Motoring: The Jaguar XE, new Ford Focus, and more
JAGUAR’S new XE is a high stakes car for the future of Jaguar Land Rover. While not a make-or-break scenario, the company has invested massively into the development of the car and really can’t afford to see it fail.
In addition to a new, specially built bodyshop at Land Rover’s Solihull plant, there is also the little matter of a new £500m engine factory on the outskirts of Wolverhampton.
If the car proves to be the international success the company is hoping for then it could change the structure of the company forever. The raft of new JLR vehicles set to hit the roads over the next five years is the most ambitious in the company’s history. The launch of the new Discovery Sport earlier this month came with a pledge of 50 new products during that short window.
While some will be facelifted versions of current models, others will be brand new and the XE could herald an exciting new family. Jaguar has made no secret of its desire to carve out a slice of BMW’s 3-Series market, so with that in mind, in addition to the sports saloon unveiled this week, a new crossover has already been displayed in concept form, while two-seat coupe and convertible versions could also be a possibility.
The bodyshop is prepped for the work and when the engine plant is up to full capacity a completed power unit will roll off the production line every 36 seconds.
So what of the car on whose slender shoulders this strategy rests – the so-called ‘baby Jag’. Jaguar describes it thus – “a true driver’s car”.
No one has yet had the chance to test drive the car so all reviews have been based on what Jaguar has issued in its publicity. Therefore objectivity must be limited. However, the car’s handling and performance promises much.
The rear-wheel-drive mimics that of its rivals, while the advanced lightweight construction and streamlined styling will do much to help with performance and handling.
The new XE has the most sophisticated chassis of any vehicle in its class and will set the benchmarks for ride and handling: it is a true driver’s car. Where most competitors use MacPherson strut front suspension, Jaguar’s vehicle dynamics team have insisted on the superior double wishbone configuration. The aluminium front knuckles are as light as they are stiff and are forged from cast blanks using a patented production process.
Conventional multilink rear suspension couldn’t deliver Jaguar’s dynamics targets. Therefore it has devised Integral Link: a system usually found only in larger, more expensive vehicles and which delivers the ideal lateral and longitudinal stiffness values needed for the XE’s precise handling and supple ride. Aluminium has been used extensively, minimising weight.
The XE goes on sale in 2015, with the high-performance S model at the top of the range.
Ford’s new model is the Focus of attention
ALMOST lost among all the hullabaloo surrounding the XE, another equally important new launch has taken place this week – that of the Ford Focus.
Ford’s dominance and understanding of the mid-range sector has been proved time and again during the past 40 years, firstly with the Escort and now with its replacement, the Focus.
A consistent performer in the monthly best-seller list, Ford has sensibly adopted the ‘if it ain’t broke don’t fix it’ mentality. Therefore the new Focus is merely an evolution of the outgoing model.
The most obvious change is the sleek, new design of its front end, which mirrors that of the Fiesta and gives Ford a new ‘face’. Along with this, the interior of the car has been updated, as has its technology.
The range also features an upgraded powertrain line-up, designed to improve fuel efficiency by up 15%. New engines include the 1.5-litre EcoBoost and 1.5-litre TDCi.
Class-leading driving dynamics have been further improved with a stiffer front end, revised suspension and dampers, Electric Power Assisted Steering, and in an industry-first, Enhanced Transitional Stability system.
Highlighting the fact improved connectivity is not the sole privilege of the luxury sector, the new Focus debuts the SYNC 2 connectivity system, which features a colour touch screen and improved voice control for easy access to audio, navigation, climate control and mobile phones.
Improving the practicality of the car are new driving aids such as hands-free Perpendicular Parking, which helps drivers reverse into spaces side-to-side with other cars.
Midas Touch needed for Aston’s Goldfinger special
TO mark the 50th anniversary of the best film in the James Bond canon – Goldfinger – Bond film creators EON Productions have commissioned a one-off gold-plated third scale replica of the super-spy’s iconic Aston Martin DB5 which global auctioneers Christie’s is auctioning online to benefit the NSPCC.
The replica DB5 has been signed by legendary Bond production designer Sir Ken Adam, who designed the Q branch modifications to the car which Sean Connery drove in the 1964 film.
Prop-maker Propshop, which created the scale model DB5 sports cars required for special effect scenes in the most recent Bond film, Skyfall, using 3D scans of the full size DB5, has created, under licence, the one-off model with 24-carat gold plated detailing, complete with radio controlled machine guns, bullet-proof shield and revolving number plates.
The unique Goldfinger model is expected to sell for between £40,000-60,000 and bidding ends on September 17, the 50th anniversary of the world premiere of the film.
Viewings and bids can be made via www.christies.com/goldfinger
