Tag: SVO

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Jaguar

Jaguar Lightweight E-Type revealed

Jaguar Lightweight E-Type

Truth be told we’re not huge fans of the Jaguar E-Type here at AUSmotive. We appreciate the landmark car that it is, but it’s just that, well, its design is terribly overrated, we think.

That said, this Lightweight E-Type project, which Jaguar has commissioned the newly formed Jaguar Heritage division of its Special Operations to create, is one of the most admirable moves any automotive manufacturer will make all year.

Back in 1963 Jaguar signed off a run of 18 Special GT E-Types to be built at the company’s Browns Lane factory in Coventry. The Special GT E-Type was designed to be a competition only model built with an all-aluminium body. For reasons not made clear only 12 of the 18 were made. Until now.

Using the remaining chassis numbers assigned 41 years ago Jaguar will now build the “missing six” as they are calling them. Production will take place at a refurbished Browns Lane facility allowing Jaguar’s craftsmen to pore over every detail as they hand build each car one by one.

The car you’re looking at here is known as “Car Zero” and is essentially the sales brochure for the final cars which will be built and sold to six lucky customers.

Further adding to this car’s cachet is the 3.8 litre straight six engine which lies beneath that evocative bonnet. With its roots dating back to the XK from 1948 the Lightweight E-Type engine is based on the D-Type motor which took Jaguar to victory at Le Mans in 1957. The customer can choose to have mechanical fuel injection as fitted to Car Zero or proper old skool carburettors, three Weber 45DCO3s to be precise. Power is nominated at 340hp complemented by 380Nm of torque.

Pricing hasn’t been mentioned in any official text from Jaguar and we suspect if sir or madam has to ask, then sir or madam can probably not afford it. If you can splash the cash to get yourself one of these truly collectable E-Types then clear your diary for a date with Jag’s design guru Ian Callum so you can sit down with him and personally discuss your preferences, paint colour and so on.

Really, this is just such an incredibly cool project and Jaguar cannot be applauded enough for making it happen.

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Range Rover

Range Rover Sport SVR revealed

Range Rover Sport SVR

As the irrepressible march of SUV demand continues racetracks have become the new offroad. That much is evidenced by this angry face, photographed at Silverstone, screaming “get out of my f@#king way!”

That face belongs to the Range Rover Sport SVR and behind that snarl you’ll find a 405kW/680Nm 5.0 litre supercharged V8 designed not to save you from the depths of sinking sand, but rather to take it up to the likes of the Mercedes-Benz C63 AMG on the world’s most fearsome racetrack.

With its permanent four-wheel drive capabilities and a specially-tuned 8-speed automatic transmission the Rangie Sport SVR can fire you to 100km/h in 4.5 seconds and onto an electronically limited top speed of 260km/h. Despite its show pony pretensions the SVR is fitted with a hard working two-speed transfer case with a low-range function. Although, this is rather undone by the fact the car rides standard on 21″ alloys, with 22″ rims ready to be optioned by the likely suburban buyers.

Go fast SUVs are a quandary that whether we like it or not are here to stay. Like the excess of development in Dubai, such vehicles remain a constant reminder of what modern engineering can do, while simultaneously making you feel dirty for even daring to admire such achievements.

We do kind of like this Range Rover Sport SVR and would like to have a go behind the wheel. And that makes us feel bad.

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Range Rover

Range Rover Sport SVR claims Nürburgring record

Range Rover Sport SVR

8 minutes 14 seconds.

That’s how fast that Range Rover Sport SVR above was able to lap the 20.832km of the Nürburgring Nordschleife. That’s pretty quick for a truck. Actually, it’s pretty bloody quick for any vehicle.

According to the unofficial list for unofficial production car lap times the Sport SVR has split the Mercedes-Benz C63 AMG (8:13) and the BMW 1 Series M Coupé (8:15) right down the middle. That’s some exalted company for a motoring monolith to be mixing with around the Ring.

Of course, the secret lies, in part, in the SVR suffix which indicates this super SUV has 404kW (550PS) to play with from its fearsome sounding 5.0 litre supercharged V8. That’s an extra 29kW (50PS) more than the regular Range Rover Sport.

The JLR Special Vehicle Operations boffins who found that extra power also beefed up the SVR’s suspension for flatter cornering. Although, importantly, “this has been achieved without compromising the vehicle’s class-leading all terrain capabilities or high levels of comfort”.

Although, as the video below reveals, presumably they’re not referring to the oh so comfy racing buckets and roll cage fitted to this particular “production SUV”. Still, a sub-8:30 SUV that sounds like a thunder storm, what’s not to like!

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Jaguar Video

Let’s talk about the F-Type Project 7

Jaguar F-Type Project 7

News that the Jaguar F-Type Project 7 will reach production status is kind of a big deal. That’s for two reasons, first because an 80kg lighter F-Type with more power is news we can all celebrate, but also because it’s our first chance to see how fair dinkum Jaguar’s new Special Vehicle Operations is going to be.

With thanks to XCAR films we can hear Jaguar’s design guru Ian Callum and John Edwards, Jaguar-Land Rover Special Operations boss, talk about the Project 7, how it came about and what it means for the company.

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Jaguar

Jaguar greenlights F-Type Project 7

Jaguar F-Type Project 7

Last year Jaguar debuted the one-off F-Type Project 7 at the Goodwood Festival of Speed. Now, we’re very pleased to say, Jaguar will again bring the Project 7 to Goodwood (26–29 June). Only this time it will be the debut of the production model. Yes, they’re going to build it, and it’s coming to Australia too!

The Project 7 will be the most powerful production Jaguar ever made. That’s all thanks to 423kW/680Nm supercharged 5.0 litre V8 sent to the rear wheels through a ZF 8-speed auto. For those playing at home, that’s a 19kW increase over the F-Type R Coupé, while maximum torque remains the same.

Jaguar claims the Project 7 will see off 100km/h in 3.9 seconds and will top out at an electronically controlled 300km/h. As well as performance you can tick off carbon ceramic brakes, 20″ alloys, model specific adjustable suspension, a gnarly sounding exhaust system and splashes of carbon fibre bodywork as standard equipment.

Only 250 will be made by Jaguar’s Special Vehicle Operations skunkworks with deliveries scheduled to commence in mid-2015. At this stage there’s no pricing confirmed, but with the F-Type R Coupé priced at around $220K here in Australia, we reckon the Project 7 will be north of $250K.

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