petition to the minister in charge of the program to make its case. It can't help that while Tata waits it's watching UK government figures give speeches at Nissan facilities in an attempt to woo the Japanese automaker to produce electric cars in England. Nor can it help that Tata's Norwegian arm has already been approved by for a loan by the Norwegian government to make electric cars there.

Tata is also waiting on its €340 billion European Investment Bank loan to be approved by the UK government. That loan was for Jaguar and Land Rover aid, but the issue of both loans is said to be about the British government wanting to make sure that Tata can repay the money. If the government doesn't decide soon, they might have much bigger things to deliberate on -- like more job losses at JLR...

Spy Shots: 2010 Jaguar XJ shows new sheet metal in Death Valley

We've already seen the 2010 Jaguar XJ in the sheet metal - once during our hands on introduction, and shortly followed by its online premier and a brief jaunt around London. Now, the intrepid shooters from KGP have caught both a prototype and a near production version weathering the summer sun in Death Valley, and we're still evenly split on its styling.

Shown here for the first time in Frost Blue Metallic, the front end remains the most attractive iteration of Jaguar's new design direction, but the back - particularly the chrome accent the bisects the darkened D-pillar - is going to take some getting used to, particularly in such a light hue. Check out the gallery below for more real-world shots of the XJ rolling through California, and if you're in the area, keep your eyes peeled for Jag's newest cat.

Gallery: Spy Shots: 2010 Jaguar XJ

VIDEO: Top Gear pits Jaguar XFR against BMW M5

While the BMW M5 has topped Top Gear's list of four door sports sedans for what seems like forever, the Bavarian bombshell suddenly has plenty of competition, the newest of which is the Jaguar XFR. TG wanted to see which vehicle was better on the track and around town, and naturally, Jeremy Clarkson volunteered to work as judge and jury.

Clarkson spent all of his time behind the wheel of a right hand drive XFR, and he seemed surprised and delighted at the Leaping Cat's power and handling. Clarkson calls the cushy ride of the XFR "so soft and it's so absorbent, it's like sitting on a fat dog." But this plump puppy has 503 hp, and "80 more torques" than the BMW, while both vehicles' weight is about the same. Hit the jump to check out the comparo, and try to guess which sedan finished the Top Gear lap faster.

Continue reading VIDEO: Top Gear pits Jaguar XFR against BMW M5

Phil Hill's race-winning Jaguar C-Type on the block at Pebble Beach

The upcoming auctions at Pebble Beach are shaping up to be the stuff of legends. Which should come as no big surprise as legends are exactly what will be up for grabs. In addition to the highly anticipated launch of the new "Grand Bentley" amidst the field of lust-worthy machinery on display, auctioneers will be putting such notable classics on the block as Ettore Buggati's own Type 57C, the one-of-a-kind Miller V16 racing car, and this historic 1952 Jaguar C-Type.

The first C-Type Jaguar to be imported into the United States, model XKC-007 was sent straight to the race track where it was driven by no less a talent than the legendary Phil Hill. The World-Champion-to-be took this particular C-Type to three victories at Elkhart Lake, Torrey Pines and Watkins Glen, the former scoring as the first victory for the iconic C-Type in its storied history. After being retired from active duty, XKC-007 passed through several collections before undergoing a full restoration in 1986, after which it won numerous awards on the vintage concours circuit - including a reunion date with Phil Hill to commemorate Jaguar's 50th anniversary in 2002. XKC-007 will be up for auction at RM's three-day Sports & Classics of Monterey event from August 13-15. Details in the press release after the jump and images in the gallery below.

Gallery: 1952 Jaguar C-Type #XKC-007 ex-Phil Hill

Continue reading Phil Hill's race-winning Jaguar C-Type on the block at Pebble Beach

Pics Aplenty: Double-size gallery of 2010 Jaguar XJ images

For any of you looking to get an even better look - or perhaps just additional looks - at the 2010 Jaguar XJ, we've added about 40 new photos to our gallery.

If you want to get an early gander at the car in person and you're in London next week, Jag's top cat will be at the Gulf Luxury Fair at the InterContinental Hotel on Park Lane. The event caters to the luxury crowd that Jaguar would like to reacquaint itself with, and takes place from July 25-27. For the rest of us, there is the high-res gallery below.

Gallery: 2010 Jaguar XJ

Jaguar X-Type reportedly read last rites, headed for The Great Beyond

To read the market, the Jaguar X-Type was too small, too unattractive and too uncompetitive to justify its entry-level luxury price tag here in the U.S., and sales halted in March of last year. Somehow, the X-Type fared somewhat better in the ultra-competitive European market, and the Little Cat That Couldn't was scheduled to live on for Euro consumption through much of 2010.

The continually weak market for luxury cars and the X-Type's widening competitive gap are apparently conspiring to change that, though, as Autocar is reporting that all X-Type variants will cease production by the end of 2009. Jaguar Land Rover CEO David Smith told the U.K. magazine that the move was necessary considering the fact that sales of the brands have dropped 28% over the past 10 months.

Even with the eminent demise of the X-Type, Jaguar will still need to temporarily shut down its Halewood facility for three weeks beginning in September to keep inventories in check. Jaguar will cut 300 jobs though voluntary separation once production shuts down for good.

In spite of the fact that many believed that the X-Type looked dated and was uncompetitive since its launch back in 2001, Jaguar managed to sell 350,000 copies globally of the sedan and wagon over the past eight years, although sales in the U.S. reportedly ran at less than half of official projections. Thanks for the tip, Rohin!

Gallery: 2009 Jaguar X-Type

Jaguar X-Type reportedly read last rights, headed for The Great Beyond

To read the market, the Jaguar X-Type was too small, too unattractive and too uncompetitive to justify its entry-level luxury price tag here in the U.S., and sales halted in March of last year. Somehow, the X-Type fared somewhat better in the ultra-competitive European market, and the Little Cat That Couldn't was scheduled to live on for Euro consumption through much of 2010.

The continually weak market for luxury cars and the X-Type's widening competitive gap are apparently conspiring to change that, though, as Autocar is reporting that all X-Type variants will cease production by the end of 2009. Jaguar Land Rover CEO David Smith told the U.K. magazine that the move was necessary considering the fact that sales of the brands have dropped 28% over the past 10 months.

Even with the eminent demise of the X-Type, Jaguar will still need to temporarily shut down its Halewood facility for three weeks beginning in September to keep inventories in check. Jaguar will cut 300 jobs though voluntary separation once production shuts down for good.

In spite of the fact that many believed that the X-Type looked dated and was uncompetitive since its launch back in 2001, Jaguar managed to sell 350,000 copies globally of the sedan and wagon over the past eight years, although sales in the U.S. reportedly ran at less than half of official projections. Thanks for the tip, Rohin!

Gallery: 2009 Jaguar X-Type

Curiosity Sold the Cat: Orders reportedly coming in for 2010 Jaguar XJ

Jaguar caught everyone's attention last week with the launch of the brand-spankin'-new-for-2010 XJ sedan and there are already rumors afoot of a two-door version in the works. In the here-and-now, the stoic British automaker says that orders for its new flagship sedan are already up to speed.

According to Jaguar, in the few days since the car's launch, they've already received 55 orders, seemingly a modest figure, but that apparently already puts it at the same pace as the XF has experienced. While some of the orders were placed at the XJ's launch at the Saatchi Gallery in London last week, others have been placed sight unseen. Production is slated to gear up in September with the first units being delivered in January, but from the looks of things, many buyers aren't about to wait around six months to get the ball rolling.

Gallery: 2010 Jaguar XJ