Jaguar is capturing imaginations with the new F-Pace and we discuss the importance of naming your Mini

JAGUAR’S latest offering, the new F-Pace SUV appears to have captured the public’s imagination well before its official UK debut this week.

Globally, it is already the brand’s fastest selling car – with UK buyers expected to face a six month waiting time before they get behind the wheel.

If ever there was a definition of a car that sells itself, then perhaps this is it.

However, the vehicle’s profile has been raised even higher this week due to a piece of under-the-radar marketing over which Jaguar has had little involvement – although it is hardly likely to protest.

Hollywood has come to town, with Birmingham being chosen to film outdoor location shots for the sequel to highly-successful spy film The Kingsman.

The new film, which is titled Kingsman: The Golden Circle, sees Taron Egerton returning to the role that made him famous.

However, as eagle-eyed car fans will have seen from social media, one of the four-wheeled stars of the new film is the Jaguar F-Pace.

Shots of golden coloured models – all of which bear the distinctive high-performance R badging – have been seen charging around the streets of the business district in pursuit of another Midland motoring icon, the LTC black cab.

The footage is likely to feature in the forthcoming film and will immediately upgrade the status of the F-Pace, making it the cool car to own.

A collection of the cars – some adapted for stunt-work – were seen parked on the streets of the city centre (as our picture shows), awaiting their call to action. Some of the more sensitive vehicles were kept under wraps so as not to give too much away.

Of course, Jaguar is no stranger to film action – its C-X75 hypercar took a starring role in a memorable chase scene through the streets of Rome in the last Bond blockbuster, Spectre.

The 2017 BMW M240i convertible

While not as cool as the F-Pace, BMW’s upgraded 2017 model range will still be capable of turning a lot of heads.

The German company said improvements included more efficient, stronger-performing engines for the BMW 1 and 2 Series, the introduction of a BMW iPerformance range of Plug-in-Hybrid models and improved connectivity systems for several models.

New M Performance versions of the 1 Series (three-and five-door models) and the 2 series coupé and convertible will all be new for next year.

They are powered by a new 3.0-litre straight-six engine also employing TwinPower Turbo technology. This will see a 0.3 seconds improvement in the 0-62mph time of the M140i compared to the out-going model.

Similar improvements will be seen in the other years – and yet the company is still confident that the upgrades will result in a fuel saving compared to the models they replace.

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Now we all know that our Minis have personalities – but do you give your car a name?

One dedicated group of enthusiasts is currently trying to find out just how far our relationship with our favourite wheels go – whether they be the classic version of the small car or the BMW-owned incarnation.

Organisers of Mini World Live are conducting what they believe to be the world’s first Mini Census.

The census comes ahead of Mini World Live, which takes place on Sunday July 10 at Rockingham Motor Speedway, Northamptonshire.

The poll aims to find out the gender split between Minis – whether they’re male or female, where they live, the average age of their owners and, most importantly, what the top 10 names for Britain’s Minis are.

Event Manager Kat Chappell said: “Minis and the people that drive them always have plenty of character and we know that a lot of them are much more than just a car to their owners. We want to celebrate this by finding the most popular, as well as some of the more unusual names that people give to their Minis.”

The census runs until Bank Holiday Monday, May 30 and can be completed at https://www.surveymonkey.co.uk/r/MQLG8DM

The results will be published ahead of Mini World Live, which will feature hundreds of beautifully restored classics, modified performance cars and the UK’s leading Mini specialists.

Following the show’s debut in 2015, which brought thousands of Mini enthusiasts to the Northants venue, the organisers are promising even more action and more of a festival feel for the show, which is intended to appeal to fans of the Mini both old and new.

There will be a concours competition, individual entries, a retail village, show and shine areas, club displays and on-track action, the details of which will be confirmed nearer to the date.

Full details can be found on the Mini Live website.

 

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