AlanBrand.com

OK, I admit that I’m stretching things here, but (one) F1-live.com and Reuters are both carrying stories of India’s telecommunications giant Spice Group taking over the struggling Super Aguri team, and (two) Tata has been mentioned as a possible partner in the deal. Using a complex mathematical process to prove that one + two = something incredibly unlikely, I’m predicting a Jaguar F1 team to be ready for the inaugural Indian F1 race in 2009.

Reuters reports that Ford will not hold on to a minority stake in Jaguar in the sale to Tata expected to be completed early this year. The deal is now expected to be for a full rather than a majority stake. This will require a major ramp-up of parts delivery infrastructure by Tata, surely?

British “red-top” newspaper The Sun reports a rumour that the Jaguar F-Type will happen after all, despite the canceled plans to build it based on the 2000 F-Type concept shown above.

JAGUAR are working on plans for a new two-seat
sports car to take on Porsche.

Unlike the original concept, the new car would be based on a shortened version of the all-aluminium XJ chassis, making it a valid high-tech rival to the Porsche 911. There are lots of IFs before this becomes a reality, but it would certainly be a wonderful boost to the Jaguar image under new ownership.

Auto Express has a Car Group Test pitting the Jaguar XKR against the Aston Martin Vantage N400 and the Maserati GranTurismo during a jaunt to Reims-Gueux Grand Prix circuit in France.

The Jaguar was the pick of the group, despite not being perfect … Their VERDICT:

The grand tourer is in fine form. All three luxurious coupés excelled on their trip down memory lane to the Reims GP circuit. They coped admirably with high speed cruising, have potent, charismatic engines and are extremely capable and enjoyable to drive – as well as being hugely desirable.

However, one has to finish last. And although we had high hopes for the Maserati GranTurismo, it stands on the bottom step of the podium. It’s far better than the old Coupé in terms of comfort, design and quality, and has so much charisma. Yet that’s not enough to make up for some niggling faults.

The Aston and Jag aren’t perfect, either, but both feel better engineered. We came close to handing the former the win – the modifications make the N400 more balanced than the standard Vantage. Yet the XKR’s price, together with its cosseting cockpit and unbeatable cruising ability, gave it the edge.

WorldCarFans reports on the sighting of a Jaguar XJ mule in Northern Scandinavia. Heavily disguised with current-XJ body parts, the next XJ, anticipated in 2011, is rumoured to be a four-door coupe, based on Ian Callum’s praise about the Mercedes CLS.

British car guide WhatCar? has announced its 2008 car of the year awards. It named the Jaguar XF 2.7D V6 Luxury their overall 2008 Car of the Year.

Jaguar is a mere cottage industry alongside German rivals Audi, BMW and Mercedes-Benz, yet it has created a car to beat the best they can offer, and all against the backdrop of uncertainty over its own future, with divorce from Ford imminent.
What we most admire about the XF is the way it is still very much a Jaguar, but altogether more modern. [ … ]
Some things, fortunately, do not change. Jaguar has not forgotten that its cars must always be lusciously refined and calmly sporty. The XF more than meets the brief. [ … ]
Anyway, some things are worth paying that little bit extra for. The glorious XF is one of them.

It’s more than four years since we moved to Owen Sound from Toronto, and many more years since I attended the Toronto Film Festival. There was one film in last year’s festival that a couple of people have recommended that I haven’t seen yet - Cassandra’s Dream, the latest Woody Allen film. It’s also been a long while since I saw a Woody Allen film, and I’m not sure that I’d have bothered with this one if I hadn’t seen a clip from the film on Jalopnik. No matter how bad the film might be, it might be worth it for the Jaguars … an XK (120?, 140?, 150? the clip was too grainy for me to tell) and an E-Type. I’ll keep an eye out for it on TV.

Car Magazine offers a first drive impression of the Jaguar XF 2.7 D Premium Luxury, the diesel version of the new Jaguar XF - the model that is expected to make up 70% of sales in Europe. Their Verdict:

The S-type was a car you brought with your head, not your heart. The XF is a car you buy with both. Jaguar’s new saloon takes everything that was great about the old S-type and improves it, while ironing out most of the flaws.It’s still a little cramped, but every time you pass a competitor you know you’ll be let out of junctions, your car won’t be seen as a taxi at a German airport, and should you take the long way home you’re going to love it. The XF diesel falls short on paper, but it’s still a very good car.

My report on Dan’s Jaguar XJS Junior has led to contact with Violetta of France and the UK, who make similar models. The owner of the company, Gilles Violet, sent this picture to show how he transports his model Jaguar D Type to Le Mans.

Yesterday was my birthday. It was a lot quieter than last year’s bonanza event when there was a “surprise” party attended by lots of friends and family. After a pleasant morning drive on snow-free back roads for a car club meeting, this year was spent watching the NFL playoff games on TV, playing Quiddler with Jan & Amy, phone calls from Mum, Terry, Alexa, & Leah, and pigging out on a splendid curry dinner prepared by Jan … a wonderful day. The crowning touch was the perfect gifts that I received … Mickey Mouse playing cards and The Guinness Drinking Companion from my Big Girls and families, and a 5 dvd collection of Ealing comedies from Jan & Amy.
Family, friends, old cars, games, Guinness, books, movies, and a couple of hours in the car listening to early R&B and Soul music … I seem to have covered just about all the bases. Lucky me.