69 posts tagged “car”

I reached the 500th model milestone today on Autocade. The 500th entry was a very unlikely one, but it goes to show how varied the models are, and how they are not necessarily cars I even like!

Ford Fairlane (NL). 1996–9 (prod. unknown). 4-door sedan. F/R, 3984 cm³ (6 cyl. OHC), 4942 cm³ (V8 OHV). Final Fairlane on this platform, and last one to have a code unique to itself and LTD—its EA169 successor would be grouped under the AU colloquialism. Ghia trim reintroduced for 1998. Usual luxuries on a fairly rugged platform, beloved of hire car companies Down Under. Roomy and comfortable, though detail finish behind that of European and Japanese luxury cars.

I had wondered which marque would get to have its entire range from one period all represented on Autocade. It dawned on me that it is Jaguar, today.

Jaguar X-type. 2001 to date (prod. under 300,000 approx.). 4-door saloon, 5-door estate. F/F, F/A, 2099, 2495, 2967 cm³ (V6 DOHC), 1998, 2198 cm³ diesel (4 cyl. DOHC). Ford Mondeo (CD132)-based small Jaguar, developed by Ford in Dearborn and presented to Jaguar management as a fait accompli. Failed to fit in with Jaguar design direction and wound up cannibalizing XJ sales. Seen as backward in a segment that wanted modernity; dynamically, actually poorer than the much-cheaper Ford. Most cars had too much standard equipment and too high a price, and the Mondeo-in-drag rumour spread very far; yet Jaguar management had to defend it. Not really a descendant of the Jaguar 2·4, no matter what Ford management wished. Never made much of a dent in BMW, Audi and Mercedes-Benz sales. Estate added 2004. UK deleted most petrol engines from line-up in 2007 except 3·0-litre for Estate. Range deleted from US market for 2008, despite arrival of facelifted model that year.

Jaguar XF. 2007 to date (prod. unknown). 4-door saloon. F/R, 2720 cm³ diesel, 2967 cm³ petrol (V6 DOHC), 4196 cm³ (V8 DOHC). Jaguar finally got a contemporary close-coupled sporting saloon rather than the retro-styled barges of decades past. First Jaguar saloon under head of design Ian Callum. Successfully evoked image of Mk II. Not the most modern under the skin compared with German rivals but a strong performer thanks to shared suspension design with XK. Initial tests indicate car is thirsty. Supercharger on SV8 model. 
 

Jaguar XJ6/Jaguar XJ8/Jaguar XJR (X350). 2002 to date (prod. unknown). 4-door saloon. F/R, 2720 cm³ diesel, 2967 cm³ petrol (V6 DOHC), 3555, 4196 cm³ (V8 DOHC). All-new XJ series with aluminium panels, hampered by looking too much like its predecessor—which in turn looked too much like the 1968 XJ6. Last of the late Geoff Lawson’s designs to be released. Much bigger, with proper rear space, but alongside Mercedes Benz S-Klasse and BMW 7er-Reihe, perceived as old hat despite being technologically advanced in many respects. Facelift with addition of side vents in front wings in 2007.

Jaguar XK/Jaguar XKR. 2006 to date (prod. unknown). 3-door coupé, 2-door convertible. F/R, 3498, 4196 cm³ (V8 DOHC). Attractive, all-new XK has aluminium monocoque chassis. While engines (regular, supercharged) are less advanced than German competition’s, light weight helps overall performance. Bonnet is “deployed” to protect pedestrians if struck, raising above a certain level. Modern styling by Ian Callum, shaking off retro style, closely related to Aluminium Lightweight Coupé concept. Entry-level 3·5-litre introduced 2007.

This was a great find at Take Note in Lower Hutt today. Take Note is a post office and gift shop run by my friend Mandeep but I have never bought a book from there before. I was surprised to find it displayed prominently and being an automobiliac I paid the $40 for it.

   My cover differs slightly: the News Gothic-set headlines have been replaced by the same text in ITC Benguiat, while the lettering around the masthead is now Akzidenz-Grotesk. Inside, there are great Car articles from 1965 to 1974, covering the best of the first decade (I became a reader, thanks to Gary Hayvice, whose daughter was a classmate of mine, in 1981). I grew up with Llewellyn, Bishop, Setright and the rest; I remember Bulgin, and very briefly, wasn’t there a chap called James May? But some of the earlier talents appear in this compilation.
   Some articles are prescient—the warning that Honda could be a big player if it chose to build saloon cars, and the war for oil and how it might run out (from the first fuel crisis in the 1970s)—and others are less so, such as the warning that a Channel Tunnel would be a folly. Others are plain out of place in today’s politically correct world, namely the nude models that adorned cars at motor shows.
   There are even old advertisements, including one for women—flogging copies of Good Housekeeping. It was very sexist and the idea that cars were designed to pull birds was very much in evidence.
   It’s hardcover, so it should be a proud collection of 1960s’ and 1970s’ motoring journalism in my home.

I enjoy these behind-the-scenes design stories a lot, and check out the video of the designer drawing the new BMW 7-series (F01). From Lucire.

 

Spotted in Waikanae (an hour north of our office) last week while we were heading to a beauty spa for a story: a lovely and well maintained Austin Ten.

I was out at Nicole and Paul McKinnon’s today with my friend Cas, and I can now, with their permission, mention that the 1977 Ford Granada (left-hand drive) that was featured on this blog a few weeks ago is for sale, so that they can get a car for the family. Please contact me if you are in New Zealand (or even if you are nearby and you want a Granada) and I will hook you up with Paul. The car is in quite good condition and the interior is original. It has a 302 in³ V8.

Got this baby till Monday. First time I played with sat-nav in New Zealand and it is surprisingly accurate. Without the ass-warmers, I mean, seat warmers, and heavier steering you kind of feel you are taking a step down from the A5 with the S-Line pack, but the sat-nav partly makes up for it. Quite sprightly for a 1·8 and better than the previous BMW 320i, though to be fair I need to compare it with the latest model. Easily better than the Mercedes-Benz C200K in terms of the gearbox (eight speeds in this sucker) but that heavy steering is a surprise. Full review in Lucire later.

Not the best shots since they are off a cell but the better ones are on my 35 mm.

I really love this shape from the rear, too. It looks very low and purposeful but the car is narrower than you think when behind the wheel (I kept parking it far from the kerb), and it’s also reasonably high for front-seat passengers. Audi, Walter da’Silva and his team have done a good job.

I love it. Haven’t really opened it up yet—the fastest I have gone so far is 60 km/h. I need to find some tougher roads.
   This is after I cleaned the bird poop off.

I am looking forward to picking up one of these babies shortly … the Audi A5 V6.