Lifestyle: Motoring – Jaguar F-Pace; Aston Martin Vantage GT12; MINI Surf

WITH the Frankfurt Motor Show just a fortnight away, the eyes of the motoring world are shifting focus and trying to identify which cars are likely to have the biggest impact.

One of the most anticipated vehicles making its debut at the show will be Jaguar’s new crossover, the F-Pace.

Jaguar Land Rover will be keen that the vehicle creates the right impression and launching it in the back yard of its fiercest rivals is a bold statement and an indication of the expectations Jaguar has for the new vehicle.

JLR insiders are already predicting great things for the vehicle – with one senior manager claiming the vehicle is one of the most exciting product launches in his career with the company.

The company is keeping the full details of the vehicle under wraps until the show but it has already teased potential buyers with some of its likely features – such as its all-wheel-drive system.

In some ways the vehicle’s off-road credentials will have to better those of its stable mate if the car is to be taken seriously as a true all-rounder.

Given the Big Cat’s sporting heritage, the F-Pace cannot afford to be a lumbering lump on the road. It is therefore being offered with a torque-on-demand system that will deliver power to the driver as and when required.

Jaguar engineers, led by sports car development expert and Chief Engineer Mike Cross, have therefore striven to create a completely new set of vehicle dynamics aided by double wishbone front and integral link rear suspension systems. These have then been tested in some of the most severe environments known to man.

When it goes on sale next year the vehicle will be available with chassis dynamics technology adapted from the F-Type sports car and unrivalled in its class.

“We haven’t made any compromises or exceptions: the new F-Pace must be a true Jaguar and deliver the Jaguar dynamics DNA,” said Cross succinctly.

“We’ve tested ride and handling to extremities in all environments and in all conditions, and the result is that the new F-Pace is as engaging and rewarding to drive as it is going to be enjoyable to own. As soon as you get into the vehicle you know immediately that it’s a great place to be.”

The F-Pace, which is being produced alongside the Jaguar XE on a new production line at JLR’s Solihull plant, is being manufactured using Jaguar’s Lightweight Aluminium Architecture.

When this process was used to construct the new generation Range Rover and Range Rover Sport it succeeded in trimming 430kg off the weight of its predecessor and resulted in a much more dynamic vehicle.

While the F-Pace has no basis for comparison, the lightweight production techniques should ensure the vehicle is nimble and agile enough to give a satisfying on-road experience.

Or as Jaguar puts it: “This will enable the new performance crossover to handle with precision and control, yet without sacrificing ride comfort”.

The sophisticated double wishbone front suspension and integral link rear suspension are said to provide the best possible starting point for the dynamic performance; making the car responsive but capable of tackling even the harshest of road surfaces with ease.

The vehicle’s Electric Power-Assisted Steering system ensures that everything between the steering wheel rim and the tyre contact patch is calibrated to the point of optimum grip. The system is already being used to full effect on the F-Type, XE, and new XF.

To make development and testing even more efficient, the Vehicle Integrity team’s subjective assessments are fed back into the computer-aided engineering (CAE) tools used by Jaguar’s Vehicle Dynamics CAE team. This improves the vehicle and therefore delivers even better simulation results.

Jaguar said this constant stream of data ensured the vehicle was continuously updated, with the tuning and assessment processes being optimised for best performance.

Spectre of a busy September looms for Aston Martin Works

The Aston Martin Vantage GT12ASTON Martin Works is preparing for a busy September of new sports car sales handovers, led by its first delivery of the already sold-out Vantage GT12 (left).

The Buckinghamshire company said the arrival of the ‘65’ registration plate would trigger the traditional September sales spike as eager buyers took delivery of their new models.

With production strictly limited to just 100, the Vantage GT12 special edition draws on all of the brand’s years of top level motorsport competition around the globe. It is equipped with a new version of the Aston Martin 6.0-litre V12 engine and is capable of generating up to 600 PS making it not only more powerful but also 100kg lighter than a standard V12 Vantage S.

Significantly restyled, as well as re-engineered, the motorsport-inspired road car is lower and wider than any of its Vantage siblings and boasts cutting edge motorsport-inspired features such as the extensive use of carbon fibre inside, as well as a track-focused aerodynamics pack which includes a prominent rear wing and pronounced front splitter.

Inspired by Aston Martin Racing’s successful campaigns, this new GT3-derived Vantage has been designed and engineered exclusively at Aston Martin’s Gaydon headquarters in Warwickshire, to be – as the company puts it – “the most overt expression of everything that defines Vantage: an inspirational sports model offering supreme driveability on the road, and uncompromising dynamic performance on track”.

Commenting, Aston Martin Works commercial director Paul Spires said: “September remains a hugely busy period for us, and with the added anticipation around deliveries of the brand’s most sought-after models such as the now sold-out Vantage GT12, we are set for a hectic but very positive few weeks.”  

Point Break for MINI

The MINI surfboardMINI has teamed up with Channel Islands Surfboards, one of the most acclaimed and premium surfboard manufacturers in the world, to develop a surfboard which “surfs like a MINI”.

The board, called “THE MINI” is said to reflect MINI’s best attributes and has been shaped from scratch to cut through waves at speed with its short and sporty design.

The development and design team included Christopher Weil, head of exterior design at MINI, and US Open surfing champion Kalani Robb.

“To create this feeling of agility and speed, we’ve developed a board with a little extra tail volume. The board’s wider outline and low rocker really make it fly,” said Robb.

True to the nature of the MINI brand, surfers can customise their surfboard by choosing from almost any combination of stylish colours and schemes; from Chili Red to black rally stripes.

To celebrate the launch of “THE MINI” surfboard, MINI UK has partnered with British surf school Croyde Surf Academy. Based in North Devon the surf school teaches children and adults of all ages how to surf out of its trademark big blue bus looking over Croyde Bay.

Croyde Surf Academy head coach, Carlo Fusie-Ferrero said: “I absolutely loved it, best board I’ve surfed for a while!”

“THE MINI” is available now from selected outlets and the Channel Islands online shop with prices starting at £580.

Drive Safely.

 

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