Motoring: Jaguar; Aston Martin; Records galore at classic car auction
IT’S been a momentous week for Jaguar although its famous roar could well be tamed by its latest innovation.
The Jaguar I-PACE, launched at the Los Angeles Motor Show, heralds the start of a new era for the brand.
The car marks Jaguar’s entrance into the electric vehicle sector and judging by the response the new car has received then it is a sector that is likely to see more of the Big Cat in years to come.
In fact, Jaguar remains so committed to the EV market that it has said 50% of its model range will have an electric option by 2020.
The I-PACE is a production preview of the full car, which is expected to be revealed next year and on the road in 2018. However, Jaguar is already giving people the option to put their names down now.
The I-PACE is also a car built without compromise. It would have been easy for the company to adapt an existing model to showcase its EV intentions but instead, it has opted to produce a brand new vehicle; a vehicle which the company has dubbed a five-seat family sports car.
Ian Callum, Jaguar’s Director of Design, said: “The I-PACE Concept represents the next generation of electric vehicle design. It’s a dramatic, future-facing cab-forward design with a beautiful interior – the product of authentic Jaguar DNA, electric technology and contemporary craftsmanship.
“Our virtual reality reveal today has pushed technology boundaries as well, and captures the hi-tech essence of the concept car. We only have one concept car and it is in LA for the reveal.”
However, in a move designed to further underline the company’s connected technology, it is using virtual reality to showcase the car to the world.
The reveal at the show is thought to be a world-first and the largest live and connected VR event of its type to date. Throughout the day more than 300 guests were transported into a specially created life-like virtual space, into which, two of the car’s creators, Ian Callum and Ian Hoban were projected.
From VR hubs in Los Angeles and London, groups of 66 guests including A-list stars Michelle Rodriguez, Miranda Kerr and James Corden, used HTC Vive Business Edition headsets, powered by Dell Precision workstations, to put themselves inside the concept car and interact live with other participants. Guests ‘sat’ on the concept’s virtual seats, had a 3600 view of Venice Beach as the concept was built piece by piece around them, and saw the I-PACE Concept race towards them across a virtual desert.
Dr Wolfgang Ziebart, Jaguar Land Rover, said: “This is an uncompromised electric vehicle designed from a clean sheet of paper: we’ve developed a new architecture and selected only the best technology available. The I-PACE Concept fully exploits the potential EVs can offer in space utilisation, driving pleasure and performance.”
The car also fits with Jaguar Land Rover’s wider commitment to a cleaner future, with ultra-clean diesels and petrol engines, BEVs, PHEVs and MHEVs all in its strategic plans.
In view of LA’s smog-ridden history, there could perhaps be no better place to make such a pledge.
However, while the I-PACE is gathering all the attention, the company is also using the show to launch one of its more traditional machines, the all-new Land Rover Discovery.
Dr Ralf Speth, Jaguar Land Rover CEO, said: “Design leadership, technical innovation and engineering excellence lie at the heart of this responsible business. Both the Jaguar I-PACE Concept and the Land Rover Discovery are revolutionary vehicles and major innovations in each of their segments, sharing our compelling combination of iconic British design and creative engineering.
“We are shaping the future, developing our own approach to autonomy, connectivity and electrification to offer our customers more choice.”
But while the shiny new tech was rightly being lauded, it was a glimpse into Jaguar’s past that was also occupying the attention of many at the LA show.
The event has also seen the debut – if such a term is applicable – of the first genuine Jaguar XKSS to be built in almost 60 years.
The car, unveiled at the Petersen Museum, Los Angeles by Jaguar Classic, is finished in Sherwood Green paint and has been created by the Jaguar Classic engineering team ahead of the production of nine cars for delivery to customers across the globe in 2017.
But if you want to get your hands on one you’re too late, despite a hefty £1m price tag every one has been pre-sold.
Often referred to as the world’s first supercar, the XKSS was originally made by Jaguar as a road-going conversion of the Le Mans-winning D-type, which was built from 1954-1956. In 1957, nine cars earmarked for export to North America were lost in a fire at Jaguar’s Browns Lane factory; meaning just 16 examples of XKSS were built.
Earlier this year Jaguar announced that its Classic division would build the nine ‘lost’ XKSS sports cars for a select group of established collectors and customers. The new one-off XKSS presented in Los Angeles is the summation of 18 months of research and will be used as a blueprint from which the nine continuation cars are built.
The nine cars will be completely new, with period chassis numbers from the XKSS chassis log.
The XKSS is the second continuation car to be created by Jaguar, following on from the six Lightweight E-types that were built in 2014. This project helped the team learn to engineer cars that are faithful to the specifications to which they were built in period, and this knowledge has been enhanced in creating the ‘new original’ XKSS.
The XKSS unveiled in Los Angeles is a period correct continuation, built using a combination of original drawings from Jaguar’s archive and modern technology. The Jaguar Classic engineering team scanned several versions of the 1957 XKSS to help build a complete digital image of the car, from the body to chassis, and including all parts required.
The body of the XKSS is made from magnesium alloy, as it was in 1957, and because the original styling bucks do not exist, Jaguar Classic produced a new, bespoke styling buck based on the original bodies from the 1950s. The bodies of the nine new cars will be formed on this buck, using a traditional process called hand-wheeling.
Jaguar Classic’s expert engineers worked with the original frames and from there produced CAD to support build of the chassis. In partnership with the Classic team, frame maker Reynolds – famous for their 531 tubing – was briefed to craft bespoke new parts using imperial measurements, rather than metric. The frames are bronze welded in the same way as the period XKSS chassis tubing.
The continuation cars feature period specification four-wheel Dunlop disc brakes with a Plessey pump, and Dunlop tyres with riveted two-piece magnesium alloy wheels.
Under the bonnet, the XKSS is supplied with a 262hp 3.4-litre straight six-cylinder Jaguar D-type engine. The engine features completely new cast iron blocks, new cast cylinder heads and three Weber DC03 carburetors.
Inside, the ‘new original’ XKSS features perfect recreations of the original Smiths gauges. Everything from the wood of the steering wheel, to the grain of the leather seats, through to the brass knobs on the XKSS dashboard, is precisely as it would have been in 1957.
Minor specification changes have been made only to improve driver and passenger safety. The fuel cell, for example, uses robust, modern materials to support throughput of modern fuels.
Customer vehicles will be hand-built beginning this year, and it is estimated that 10,000 man hours will go into building each one.
Kev Riches, Jaguar Classic Engineering Manager, said: “The XKSS is one of the most important cars in Jaguar’s history, and we are committed to making the ‘new original’ version absolutely faithful to the period car in every way.
“From the number, type and position of all the rivets used – there are more than 2,000 in total – to the Smiths gauges on the dashboard, everything is the same as the original cars, because that is the way it should be.”
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NEVER content to let its fierce rival grab all the glory, Aston Martin has turned up the heat on the opposition with the launch of its new Vanquish S.
The grand tourer features sharper styling and greater potency than the model it replaces, which has been in service since 2001.
Aston Martin said the second generation Vanquish’s evolution to S specification had seen careful attention paid to the engine, chassis and aerodynamics.
Central to this is the naturally-aspirated 6.0 litre V12 engine, which now produces up to 600PS (up from 573PS) and enjoys sensational throttle response, thanks to a revised, freer-breathing intake system. The larger volume inlet manifolds allow a greater volume of air to flow into the engine at high revs, creating a relentless power delivery and a stronger feel all the way to the redline.
Building on this increased intensity, the calibration of the 8-speed Touchtronic III transmission has been revised to deliver faster gearshifts and greater refinement at low speeds for a greater sense of precision and immediacy.
Likewise, the suspension, damper internals, spring rates and anti-roll bar bushes have also been re-tuned to give the Vanquish S a keener edge in the more sporting suspension modes, without compromising its ability to deliver supple ride quality on demand.
Visually the Vanquish S can be readily distinguished by a new aerodynamic package. Fashioned from exposed carbon fibre, this revised front splitter and rear diffuser combine to deliver a meaningful reduction in frontal lift with a minimal penalty in additional drag. Combined with visually striking new quad exhaust outlets the Vanquish S has more aggressive appearance, entirely fitting for Aston Martin’s most overtly sporting GT production model.
Inside, the Vanquish S can be further personalised with a choice of spectacular new ‘Filograph’ quilted leather and the use of new materials and finishes, such as the Satin Chopped Carbon Fibre fascia panel. Sumptuous Bridge of Weir Caithness leather offers an added touch of luxury and tactility, while Vanquish S embroidery on the headrests provides a crafted finishing detail.
Dr. Andy Palmer, Aston Martin President & CEO said: “From the moment the original Vanquish was launched it became a modern icon. It propelled Aston Martin from an era of hand-built cars to one where craftsmanship and technology combined to create a new kind of great British GT.
“In its second generation the Vanquish maintained that momentum with huge engineering advances such as its all-carbon fibre bodywork and compelling, contemporary styling. Now, the Vanquish S takes things a step further, confidently asserting itself within the Aston Martin range and distinguishing itself from the new DB11. A spectacular machine in every sense, the Vanquish S is a magnificent addition to our range.”
Vanquish S is available in both Coupe and Volante versions and is priced at a cool £199,950. Deliveries will start from December.
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IN front of a crowd of hundreds of classic car fans, international bidders online and on the phones, Silverstone Auctions broke several world records and achieved its best ever result at the two-day sale to correspond with the Classic Motor Show at the NEC.
In all, 80% of the vehicles on offer were sold, at a total sales value of £5.8m.
The auction house was joined by Channel 4 presenters Ant Anstead and Phil Glenister from ‘For the Love of Cars’ to see the very special 1958 ex-Chris Barber Lotus Elite Series I (pictured) sell for a new record auction price of £121,500 – £40,000 above its lower estimate.
The car will feature in a one-off special of the popular show on Sunday (November 20) at 8pm.
Another car restored by Ant Anstead and his team, a stunning 1969 Aston Martin DBS 6 Vantage Spec, sold online to an Austrian collector for a world record market price of £174,375.
Some incredible Porsches sold for new benchmark prices. After a fierce bidding war, a 1985 Porsche 911 (930) Turbo SE Flatnose, the first UK car, sold for a new world record auction price of £202,500. However, that record didn’t last long – just half an hour later a right-hand drive 1989 Porsche 911 (930) Turbo Flachbau went for £211,500.
A highly collectible 1957 Porsche 356A T1 Speedster sold for £306,563, the highest value lot of the sale.
No less than seven Jaguar E-Types were offered and all sold for above their pre-sale estimates.
A 1962 Jaguar E-Type 3.8 Roadster, owned by the vendor for 43 years and starring in an official Jaguar video with model David Gandy, had seven phone bidders as well as buyers in the room trying to purchase the car. It eventually sold for £171,000, nearly £80,000 over its lower estimate.
A 1965 Jaguar E-Type 4.2 Series I Roadster sold for £146,250, more than £50,000 over its lower estimate, and a ‘barn-find’ 1974 Jaguar E-Type Series III Roadster sold for £69,750, nearly double its lower estimate.
It wasn’t only E-Types that proved popular with Jaguar fans. A 1977 Jaguar XJ12 Coupe, a winner of over 18 national concours events, achieved a new world record price, selling for £43,875.
A 1969 Morris Mini Super Deluxe, with a fascinating story and restored by Lancaster Insurance to its former glory, was sold to a very generous buyer in the room for £12,938, which has been donated to Prostate Cancer UK.
Nick Whale, managing director of Silverstone Auctions, said: “What a sale! One of our best ever and the most successful we’ve had at the Classic Motor Show since we first hosted the auction back in 2012.”
