Jaguar Releases XK66 Special Edition in Germany to Mark XK120’s 66th Anniversary

This summer, Jaguar will end production of the XK sports car, but before it does that, the carmaker is expected to release at least one limited edition model. The Jaguar XK66 Special Edition is one of these. Produced in a limited run of 66 units for the German market, the XK66 marks 66 years since the introduction of theXK120 at the 1948 London Motor Show.

Based on the Jaguar XK Portfolio and powered by the 380hp (385PS) 5.0-liter V8 engine, the XK66 will be available both as a coupe and convertible, with only two available colors - the original XK’s British Racing Green and Stratus hues.

Besides the two exclusive body colors, distinctive styling features include the XK66 emblem mounted at the rear and below the side air intake, chrome mirror caps, 20-inch “Orona” polished alloy wheels, black Union Jack emblems on the hub caps and tire valves, as well as black or beige fabric roof for the convertible versions.

On the inside, the dashboard features an “XK66 One of 66” plate on the passenger side, with other amenities including a choice of Caramel soft grain leather with Warm Charcoal contrast stitching or Warm Charcoal leather with Ivory contrast stitching. Glossy walnut burl wood trim and aluminum shift paddles complete the interior upgrades.

Adaptive headlights, a rear view camera, tire pressuring monitoring system (TPMS) and an automatic air recirculation function with five settings come as standard.

The Jaguar XK66 Special Edition goes on sale in May in Germany priced from €99,380 (coupe) and €107,580 (convertible).

Since the current-generation XK launched in 2006, Jaguar sold 60,000 units worldwide, with approximately 6,000 delivered to customers in Germany.

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Jaguar Teases and Names New XE Sedan as BMW 3-Series Rival

It’s now official: Jaguar’s new BMW 3-Series, Cadillac ATS and Lexus IS rival will be called the XE. Set to be revealed in the coming months, the car features an aluminium monocoque construction (the first in the segment) and promises to be the most advanced, efficient and refined in its class.

Power for this new sedan, originally believed to bear the name XS, will come from a new series of UK-built enignes called Ingenium. These petrol or diesel units all displace two liters, they’re all turbocharged and the most frugal of them all promise sub-100 g/km CO2.

Other, more powerful engines will be offered, though, as Jaguar mentioned that the car is designed to achieve speeds in excess of 300 km/h (186 mph), so the BMW M3 and upcoming C-Class AMG had better watch out for the future XER.

Speaking at the Geneva Auto Show, Jaguar-Land Rover CEO Ralf Speth, mentioned: "We announced just a few weeks ago that our new Engine Manufacturing Centre would produce a new family of premium, lightweight, low-friction, low emission four-cylinder petrol and diesel units. The first of our Ingenium engine range will be used in our all-new mid-sized Jaguar sports sedan. That car will be called the Jaguar XE, and it will be unveiled in production form later this year."

Full specs “will be announced later in 2014. The global roll-out will begin from mid-2015.” It won’t be shown this year in Geneva.

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Mild Updates for European Market 2014 Jaguar XJ

Jaguar's top saloon offering, the XJ, continues largely unchanged for the 2014 model year in Europe and other parts of the world, sans some tech upgrades and comfort improvements

While the engine range, which includes the 237hp (240PS) 2.0-liter turbo petrol, 335hp (340PS) 3.0-liter V6 petrol, 271hp (275PS) 3.0-liter V6diesel, and 5.0-liter V8 petrols putting out 380hp (385PS), 464hp (470PS), 503hp (510PS), and in the XJR, 542hp (550PS), remains the same, the base four-cylinder 2.0L engine now comes with Jaguar's Intelligent Stop/Start system as standard.

Jaguar says the long-wheelbase models feature enhanced rear cabin luxury features for 2014, including twin 'airline' style reclining seats with massage function, increased headroom, fold-out business tables and a specially re-tuned rear suspension set-up for a smoother and more comfortable ride.

In addition, all models gain soft closing door technology, an enhanced entertainment system package featuring two hi-resolution touchscreens, and optional premium Meridian Reference Audio System with Conversation Assist, a new centre armrest that can be stowed in the upright position to allow the use of the centre seat, and newly available 18-inch Manra lightweight forged alloy wheels.

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Is Jaguar Planning a 700HP RS Version of the New F-Type Coupe?

If we are to believe the report from Auto Express, Jaguar will introduce a range-topping F-Type Coupe that will develop no less than 700 horsepower. Compared to Porsche’s most powerful 911, the Turbo S, the hot F-Type Coupe would have an extra 147 horsepower!

The magazine says it obtained the information from a source working within the company. “We have done an R-S version with over 700bhp that will do over 200mph (322 km/h)– it’s going to be insane,” the unnamed source said. The report also added that the car would look “fantastic” painted French Racing Blue, the hue reserved for Jaguar’s extreme sports cars like the XKR-S.

In order to get 700 horsepower, Auto Express says Jaguar won’t upgrade the 5.0-liter supercharged V8 from the F-Type V8 S, but use the engine technology from the canned C-X75hybrid supercar. More specifically, the F-Type Coupe R-S would be powered by a turbocharged and supercharged 1.6-liter petrol engine linked to multiple electric motors.

To us, this sounds like a very complicated and costly solution, so we’ll take the report with a grain of salt. The range-topping F-Type Coupe will reportedly go into production in 2016, while regular F-Type Coupe models will launch next year with the same engine lineup from the open-top F-Type.

The Jaguar F-Type Coupe is expected to follow closely the design of the C-X16 Conceptrevealed two years ago at the Frankfurt motor show.

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