Motoring: Jaguar’s launches classic race series & more
JAGUAR has given a further hint of its intention to continue trading on its sporting heritage with the announcement of a historic race series, the Jaguar Heritage Challenge.
Organised in conjunction with the Historic Sports Car Club (HSCC), the new championship is open to drivers with pre-‘66 Jaguar models and will be split in to five classes: Jaguar XK-series cars; pre-‘66 saloon models, C-type, D-type and XKSS, and two separate E-type classes.
The Heritage Challenge marks the first time such a diverse group of historic competition Jaguars will be assembled as part of a race series.
Contested across five race weekends this summer, the Heritage Challenge will be taking in some of the best drivers’ circuits in Europe at blue riband historic racing meetings.
The Heritage Challenge Series builds on the success of the E-Type Challenge that ran for a number of seasons. It also comes at a time when Jaguar Heritage is busier than ever, largely due to the efforts of the new Special Vehicles Operations division, which is already responsible for the recreation of the Lightweight E-Type, the Heritage Driving Experience and the growing Heritage parts and restoration business.
The SVO is also planning a series of high performance variants to both Jaguar and Land Rover models, such as the new F-Type Project 7 supercar. There are even reports that company could be considering a recreation of the XK SS as it looks to capitalise on a unique sporting pedigree.
Derek Weale, Jaguar Land Rover Heritage Business Director, said: “We are delighted that our new Heritage Race series will take place at some of the best drivers’ circuits in Europe and at world-famous historic race meetings. The spectacle of seeing a race dedicated to these classic Jaguars, on these circuits and at these events is going to be a sight to savour and behold.”
The full race calendar is as follows:
May 2-4: Donington Historic Festival
May 16-17: Silverstone International (GP Circuit)
July 11-12: Brands Hatch Super Prix (GP Circuit)
August 7-9: Nürburgring Oldtimer Grand Prix
August 29-31: Oulton Park Gold Cup
Entrants and drivers can visit http://www.hscc.org.uk/jaguar-heritage-challenge – a new web page dedicated to the series for further information and to apply for an entry.
Honda heads for Geneva with host of new models
WHILE it hasn’t got the same pedigree as Jaguar, Honda will be trading on its own sporting heritage when it unveils some of its new look models at next month’s Geneva Motor Show.
It intends using the show to give a European debut to its own revised classic, the NSX, while it will also be taking the covers off its latest Civic Type R.
Production models of all-new Jazz and HR-V will also be unveiled, while visitors will also get their first glimpse of the FCV Concept fuel cell vehicle.
To celebrate the manufacturer’s return to the F1 circuit, its 2015 McLaren-Honda racer will also be showcased ahead of the season’s opening race in Australia.
The Geneva Motor Show is expected to signal a turning point in the recent history for the Honda brand in Europe. With every model in the range set to be replaced or refreshed in 2015, the manufacturer is keen to show buyers it means business.
The British-built Honda Civic Type R will once again be marketed as a ‘race car for the road’. It is the most extreme Type R ever built, with performance and dynamics designed to set new standards in its segment.
It features a world-first application of Honda’s new 2.0 litre VTEC Turbo engine, enhanced function-led styling and pioneering new chassis technologies.
Hot from its global debut in Detroit, the much-anticipated production Honda NSX will make its European debut in Switzerland, 25 years after the original was first premiered. The hybrid supercar has been specifically created to deliver a ‘new sports experience’, challenging conventional beliefs about the supercar segment.
On a more practical level, production models of Honda’s all-new HR-V and Jazz will also make their debut ahead of their market launches later in 2015.
The all-new HR-V nods to current styling trends by merging the sleekness of a coupe with the ruggedness of a SUV in a vehicle intended to take a hefty slice of the B-segment crossover market. Ironically this is market pioneered by Honda with its original HR-V back in 1998.
With a new look and an upgraded interior, the company will be hoping the third-generation Jazz an also carve out a market for itself. The company can point to millions of satisfied buyers so evolution suggests it will find a ready market.
The manufacturer’s innovative work will be demonstrated with the pioneering Honda FCV Concept, which aims to demonstrate that fuel cell technology can be matched with real-world applications.
Red Vapor blows smoke at the opposition
DESPITE inventing the off-road vehicle, Jeep has often struggled to keep pace with 4×4 trends.
Its vehicles are traditionally designed to evoke the spirit of the first Western settlers as they tamed the wild frontier – a notion that found favour with would-be cowboys everywhere.
However, as time has progressed, so tastes have changed and while ruggedness will always have its place in this segment, discerning buyers are now demanding more and more luxuries in their off-road vehicles.
Range Rover, BMW, Mercedes, Porsche and most recently Bentley have all recognised this and moved in to claim the Jeep territory for themselves, while Audi, Volvo and others have concentrated on the sensible school-run, more family-friendly segment.
So where does this leave Jeep? Its sales in Europe have struggled, largely due to the dominance of the aforementioned manufacturers.
But lately it has seen a pick-up in sales as it once again bids to reclaim its rightful province.
So what is it doing to achieve this?
While a little long in the tooth, the Jeep Grand Cherokee has valiantly struggled on and it now has a new hero to fight its corner – the formidable new SRT (Street and Racing Technology) version.
Dubbed the Red Vapor (somehow I can’t ever imagine Range Rover coming up with that); this limited edition is designed to sit competitively in the sports performance sub-SUV segment of the hotly contested 4WD market.
The new 6.4-litre V8-powered SRT Red Vapor combines the Jeep’s muscular sports styling with breath-taking performance. Top speed is 160mph, while 0-62mph takes just five seconds.
First shown at last October’s Paris Motor Show, the new Jeep Grand Cherokee SRT Red Vapor features a host of equipment befitting its badge. While it keeps the six-shooters under wraps and the Winchester safely stowed away, its firepower includes Quadra-Trac ‘Active on Demand’ four wheel drive, anti-lock SRT performance disc brakes and active damping suspension, body coloured door handles, black roof moulding, body coloured sill extensions and wheel flare extensions.
Five-spoke 20-inch Goliath wheels and a specific Black Vapor black chrome finish enhance the exterior while the lower grille, inserts of the upper grille, SRT tailgate badge, side Grand Cherokee badges and bonnet Jeep badge are all glossy black.
Inside, a leather-wrapped steering wheel and gear changer complement the exclusive Black Laguna leather and Radar Red suede seats with unique red stitching, luxury front and rear mats and chrome pedals. The SRT badge on Red Vapor’s steering wheel is backlit, and grey chrome replaces the shiny chrome seen on SRT.
The new Red Vapor is also equipped with the 8.4-inch Uconnect touchscreen display with integrated 3D navigation, advanced voice recognition, Bluetooth audio streaming and hands-free technology.
Further standard features include cross-path detection, adaptive cruise control, blind spot monitoring, 825-watt Harman-Kardon audio system with 19 speakers and three sub-woofers, power tailgate, and rear light bar.
The new Jeep Grand Cherokee SRT Red Vapor will cost £64,999 (OTR), which represents good value compared to its European counterparts.
Maybe there’s life in the old gunslinger yet.
Drive safely.
